Ultraviolet Light

Vocabulary

absorption spectrum

amount of light absorbed by a compound as a function of the wavelength of light

color

phenomenon of light (such as red, green, or blue) or visual perception that enables someone to differentiate otherwise identical objects

conjugated diene

diene consisting of two double bonds that are separated by one single bond

electromagnetic spectrum

entire range of electromagnetic waves, defined by their energy, wavelengths, and frequencies

energy

capacity to do work

frequency

number of oscillations of a wave that occur in a given period of time, usually a second, measured in hertz (Hz)

highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)

highest energy level that is occupied by electrons

lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO)

lowest energy level that is not occupied by electrons

ozone layer

atmospheric layer at heights of about 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 kilometers), normally characterized by high ozone (O3) content that blocks most solar ultraviolet radiation from entry into the lower atmosphere

period

amount of time required for one vibrational cycle, equivalent to the inverse of frequency

ultraviolet light

light wave situated beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end and consisting of radiation having a wavelength shorter than wavelengths of visible light and longer than those of X-rays

ultraviolet spectrometer

device that measures ultraviolet (UV) electromagnetic waves

vision

ability to see

wavelength

distance between two identical parts of a wave

Woodward-Fieser rules

set of empirically derived rules that predict the wavelength of the absorption maximum (λmax\lambda_{\rm max}) in an ultraviolet–visible spectrum of a given substance