Unlocking the Secrets of Matter & Spectroscopy: A Closer Look
Hi again! Today’s post explores the vast realm of matter and spectroscopy and how they enable scientists to “see” what’s happening in the world around us—from the air we breathe to the stars we observe. If you’re fascinated by how scientists can find out things we don’t see—whether you call yourself a science enthusiast or simply someone who is interested in learning how we use technology to view the invisible—this will be an intriguing trip.
What is Matter?
Matter includes anything that has both mass and occupies some form of space. That seems easy enough to understand, but as you examine matter at increasingly smaller scales, matter becomes an intricate dance of atoms, molecules, and other tiny particles, each vibrating, moving, and interacting with others uniquely. When scientists grasp these minute movements and interactions, they learn a great deal about the properties and compositions of different substances.
Spectroscopy: Looking Through Light to Matter
Scientists use spectroscopy to determine the properties of the substances they are studying. Here’s the basic concept of spectroscopy: if you shine a certain type of light on a sample and measure the amount of light that is absorbed, emitted, or scattered by the sample, the resulting pattern—or spectrum—tells you something specific about the sample. Spectra function much like fingerprints; each fingerprint represents a unique individual, and each spectrum represents a unique chemical compound. Each of the many forms of spectroscopy provides information about a particular aspect of a sample:
Spectroscopy is used to:
Infrared Spectroscopy: primarily shows how molecules vibrate and is useful for identifying organic compounds.
Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) Spectroscopy: primarily shows how electrons move between energy states and is commonly employed in lab settings for studies in chemistry and biology.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy: uses the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei to provide a highly detailed image of the arrangement of atoms within molecules.
Mass Spectrometry: while actually related to spectroscopy, this method combines the two techniques to determine the mass-to-charge ratios of fragments of matter.
What’s especially exciting is that these techniques continually advance. Scientists have developed extremely precise spectroscopy instruments by combining lasers, state-of-the-art detection systems, and sophisticated mathematical modeling techniques. These advancements don’t occur solely in the laboratory; they also play key roles in numerous commercial applications, including the pharmaceutical industry, environmental monitoring, and art restoration.
How Does This Help Us?
The effects of spectroscopy extend far beyond the laboratory. Our food supply is safer because of spectroscopy, the efficacy of prescription medications is better understood thanks to spectroscopy, and the authenticity of fine wine is confirmed through spectroscopy. Ultimately, spectroscopy assists scientists in deciphering the chemical makeup of the galaxies’ billions of planets and stars and offers an explanation for our universe.
Next Time You Hear About Breakthroughs...
…remember that it is often based on seeing things more clearly, in greater detail, than we normally would with respect to matter surrounding us—and that spectroscopy is among the most effective means by which we do so.
Final Words
I hope I’ve given you a new way to see the physical world through a combination of curiosity and scientific wonder. Next week, we’ll take a look at how innovative technologies are propelling these frontiers even farther ahead than before—from quantum sensors to brand-new imaging techniques. In the meantime, continue to question and observe—because the most amazing things are often hidden from sight.