Which formula expresses absorbance from percent transmittance?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $24.99Unlock all

Prepare for the BOC Clinical Chemistry Test with our comprehensive quiz. Study with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your readiness and confidence for the exam!

Multiple Choice

Which formula expresses absorbance from percent transmittance?

Explanation:
Absorbance comes from how much light is blocked, and it relates to transmittance by a logarithm: A = -log10(T), where T is the transmitted fraction (0 to 1). When you’re given percent transmittance, %T, you first turn it into a fraction: T = %T/100. Plugging that in gives A = -log10(%T/100) = -log10(%T) + log10(100) = 2 - log10(%T). So absorbance equals two minus the common logarithm of the percent transmittance. For example, if %T = 50, A ≈ 2 - 1.699 = 0.301, illustrating how lower %T yields higher absorbance. The other forms don’t match this relationship because they omit the division by 100 inside the log or otherwise alter the constant.

Absorbance comes from how much light is blocked, and it relates to transmittance by a logarithm: A = -log10(T), where T is the transmitted fraction (0 to 1). When you’re given percent transmittance, %T, you first turn it into a fraction: T = %T/100. Plugging that in gives A = -log10(%T/100) = -log10(%T) + log10(100) = 2 - log10(%T). So absorbance equals two minus the common logarithm of the percent transmittance. For example, if %T = 50, A ≈ 2 - 1.699 = 0.301, illustrating how lower %T yields higher absorbance. The other forms don’t match this relationship because they omit the division by 100 inside the log or otherwise alter the constant.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy