Bathochromic shift

Bathochromic shift is a change of spectral band position in the absorption, reflectance, transmittance, or emission spectrum of a molecule to a longer wavelength (lower frequency).[1]

Because the red color in the visible spectrum has a longer wavelength than most other colors, this effect is also commonly called a red shift, although this usage is considered informal,[2] and has no relation to Doppler shift or other wavelength-independent meanings of redshift. This usage is often found in the scientific literature.

This can occur because of a change in environmental conditions: for example, a change in solvent polarity will result in solvatochromism. A series of structurally related molecules in a substitution series can also show a bathochromic shift. Bathochromic shift is a phenomenon seen in molecular spectra, not atomic spectra; it is thus more common to speak of the movement of the peaks in the spectrum rather than lines.

\Delta\lambda = \lambda^{\mathrm{state 2}}_{\mathrm{observed}} - \lambda^{\mathrm{state 1}}_{\mathrm{observed}} where \lambda is the wavelength of the spectral peak of interest and \lambda^{\mathrm{state 2}}_{\mathrm{observed}} > \lambda^{\mathrm{state 1}}_{\mathrm{observed}}

Bathochromic shift is typically demonstrated using a spectrophotometer, colorimeter, or spectroradiometer.

References

  1. ↑ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version:  (2006–) "bathochromic shift (effect)".
  2. ↑ Glossary of Terms Used in Photochemistry

See also