Cart
Article
Fluorescence Spectroscopy in a Shoebox
Hi-Res PDFPurchase the full-text
- PDF/HTML,
figures/images,
references and tables,
(where available)
Abstract
This article describes construction of a simple, inexpensive fluorometer. It utilizes a flashlight or sunlight source, highlighter marker ink, bowl of water with mirror as dispersing element, and colored cellophane sheets as filters. The human eye is used as a detector. This apparatus is used to demonstrate important concepts related to fluorescence spectroscopy. Using ink from a highlighter marker, one can demonstrate the difference between light scattering and fluorescence emission, the need for an intense light source, phenomenon of the Stokes shift, the choice of filters, the preferred geometry of excitation source and emission detector, and the low detection limits that can be achieved by fluorescence measurements. By reflecting the fluorescence emission from a compact disk, it can be seen that the light emitted by molecules is not monochromatic. Furthermore, a spectrofluorometer is constructed using gratings made from a DVD or a CD. The shoebox fluorometer and spectrofluorometer can serve as useful teaching aids in places where commercial instruments are not available, and it avoids the black box problem of modern instruments.
Keywords (Audience):
First-Year Undergraduate / GeneralKeywords (Domain):
Analytical ChemistryKeywords (Feature):
Cost-Effective TeacherKeywords (Pedagogy):
Hands-On Learning / ManipulativesKeywords (Subject):
Dyes / PigmentsCiting Articles
Citation data is made available by participants in CrossRef's Cited-by Linking service. For a more comprehensive list of citations to this article, users are encouraged to perform a search in SciFinder.
This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).
Visualizing Fluorescence: Using a Homemade Fluorescence “Microscope” To View Latent Fingerprints on Paper
Christopher N. LaFratta, Sun Phill Huh, Allistair C. Mallillin, Peter J. Riviello, and David R. WaltJournal of Chemical Education2010 87 (10), 1105-1107Visualizing Fluorescence: Using a Homemade Fluorescence “Microscope” To View Latent Fingerprints on Paper
Christopher N. LaFratta, Sun Phill Huh, Allistair C. Mallillin, Peter J. Riviello, and David R. WaltJournal of Chemical Education2010 87 (10), 1105-1107We describe an inexpensive hand-held fluorescence imager (low-magnification microscope), constructed from poly(vinyl chloride) pipe and other inexpensive components for use as a teaching tool to understand the principles of fluorescence detection. Optical ...
Full Text HTMLTools
-
Add to Favorites
-
Download Citation
-
Email a Colleague -
Permalink
Order Reprints
Rights & Permissions
Citation Alerts
History
- Received: August 03, 2009
ACS
Network
Facebook
Tweet This
CiteULike
Newsvine
Digg This
Delicious
C−(fc)n−C
