Unit 3 : Finding out About Substances Colorimetry Candidate : 1248

1

Brief:
I am working alongside an organisation known as Ribena's Quality Assurance Department as there have been several
complaints again from several branches of local restaurants that they are passing their drinks as either too dilute or too
concentrate.
Background information:
In any reaction involving a coloured substance (either reacting or being produced), you can follow the course of the
reaction using a colorimeter.
Colorimetry is measurement of the wavelength & the intensity of electromagnetic radiation in the visible region of the
spectrum. It is used extensively for identification and determination of concentrations of substances that absorb light.
Two fundamental laws are applied: that of a French scientist, Pierre Bouguer, which is also known as Lamberts law,
relates the amount of light absorbed and the distance it travels through an absorbing medium; and Beers law relates
light absorption and the concentration of the absorbing substance.
Most of the chemical elements and a large number of compounds may be determined calorimetrically frequently at
concentrations smaller than one part of the constituent in
several hundred million parts of solution.
The colour of the light can be changed by selecting a
particular coloured filter (or using some more
sophisticated device like a diffraction grating). The colour
is chosen so that it is the frequency of light which is absorbed by
the sample.

Colorimeter
A colorimeter is a device that can be used to measure how much light of a certain colour a solution absorbs. It is a light-
sensitive instrument that measures how much colour is absorbed by an object or substance. It determines colour based on
the red, blue, and green components of light absorbed by the object or sample, much as the human eye does. When light
passes through a medium, part of the light is absorbed, and as a result, there is a decrease in how much of the light
reflected by the medium. A colorimeter measures that change so users can analyse the concentration of a particular
substance in that medium. The device works on the basis of Beer-Lambert's law, which states that the absorption of light
transmitted through a medium is directly proportional to the concentration of the medium.
How a Colorimeter works
A colorimeter works by passing a specific wavelength of light through a solution, and then measuring the light
that comes through on the other side. In most cases, the more concentrated the solution is, the more light will
be absorbed, which can be seen in the difference between the light at its origin and after it has passed
through the solution. To find the concentration of an unknown sample, several samples of the solution in
which the concentration is known are first prepared and tested. These are then plotted on a graph with the
concentration at one axis and the absorbance on the other to create a calibration curve; when the unknown
sample is tested, the result is compared to the known samples on the curve to determine the concentration.
Some types of colorimeters will automatically create a calibration curve based on an initial calibration.
A coloured filter will be used to remove all narrow wavelength of visible radiation, which is then transmitted
though the sample contained in the cuvette, allowing the absorbance to me measured.

Ribena
Ribena is a fruit based non-carbonated drink, which is most popularly sold in cartons of pre diluted juice,
previously owned by GlaxoSmithKline; a popular British multinational company that. As of January 2014 its
been bought by a Japanese brewing and distilling company Suntory Holdings ltd.
Its main ingredients include Water, Sugar, Blackcurrant Juice from Concentrate (5%), Citric Acid, Vitamin C,
Preservatives (Potassium Sorbet, Sodium Bisulphite), Colour (Anthocyanin). It is known that 22% of the
product, before being diluted is juice.


Filter
For this experiment I will be using a green filter, the colour of the filter must change according to the substance being
tested, to ensure the results are as accurate as they can be. As a result I will be using green as that is the colour that does
not absorb either red or blue, which are the two colours mixed together to make purple Ribena.

Preparation of sample
I have collected four different samples from the restaurant, in order to prepare the sample before testing we must carry
out a dilution series for each before continuing with the experiment.
Unit 3 : Finding out About Substances Colorimetry Candidate : 1248
2

Calibration Curve
A calibration curve is a valuable tool in finding the concentration of an unknown solution. Once you have a calibration
curve, you can measure the absorbance of the unknown, compare it to the calibration curve, and find the corresponding
concentration. We will use the calibration curve to find the concentration of the test sample X
There will be a linear relationship between the concentration of coloured Ribena solution and the absorbance of the
solution. A series of solutions of a sample may be prepared with different concentrations. If the absorbencies of these
solutions are measured and plotted versus solution concentration, the points should form a straight line. This line, called a
calibration curve, shows how absorbance changes with the concentration of a solution. Each coloured solution has its own
unique calibration curve that must be determined experimentally.

Method
1. Make the dilution series using appropriate volumes of Ribena & water
2. Fill up a clean cuvette with each dilution of ribena made, ensuring it does not exceed the triangle at the top of
cuvette
3. Using a green filter, place it in the colorimeter then adjust the data logger to give out the absorbance
information
4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 for each diluted solution you make
5. Note down reading for each solution, repeat 3 times then calculate an average.
Uses of Colourimetry in industry
Colourimetry can only be done to measurements which are within the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum,
which is 380 780 nm.
Colourimetry is a technique that is mostly used in industries like textile manufacturing, colour printing, paint
manufacturing and in food industries. This technique involves the physical quantification of human colour perception. It is
also associated with description of colours in numbers. It is mostly used in laboratory research, environmental analysis of
water quality, analysis of soil components, monitoring of haemoglobin content in the blood and analysis of chemicals used
in various industrial settings.
In medical research Colourimetry devices can be used to help locate and count cell proliferation, which has applications
such as better understanding DNA synthesis. Colourimetry can reveal what inhibits and what stimulates cell growth,
which can help better understand which chemicals are best at slowing down the growth of cancerous tumours.
Colorimeters are used to detect colour changes in reagent solutions, which has medical applications including identifying
which antigens are causing specific diseases

Limitations of Colourimetry
Colourimetry usually requires that samples are diluted or irregularly concentrated to obtain acceptable measurements.
This procedure is also prone to the production of false results since the other substances may react leading to colour
changes. However, handheld colorimeters are not able to work effectively past a certain distance. In addition, ambient
lights or changes in the brightness of the lights in the store can affect the accuracy of the colorimeter. Patent Storm notes
that the colorimeter must also be calibrated every time it is used
One limitation of the chemical colorimeter is that some substances have variances that can cause an inaccurate test
result. As these variances are different for every substance, the chemical colorimeter alone is not a completely fool proof
testing device, according to Global Water Instrumentation.

Advantages of Colorimetry
-Can be specific to one chemical species
-Good for process quality control for non-chemistry personnel
-Can be inexpensive per analysis

Disadvantages of Colorimetry
-Similar colours from interfering substances can produce errors in results
-More precise analysis can require tighter wavelength band width (more expensive)
-Matrix interferences can produce bad results in uncontrolled situations

Risk Assessment
Procedure
Or
Equipment
Hazard What could go
wrong?
Safety Precautions What to do in
case of emergency
High,
medium
or low
risk?
Calorimeter Risk of electrocuting
yourself
If handled with wet
hands or if liquid spills
on or near it
Ensure you dry your hands
before use, keep away
from liquids
Seek medical attention
immediately & unplug
device from socket
Medium
Unit 3 : Finding out About Substances Colorimetry Candidate : 1248
3

Distilled
Water
Spill on floor and
slip or spilling on
equipment
If not careful, could
accidently knock
beaker.
Ensure you move it out of
the way when not in use &
avoid measuring it until
needed
Clean up spillage
immediately to avoid
more complications
Low
Ribena
Concentrate
Can stain clothes,
skin and surfaces.
Can be very sticky
When measuring you
could accidently over
fill causing it to spill
Take care when
transferring the dilutions,
fill beaker up slowly and
have a firm grip
Protect clothes using lab
coat
Clean or wipe affected
area immediately to
reduce chances of stain
Low
Cuvette Contamination

Plastic could break
If you hold the clear
sides of the cuvette it
will cause your results
to be invalid.
Too much pressure
can shatter the plastic
Ensure u hold cuvette on
sides with stripes or use
gloves to avoid your finger
print or finger smudges to
remain.
Hold the cuvette with a
gentle grip
Use a new cuvette
Clear up shattered
plastic
If it wounds you, seek
medical help
immediately
Medium
Beaker Glass will break
easily
If knocked or
dropped, glass pieces
are sharp
Handle with care, keep off
the edges of the table
Clear up glass using
broom and dustpan,
dispose of correctly (in a
glass bin)
If wounded seek help
immediately
High



















Bibliography
1. Calorimetry background info and image
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/@api/deki/files/16970/colorimeter.gif?size=bestfit&width=338&height=108&revision
=1
2. Ribena bottle image & ingredients information
Unit 3 : Finding out About Substances Colorimetry Candidate : 1248
4