Bathochromic shift

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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). Because the red color in the visible spectrum has a higher wavelength than most other colors, this effect is also commonly called a red shift, although this usage is considered informal [1], 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.

where λ is the wavelength of the spectral peak of interest and

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

[edit] See also

• Hypsochromic shift, a change to shorter wavelength (higher frequency)