Question

In spectroscopy experiments, the solution used to calibrate the spectrometer is known as the “blank.” A mixed dye solution contains an unknown amount of fluorescein dye and 2.0 × 10–6 M Blue #1 dye, both dissolved in a 40% ethanol/60% water solution. In order to study the fluorescein dye, describe the composition of the blank that you should use to calibrate the spectrometer.

Answer 1

The blank solution is described as the solution that doesn't contain the analyte which is to be analysed in the experiment. Before performing the particular experiment, the calibration of spectrometer with the blank solution is needed to set the absorbance as zero reference.

Here the analyte which analysed is fluorescein dye. The components other than fluorescein dye are should be the composition of blank solution. So the composition as follows

2.0 × 10^ -6 M Blue #1 dye dissolved in 40% ethanol/60% water solution.