Definition

A measurement that shows how much light is taken in by a material when light passes through it.

Example

The absorbance of the solution increased as more dye was added.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of absorbance in science class?

Yeah, it’s about how much light something can take in, right?

Exactly! I found it really interesting how it's measured logarithmically.

Me too! It makes understanding light and materials more fascinating.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Absorbance is formed from "ab-" (meaning away) and "sorbere" (meaning to suck or swallow). The term describes the measure of the amount of light absorbed by a substance, indicating how much light is 'taken away' by that substance.

Memory Tip

Think of something 'sucking away' light — 'ab-' means away, and 'sorbere' means to suck. This helps you remember that absorbance measures how much light is absorbed.

Visually Confused Words