What is Electromagnetic Radiation, Spectroscopy and Spectrometry?
Electromagnetic radiation (often abbreviated E-M radiation or EMR) is a phenomenon that takes the form of self-propagating waves in a vacuum or in matter. It comprises electric and magnetic field components, which oscillate in phase perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation. Electromagnetic radiation is classified into several types according to the frequency of its wave; including (in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength): radio waves, microwaves, terahertz radiation, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma rays. (Physorg) Spectroscopy – originally study of interaction between radiation and matter as a function of wavelength (λ), it later expanded to measurement of quantity as function of wavelength or frequency, and then added energy (E) as a variable. A plot of the response as a function of wavelength/frequency is a spectrum. Spectrometry is the technique used to assess the concentration
