What is the difference between colorimeter and spectrophotometer?

Answer 1

In nontechnical and simple terms, in colorimeter particular band is selected and not the particular single wavelength. instead in spectrophotometer single wavelength is selected. also in colorimeter the filter is used whereas in spectrophotometer monochromator or prism is used.

Answer 2

the principle of a spectrophotometer and a colorimeter is absolutely the same. both use a monochromatic light to pass thorough a substance and measures its absorbance/transmittance.

a colorimeter can only use one wavelenght at a time and have a fixed number of wavelenghts that can be used and they have to be in the visible range only.

a spectrophotometer on the other hand can not only function like a colorimeter but also take a spectrum ie the abosorbance/transmittance of a substance across the entire wave spectrum especially if it is a UV-vis or UV-vis-IR (uv visible infra red). one can also take simple absorbance in a spec including at UV or infra red wavelenghts.

now a days very few labs have colorimeters since specs are much more useful and diverse in function

YES U CAN MEASURE the optical density of your culture in a colorimete

Answer 3

A colorimeter measures the absorbance of a particular wavelength by a solution. It is usually used to determine the concentration of a known solute in a known solvent through the application of the Beer-Lambert law (absorbance is proportional to concentration).

A spectrophotometer is related to a colorimeter but may be used to scan across a spectrum of wavelengths. It also measures slightly different properties. A spectrophotometer usually measures transmittance (which is related to absorbance) or reflectance of solutions, transparent or opaque solids, such as polished glass, or gases. Hence a spectrophotometer is of broader application than a colorimeter. It can perform the same functions as a colorimeter, but it can also do more.

Because a colorimeter is much simpler than a spectrophotometer, it is usually much cheaper. Some models of colorimeters are very portable and retail for a bit over US$100 ($100-$250 typically) while a spectrophotometer is almost always a lab bench size unit and will usually cost US$1000 and up ($1000-$6000 typically)

Answer 4

Colorimeters and photometers use filters to obtain a monochromatic light. Spectrophotometers use a monochromator (prism or grating). Of course, a spectrophotometer is a more advanced, accurate and expensive instrument. Colorimeter and filter photometer are practically synonyms.