Difference Between Spectrometer And Spectrophotometer

While all spectrophotometers are equipped with a spectrometer, many other analytical instruments are also equipped with spectrometers. Confused? Read on to learn the difference and better understand the range of applications that can be addressed using an analytical solution that includes a spectrometer.

What is a spectrometer?

Spectrometers are used to separate and measure the spectral components of physical phenomena. They measure continuous variables of phenomena whose spectral components are mixed in some way, such as a beam of white light.

The instruments we offer use spectrometers to measure two parts of the electromagnetic spectrum: an X-ray spectrometer for X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and an optical spectrometer for visible and near-infrared analysis.

What is a spectrophotometer?

A spectrophotometer quantitatively measures the reflectance or transmittance properties of a material as a function of wavelength.

Spectrometers and Spectrophotometers

There is often confusion between a spectrometer and a spectrophotometer. A spectrophotometer contains a spectrometer, but also contains a light source for sample illumination.

At CHNSpec, we can provide solutions that require both a spectrophotometer and a colorimeter. If you are still not sure which solution is best for your application, please contact us and we will help you out.