What can affect the absorbance of a solution when measuring concentration?

The absorbance of a solution is influenced by several factors, with the path length of the container and the concentration of the solute being two critical elements. According to Beer-Lambert Law, absorbance is directly proportional to both the concentration of the solute and the path length of the light passing through the solution.

When the concentration of the solute increases, more molecules are present to absorb light, leading to higher absorbance values. Similarly, if the path length through which light travels increases, the light interacts with more molecules, further increasing the absorbance. Therefore, both the concentration of the solute and the path length are essential parameters that affect the overall absorbance measured in a solution.

The molar mass of the solute does not directly influence absorbance. While it can relate to the calculation of concentrations, especially when determining how much of a solute is present in a solution, it does not impact how light is absorbed by the solution itself. This makes the combination of both the path length and the concentration the factors that specifically affect absorbance in this context.