What is a common application of a spectrophotometer in a laboratory?

A spectrophotometer is primarily used in laboratories to measure the concentration of biomolecules in a solution based on the amount of light absorbed at specific wavelengths. This technique relies on the principle that different substances absorb light differently; as the concentration of a particular biomolecule increases, the absorbance of light at its characteristic wavelength also increases. By using a calibration curve, which is created by measuring known concentrations of the biomolecule, the spectrophotometer can accurately quantify the concentration of unknown samples.

In contrast, heating samples for reactions involves different laboratory instruments like hot plates or water baths, not a spectrophotometer. Visualizing cellular structures is typically done using microscopes, while culturing bacteria requires incubators and culture media. The specificity and sensitivity of spectrophotometry make it an invaluable tool for quantifying concentrations in biochemical research and clinical laboratories.