Here, we present the results of our spectrophotometric analysis of various liquors in song.

Lyrics:

light is a form of electromagnetic radiation
and visible light is many wavelengths in combination
and each wavelength is associated with a specific particle of energy
but do different alcohols absorbs these wavelengths equally?

well we tested five kinds of alcohol some differing in color
and their absorbance spectra were different from each other
each spectrophotometer reading gaves us a few distinct peaks
looking back on our data we noticed many repeats

the three light alcohols
gin, grain alcohol and light tequila
had absorbance peaks very much the same

but whiskey and dark tequila absorbed light in a different way

so this quantitative analysis matches
with the qualitative analysis of the color
the lighter and the darker alcohol’s absorbance peaks
do not agree with one another

so if
light is a form of electromagnetic radiation
visible light is many wavelengths in combination
and each wavelength is associated with a specific particle of energy
different alcohols do not absorb these wavelengths equally
no different alcohols do not absorb these wavelengths
equallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

We were able to analyze the absorbances of five samples of alcohol: gin, whiskey, light tequila, dark tequila, and grain alcohol. Interestingly, absorbance peaks were similar for gin, light tequila, and grain alcohol (samples 1, 4, and 5, respectively); both whiskey (2) and dark tequila (3) had unique absorbance spectra:

Data table of absorbance peaks.

The absorbance data correlates with qualitative observations of color:

From left to right, water, gin, whiskey, dark tequila, light tequila, and grain alcohol in spectrophotometry cuvettes.

We will analyze the data and create a song to present to the class.

Science/Technology Involved
We will be doing a spectrophotometric analysis on a variety of alcoholic beverages.  This analysis will show us the variable wavelength absorbances of the compounds in each solution.  It will display which wavelengths are more efficiently absorbed by the drink.

Spectrophotometric analysis displays the variable wavelength absorbances of compounds in solution; here, we apply this powerful analytic tool to a variety of alcoholic beverages in order to determine their unique absorptive spectra. These spectra will reveal similarities and differences in the compounds which give each beverage its characteristic color, as well as the wavelengths which are most efficiently absorbed by the beverage. We present, in song, the results of this analysis, as well as the physical principles which are utilized in spectrophotometry.

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