Bathochrome is a term that is often used in chemistry and optics. It refers to a shift in the wavelength of light that is absorbed or emitted by a substance. This shift can be caused by a variety of factors, including changes in temperature, pressure, or chemical composition.
Definitions
The term bathochrome is derived from the Greek words “bathos,” meaning depth, and “chroma,” meaning color. In chemistry, a bathochrome is a chemical group or molecule that causes a shift in the absorption or emission spectrum of a substance. This shift is typically towards longer wavelengths, resulting in a change in the color of the substance.
Origin
The term bathochrome was first used in the early 20th century by German chemist Richard Abegg. He used it to describe the phenomenon of color changes in certain organic compounds when they were dissolved in solvents. Since then, the term has been widely used in the fields of chemistry and optics.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, bathochrome refers to “a chemical group or molecule that causes a shift in the absorption or emission spectrum of a substance.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a chemical group or molecule that causes a shift in the absorption or emission spectrum of a substance towards longer wavelengths.”
Associations
Bathochromic shifts are often associated with changes in the electronic structure of a molecule. They can be caused by the presence of certain functional groups, such as -OH or -NH2, or by changes in the polarity of a solvent. Bathochromic shifts can also be used to study the binding of ligands to proteins and enzymes.
Synonyms
There are several synonyms for bathochrome, including bathochromism, hypsochromic shift, and red shift. These terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same phenomenon.
Antonyms
The opposite of a bathochrome shift is a hypsochromic shift, which refers to a shift towards shorter wavelengths. This can be caused by changes in the electronic structure of a molecule, or by changes in the polarity of a solvent.
The same root words
The root words of bathochrome, “bathos” and “chroma,” are also used in other scientific terms. For example, batholith refers to a large mass of igneous rock that has been intruded into the earth’s crust, while chromatography refers to a technique used to separate and analyze mixtures of chemicals.
Example Sentences
- The addition of a -OH group to the molecule caused a bathochromic shift in the absorption spectrum.
- The bathochromic shift observed in the protein-ligand complex suggested a strong binding interaction.
- The hypsochromic shift observed in the presence of a polar solvent indicated a change in the electronic structure of the molecule.