White light being split by a prism | Image: Wikipedia
Spectroscopy is the study of how matter interacts with electromagnetic radiation, including light. Different compounds, chemicals, and materials interact with light in different ways. Analytical chemists can use this knowledge to learn about a material or compound.
To learn more about different kinds of spectroscopy, take a look at the Royal Society of Chemistry’s guide.
In this zone we will meet five chemists using spectroscopy in their research. There is one scientist using chemistry to analyse forensic samples, another one studying the compounds detect explosives. There is one scientist using chemistry to understand cancer, another one making medicines, food and perfumes, and one scientist helping astronomers work out the composition of faraway planets.