Higher Derivative Analysis of Complex Absorption Spectra

Abstract— –A small computer on line with a single‐beam spectrophotometer was used to obtain absorption spectra and higher derivatives (up to the fourth) of the absorption spectra. The spectral resolution was markedly enhanced in the higher derivative curves. The computer was also used to synthesize absorption spectra from Gaussian, Lorentzian and mixed Gaussian‐Lorentzian band shapes in order to explore the higher derivative analysis of completely defined spectra.