What is the difference between glass and quartz cuvettes?

Glass, plastic and quartz cuvettes are all suitable for measurements made at longer wavelengths, such as in the visible light range.

How can you tell quartz from glass?

Quartz crystals rate around 7 on the Mohs scale. Therefore, a piece of quartz crystal should easily scratch a piece of glass. Test the unknown stone under inspection by trying to scratch a common piece of glass such as a glass bottle with it. If the object easily scratches the glass, it probably is quartz crystal.

What is the difference between glass and quartz as both made of silica?

The main difference between the two is that Fused Silica is composed of a non-crystalline silica glass, while Quartz is made from crystalline silica. This difference gives Fused Silica very high transmission in the UV spectrum compared to that of Quartz.

When should you use a quartz cuvette?

If wavelengths in the UV-range, below approximately 300 nm, are employed, cuvettes made from quartz glass, or a special type of plastic, which provide sufficient transparency in this range, must be used (figure 2).

How are quartz cuvettes made?

All our in-stock UV fused quartz cuvettes are made by diffusion bonding method. Quartz is heated to a high temperature and then adhered together by applying pressure.

What are the different types of cuvettes?

The four most popular cuvette materials are listed below:

• Optical Glass or Pyrex Glass.
• UV Quartz.
• IR Quartz.
• Sapphire.

Whats the difference between quartz and glass?

As an amorphous substance, glass has a random molecular structure, while quartz has a symmetrical molecular structure. Quartz can be subject to greater temperature and pressure as compared to glass. Both quartz and glass are utilized for electrical purposes; glass is an insulator, while quartz is a conductor.

What is a difference between glass and quartz though both contain SiO4?

What is the difference between glass and quartz, though both contain SiO44– units? Both naturally-occurring and artificial quartz crystal contains at least ninety-nine percent silicone dioxide, while cut glass crystal only possesses at most eighty percent silicone dioxide.

Why ordinary Pyrex or glass cells are not suitable for UV spectrophotometry?

Because glass will absorb all the UV energy below 280nm. One has to use quartz instead to be able to work until 210nm. You can use glass if working with colored substances but not if you need to work in lower than 280 nm range.

Why is glass not suitable cell material for use in UV spectroscopy?

Why is glass not a suitable cell material for use in UV spectroscopy? Simply because quartz cuvette is totally transparent to UV light in this range of wavelengths that are used. Other common materials like glass partly absorb, whereas they are totally transparent to visible light.