Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

Main Difference

The main difference between Colorimeter and Spectrophotometer is that the Colorimeter is the instrument that is used to measure the concentration of color containing solution, whereas Spectrophotometer is the instrument that is used to determine the absorption of light by a chemical substance with the help of the light intensity passes through the sample as the beam of light.

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Colorimeter and Spectrophotometer

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

A colorimeter is used for the measurement of the absorption of light; on the flip side, a spectrophotometer is used for the determination of light passes through the sample.

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

Colorimeter always uses colorful samples; on the opposite side, spectrophotometer always uses the colorless samples.

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

In the colorimeter, the light of a fixed wavelength in the visible region is used; on the other side of the coin, in a spectrophotometer, the light of the range of wavelength is used, including the UV lights.

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

A colorimeter is an instrument that is used to measure the concentration of color containing solution; on the other hand; spectrophotometer is the instrument that is used to measure the absorption of light by a chemical substance with the help of the light intensity passes through the sample as the beam of light.

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

A colorimeter is used for the psychophysical analysis; on the flip side, a spectrophotometer is used for the physical analysis.

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

The components of the colorimeter include sensor and data processor; on the opposite side, the components of the spectrophotometer include a sensor, data processor, and computer with software.

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Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

Colorimeter uses a tristimulus absorption filter; on the other side of the coin, the spectrophotometer uses the prism, grating, and interference filter.

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

Colorimeter has less complexity than the spectrophotometer; on the other hand, the spectrophotometer has more complexity than the colorimeter.

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

The specificity of the colorimeter is general; on the flip side, the specificity of the spectrophotometer is specific.

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

A colorimeter is less costly than the spectrophotometer; on the other hand, a spectrophotometer is more expensive than the colorimeter.

Colorimeternoun

Any of various instruments designed to determine the color of something, by comparison with standard colors or by spectroscopy.

Spectrophotometernoun

(physics) An instrument used to measure the intensity of electromagnetic radiation at different wavelengths.

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Colorimeternoun

(analytical chemistry) An analytic instrument that estimates the concentration of a substance in a sample by measuring its color against the solution's complimentary color.

Spectrophotometernoun

a photometer for comparing two light radiations wavelength by wavelength

Colorimeternoun

a measuring instrument used in colorimetric analysis to determine the quantity of a substance from the color it yields with specific reagents

Comparison Chart

ColorimeterSpectrophotometer
A colorimeter is an instrument that is used to measure the concentration of color containing solutionA spectrophotometer is a type of instrument that is used to measure the absorption of light by a chemical substance with the help of the light intensity passes through the sample as the beam of light.
Use
It is used for determination of absorption of lightIt is used for the determination of light passes through the sample
Sample Color
It needs colorful samplesIt does not need colorful samples
Wavelength
It requires a fixed wavelength of light in the visible regionIt requires a range of wavelength of light
Analysis
It is an instrument for psychophysical analysisIt is an instrument for physical analysis
Components
It includes sensor and data processorIt includes a sensor, data processor and computer with software
Filter
It uses the tristimulus absorption filterIt uses prism, grating or interference filter
Complexity
A colorimeter is less complex than the spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer is more complex than the colorimeter
Specificity
A colorimeter is a general typeA spectrophotometer is a specific type
Cost
A colorimeter is cheaper than the spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer is more expensive than the colorimeter

Colorimeter vs. Spectrophotometer

A colorimeter is used for the determination of the absorption of light; on the flip side, a spectrophotometer is used for the determination of the light that passes through the sample. A colorimeter is an instrument that is used to measure the concentration of color containing solution; on the other hand; spectrophotometer is the instrument that is used to measure the absorption of light by a chemical substance with the help of the light intensity passes through the sample as the beam of light.

Colorimeter needs any colorful samples; on the flip side, the spectrophotometer does not need any colorful samples. Colorimeter uses the light of a fixed wavelength that lies in the visible range; on the other side of the coin, spectrophotometer used the light beam of different ranges of wavelength. Colorimeter usually measures the three primary colors includes red, blue, and green; on the opposite side, spectrophotometer measures the precise colors of UV light wavelengths.

The components of the colorimeter include sensor and simple data processor; on the other hand, the components of the spectrophotometer include a sensor, data processor, and computer software. The colorimeter is less complicated than the spectrophotometer; on the flip side, a spectrophotometer is more complex than the colorimeter.

A colorimeter is an instrument for the psychophysical analysis; on the other hand, a spectrophotometer is an instrument for the physical analysis. Colorimeter uses the tristimulus absorption filter; on the flip side, spectrophotometer uses a grating, prism, or interference filter.

What is Colorimeter?

A colorimeter is an instrument that is used to measure the concentration of color containing solution. It is the type of instrument that is mainly used for the measurement of absorption of light. The sample that is used in the colorimeter is colorful. The light of fixed wavelength is used during the working of the colorimeter that lies in the visible region.

It is used for the analysis of the psychophysical. The main components or parts of the colorimeter include only a sensor and a data processor. The filter that is used in the colorimeter is a tristimulus absorption filter. The colorimeter is less complex than the spectrophotometer. The specificity of the colorimeter is a simple general type. Its cost is not very high. The working of the colorimeter is just limited to the visible portion of light.

A colorimeter is less sensitive than the spectrophotometer. In colorimeter, mainly glasses are used. A colorimeter is an instrument that involves the quantitative measurements of color solution. The principle of colorimeter is the change in the intensity of color causes the change in light absorption.

What is Spectrophotometer?

A spectrophotometer is a type of instrument that is used to measure the absorption of light by a chemical substance with the help of the light intensity passes through the sample as the beam of light. It is the type of instrument that is mainly used for the determination of light passes through the sample.

The sample that is used in the spectrophotometer is colorless. The light of a range of wavelengths is used, including the UV rays is used in the spectrophotometer. It is used for physical analysis. The main components or parts of the spectrophotometer includes a sensor, data processor, and a computer with software. The filters that are used in spectrophotometer are grating, prism, and interference filter.

The complexity of the spectrophotometer is more than the colorimeter. The specificity of the spectrophotometer is specific. Its cost is very high. The working of the spectrophotometer is not limited to the visible portion of light. A spectrophotometer is more sensitive than the colorimeter. A spectrophotometer is an instrument that extends the range of possible measurements beyond those that can be determined by the eye alone.

Conclusion

The above discussion concludes that the colorimeter is used for the measurement of the absorption of light; on the flip side, a spectrophotometer is used for the measurement of light passes through the sample.