What is the difference between a spectroscope and a spectrophotometer?
A spectroscope is a simple device, usually with a prism, which allows you to see spectral lines in light, with your own eyes, coming from a source, such as a star. The spectrophotometer is much more sophisticated, using a light (ir, vis, uv) to project through anything translucent (solution, crystal, etc.) and a dectector coupled to a chart or computer so that a scan over a spectrum of wavelengths is displayed on one axis and the absorbance or transmittance on the other. Spectrophotometers are expensive ($10K+). You might consider the following instrument: A peice of polaroid film (nothing to do with the camera, same name as the corporation, founded by the great Edwin Land) This film is the same as polarized sunglasses coating. It admits light in one plane, but not the plane perpendicular. For example, admits vertical, but blocks horizontal. This film can be rotated in a circle in front of an illuminated cell containing your protein solution and, when it is clear or black, describes th
