What type of graph represents absorption spectra?

A plot of absorbance versus wavelength is the correct representation of absorption spectra. In spectroscopy, absorption spectra are obtained by measuring how much light a substance absorbs at different wavelengths. The resulting graph displays absorbance on the vertical axis and wavelength on the horizontal axis.

Absorbance is a measure of the amount of light that is not transmitted through a sample, thus giving insight into how various compounds interact with light at specific wavelengths. Each substance has a unique absorption spectrum based on its molecular structure, which helps in identifying and characterizing materials. The peaks in the graph indicate wavelengths where the absorbance is high, corresponding to the energy levels associated with electronic transitions in the molecules.

In contrast, plots of intensity versus time would be relevant for time-resolved measurements, while plots of concentration versus volume pertain to titration curves or concentration changes over a reaction, and temperature versus pressure graphs are used in thermodynamic studies. These other graph types do not relate directly to the measurement of light absorption characteristics that define an absorption spectrum.