Extinction Coefficient

The extinction coefficient is a measurement used in chemistry and physics to describe how strongly a substance absorbs light at a specific wavelength. Think of it as a property that tells you how effectively a substance can block or diminish the intensity of light passing through it. A higher extinction coefficient means the substance is very good at absorbing light, making it useful for applications like monitoring concentrations in solutions or understanding material properties. It is a fundamental parameter in spectrophotometry, helping scientists quantify how much of a substance is present based on how much light it absorbs.