In optics and chemistry, the amount of light or radiation absorbed by a substance compared to the amount that passes through it.
From 'absorb' + '-ance' (the state or quality of). This scientific term became standard in analytical chemistry and spectroscopy during the 20th century for measuring light absorption.
Scientists measure 'absorbance' by shining light through colored liquids—depending on the color and concentration, different amounts of light get absorbed. It's how they figure out what's in a mystery solution!
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