Colorimeters

Colorimeters are instruments that determine how much of a component a sample solution contains by comparing its colour with standard solutions. The deeper the colour, the more of the target substance — a principle that underpins countless rapid food tests, from sugar and protein assays to the measurement of browning or pigment content. Modern versions read absorbance at defined wavelengths, replacing the analyst’s eye with a detector. They are the workhorses of quality laboratories: fast, affordable, and reliable, provided they are calibrated against proper standards and the chemistry is specific to the analyte.