What are the differences between absorbance and transmittance?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Absorbance

Transmittance

Definition

Measures the amount of incident light that is absorbed when it travels through a material

Measures the amount of light passing through a sample

Range

Values range from 0 to 1

Has values from greater than 0 and higher

Formula

A = Log 10 (i0/i)

T = i/i0

Value change as concentration is increased

Decreases exponentially

Increases linearly

Inter-relation

When all light is completely absorbed by the sample, absorption is 100% and transmittance is 0%

If all light passes through a sample, its transmittance would be 100% and absorption 0%

Basis of differentiation	Absorbance	Transmittance
Definition	Measures the amount of incident light that is absorbed when it travels through a material	Measures the amount of light passing through a sample
Range	Values range from 0 to 1	Has values from greater than 0 and higher
Formula	A = Log 10 (i₀/i)	T = i/i₀
Value change as concentration is increased	Decreases exponentially	Increases linearly
Inter-relation	When all light is completely absorbed by the sample, absorption is 100% and transmittance is 0%	If all light passes through a sample, its transmittance would be 100% and absorption 0%