Final answer:
Bichromatic analysis in a chemistry assay involves taking absorbance readings at two wavelengths to determine the concentration of a chromophore, applying the Beer - Lambert Law with a constant path length of 1 cm to quantify this relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
A chemistry assay that utilizes bichromatic analysis involves taking absorbance readings at two different wavelengths. This technique is particularly useful in various applications, including organic and biological chemistry, for determining the concentration of a chromophore in a sample. The assay generates a color upon reacting with proteins, and the intensity of this color, which correlates with protein concentration, can be quantified using absorbance readings to create a standard curve.
The Beer - Lambert Law is often applied in this context, stating that absorbance at a given wavelength is directly proportional to the concentration of the substance when the path length is constant, usually set at 1 cm. In the case of measuring NAD* concentration, for example, with a known molar absorptivity (ε) at 260 nm, one can calculate the concentration if the absorbance is known. Here, since maximum absorbance for a compound was given at 630 nm, and knowing the molar absorptivity, one can deduce the concentration of a sample.