UV-visible spectroscopy is a technique that readily allows one to determine the concentrations of substances and therefore enables scientists to study the rates of reactions, and determine rate equations for reactions, from which a mechanism can be proposed. As such UV spectroscopy is used extensively in teaching, research and analytical laboratories for the quantitative analysis of all molecules that absorb ultraviolet and visible electromagnetic radiation. Find out more about the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Spectroscopy in a Suitcase scheme by visiting the SpectraSchool website.