The formula to calculate the Wavenumber (W) is:
\[ W = \frac{1}{\lambda} \]
Where:
Cm to wavenumber is a conversion used in spectroscopy, which is the study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation. The wavenumber, often used in infrared spectroscopy, is the spatial frequency of a wave, measured in cycles per unit distance or radians per unit distance. It is typically measured in reciprocal centimeters (cm-1), hence the conversion from cm to wavenumber. The wavenumber is calculated as the reciprocal of the wavelength in centimeters (1/wavelength).
Consider an example where:
Using the formula to calculate the Wavenumber:
\[ W = \frac{1}{0.5} = 2 \text{ cm}^{-1} \]
This means that the wavenumber for this example is 2 cm-1.
