Which instrument is used for measuring the amount of visible light absorbed by a colored solution?

The spectrophotometer is the appropriate instrument for measuring the amount of visible light absorbed by a colored solution. This device operates by passing a beam of light through a sample and measuring the intensity of light at specific wavelengths before and after it passes through the solution. The difference in light intensity allows for the calculation of absorbance, which is directly related to the concentration of colored compounds in the solution according to Beer-Lambert law. This makes the spectrophotometer invaluable in various fields, including chemistry and biochemistry, for quantitative analysis of substances based on their light absorption properties.

In contrast, a microscope is primarily used for magnifying small objects for observation, a centrifuge is utilized for separating components of a mixture by density, and a chromatograph separates mixtures into their individual components but does not specifically measure light absorption. Each of these instruments serves distinct functions that do not involve the measurement of light absorption in colored solutions.