What are the limitations of UV-Vis spectroscopy?

UV-Vis spectroscopy is limited to measuring solutions and cannot be applied to solid or gaseous samples. Another limitation arises from stray light. Imperfections in wavelength selectors and environmental factors can lead to stray light, potentially causing measurement errors. Additionally, suspended solids or bubbles in the sample can scatter light, leading to inconsistent results. The misalignment of instrument components, especially the sample cuvette, can result in inaccurate results. Lastly, samples with multiple absorbing species (e.g. different chlorophylls) can have overlapping spectra, requiring individual analysis for accurate quantification.