Term: stray radiation error
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S06045

Definition:
A spectrometer set to pass radiation of a particular wavelength band always has a small amount of stray radiation of other wavelengths. Since the sample may absorb more (or less) of this stray radiation than of the radiation at the selected wavelength an error can occur. This error is called a stray radiation error.

Related Terms:
1) spectrometer (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05837).
2) wavelength (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.W06659).

Source: PAC, 1988, 60, 1449. 'Nomenclature, symbols, units and their usage in spectrochemical analysis - VII. Molecular absorption spectroscopy, ultraviolet and visible (UV/VIS) (Recommendations 1988)' on page 1456 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac198860091449)

Citation: 'stray radiation error' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S06045

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