A solution was prepared by dissolving tryptophan and tyrosine
in 0.15 M NaOH(aq) and a sample was transferred to a cell of length
1.00 cm. The two amino acids share the same molar absorption
coefficient at 294 nm (2.38 10 ³ d m ³ mo l ⁻ 1 c m ⁻ 1) and the absorbance
of the solution at that wavelength is 0.468. At 280 nm the molar
absorption coefficients are 5.23 10 ³ and 1.58 10 ³ d m ³ mo l ⁻ 1 c m ⁻ 1
respectively and the total absorbance of the solution is 0.676. What are
the concentrations of the two amino acids? Hint: It would be sensible
to use the result derived in Exercise 12.13, but this specific example
could be worked through without using that general case.