Why is 254nm the Most Common Wavelength in HPLC?
It’s because of physics, chemistry and history. These chromophores have strong UV absorption around 254 nm due to π → π* transitions. Besides: Classical TLC plates often contained fluorescein, that fluoresced at 254 nm (“F254” plates). Compounds that absorbed at 254 nm appeared as dark spots on a fluorescein plate. And since TLC chemists almost…
