Here's why:
* UV Cutoff: Toluene has a UV cutoff around 280 nm. This means it absorbs strongly below this wavelength, making it unsuitable for calibrating UV instruments in the lower UV region.
* Calibration Standards: For UV calibration, we usually use substances with known absorbance properties in the desired wavelength range. Common standards include:
* Potassium dichromate in sulfuric acid: Excellent for calibrating at 257 nm.
* Sodium salicylate: Used for calibrating at 290 nm.
* Holmium oxide filter: Provides several well-defined absorption peaks in the UV and visible region.
* Solvent Considerations: Hexane is a relatively inert solvent with a high UV cutoff, making it suitable for UV measurements. However, the combination of toluene and hexane is not commonly used for calibration purposes.
Possible Misunderstanding:
You might be thinking of using toluene in hexane for other applications in UV spectroscopy, such as:
* Solvent for Samples: Toluene is a common solvent for some organic compounds, and hexane is a good choice to dilute the sample.
* Quantitative Analysis: If you're analyzing a sample containing toluene, using hexane as the solvent would allow you to measure the absorbance of toluene at its characteristic wavelengths.
In summary: While toluene and hexane are used in various UV spectroscopy applications, they are not commonly used for calibration. For UV calibration, specific standards are preferred based on the desired wavelength range.