The relocation of the spectral light absorption peeks of a colorant to shorter or longer wavelengths are referred to respectively as hypsochromic and bathochromic shifts. They are molecular rather than atomic phenomena and they characterise the electromagnetic resonant frequency of its atomic bonding structure. A ‘hypo’ shift will occur if the resonance of a subsection of the structure is suppressed by stearic hindrance or it is reduced in size by chemical reduction of electronic double bond atomic links. A ‘batho’ shift is typical of solvent effects which may indicate partial solution; and usually occur due to the clumping of molecules into aggregates or the formation micelles.
The colour intensity of the molecule reflects its chemical purity and purity is characterized by sharp narrow-band light absorption. Peek broadening and loss of intensity typically represents the effect of contaminant structures with multiple resonant frequencies.