Wavelength to Frequency Converter
Common Conversions
| nm | Hz |
|---|---|
| 100 | 2998000000000000 |
| 200 | 1499000000000000 |
| 254 | 1180000000000000 |
| 400 | 749500000000000 |
| 500 | 599600000000000 |
| 600 | 499700000000000 |
| 700 | 428300000000000 |
| 1000 | 299800000000000 |
| 2000 | 149900000000000 |
| 5000 | 59960000000000 |
| 10000 | 29980000000000 |
| 100000 | 2998000000000 |
Why this conversion matters in chemistry
DNA-photolesion mechanistic work runs into this conversion routinely. A 260 nm DNA absorbance peak converts to 1.153 × 10¹⁵ Hz via ν = c/λ with c = 299,792,458 m/s exact — and from there to E = hν = 7.64 × 10⁻¹⁹ J = 4.77 eV per photon. The figure is what a biophysical-chemistry group compares against the energy threshold for pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoadduct formation. It sits at the handoff between nm-stated UV-Vis wavelength axes and the Hz form quantum photon-energy math actually uses.
Formula
Hz = c ÷ λ = 2.998 × 10¹⁷ ÷ nm
Worked Examples
500 nm = 5.996 × 10¹⁴ Hz
About green light — the middle of the visible spectrum.
400 nm = 7.495 × 10¹⁴ Hz
About violet light — the high-energy edge of visible.
700 nm = 4.283 × 10¹⁴ Hz
About red light — the low-energy edge of visible.
254 nm = 1.180 × 10¹⁵ Hz
About a UV germicidal wavelength — the Hg-lamp anchor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert wavelength to frequency?
Divide the speed of light by the wavelength: ν = c/λ. With λ in nm and c = 2.998 × 10¹⁷ nm/s, the formula is f(Hz) = 2.998 × 10¹⁷ ÷ λ(nm).
What is the speed of light?
c = 2.99792458 × 10⁸ m/s = 2.998 × 10¹⁷ nm/s. The constant is defined exactly — the meter is now defined in terms of c, not the other way around.
How does frequency relate to energy?
E = hν, with h = 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s. Higher frequency means higher energy and shorter wavelength — the same photon viewed three ways.