How was ultraviolet radiation discovered?

While at the University, Ritter performed numerous experiments. Johann Ritter is best known for his discovery of ultraviolet light in 1801. A year earlier, in 1800, William Herschel discovered infrared light. This was the first time that a form of light beyond visible light had been detected. read more

Ritter's experiment, along with Herschel's discovery, proved that invisible forms of light existed beyond both ends of the visible spectrum. After his discovery of ultraviolet light, Ritter continued to do research and became increasingly interested in electrical experiments. He had discovered the process of electroplating earlier in 1800. read more

> After hearing about Herschel's discovery of an invisible form of light beyond the red portion of the spectrum, Ritter decided to conduct experiments to determine if invisible light existed beyond the violet end of the spectrum as well. read more

The discovery of the ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths below 200 nm, named"vacuum ultraviolet" because it is strongly absorbed by the air, was made in 1893 by the German physicist Victor Schumann. read more