Scholars' Showcase 2025

Caffeine is a stimulant drug that makes us feel more awake. Caffeine is found in most medications, including weight loss pills, cold and flu remedies, and pain medications. With evidence of mislabeled pill bottles, the question arises as to whether manufacturing companies match the amounts of caffeine in each pill to the labels on the bottles. Using UV-Vis spectroscopy, four samples were tested to determine the concentration of caffeine in each pill. The concentrations measured by UV-Vis revealed higher levels of caffeine in each pill than expected. The results indicated mislabeling on the pill bottles.