Book excerpt: Chemical and Biological Applications of Lasers, Volume V focuses on the laser applications in photochemistry and spectroscopy. This book examines the spectroscopic detection of single atoms and explores the purification of industrial chemicals. Organized into seven chapters, this volume starts with an overview of the methods developed for laser detection of single atoms, including fluorescence, photoionization, photodeflection, and their combinations. This text then discusses the methods of high resolution spectroscopy, which provide detailed information on molecular structure and reaction kinetics studies. Other chapters review several laser photodissociation studies, which explain dissociation dynamics. This book discusses as well the possibilities for selective photochemical reactions and examines the potential of lasers for practical application in chemical processing. The final chapter considers the various metals that can undergo a photochemical change in oxidation state in ordinary solvents. This book is a valuable resource for physicists, chemists, electrochemists, photochemists, electrical engineers, and chemical engineers.