Which instrument is used to separate and analyze light into its component wavelengths?

The correct instrument for separating and analyzing light into its component wavelengths is the spectrograph. A spectrograph utilizes the principle of diffraction grating or prisms to disperse light into its various wavelengths, resulting in a spectrum. This spectrum allows for the analysis of the intensity and wavelength of light, providing valuable information about the composition of light emitted or absorbed by a substance.

Spectrophotometers, while also related to the analysis of light, primarily measure the intensity of light at specific wavelengths rather than separating light into its components. Chromatographs are used for separating mixtures in chemistry, specifically by utilizing different rates of movement through a stationary phase, rather than analyzing light. Microscopes are tools for magnifying small objects for observation, not for analyzing the wavelengths of light. Thus, the spectrograph is the most suitable instrument for the task of separating and analyzing light into its component wavelengths.