UV-visible Spectroscopy Demonstration

Open the scan program on the workstation computer and navigate to the setup tab. Configure the wavelength range from 800 to 400 nanometers for visible spectrum analysis, change the mode from survey to fastest, and enable baseline correction.

Rinse a quartz cuvette with the blank solvent solution, being careful not to scratch it with the glass pipette. Wipe the clear sides with a Kimwipe to remove smudges, then fill the cuvette to at least 2/3 height with pure solvent.

Place the blank-filled cuvette into the instrument holder with transparent sides facing left to right and translucent sides facing front to back. Click the baseline button to establish a 100% transmittance reference that the software will subtract from all subsequent measurements.

Remove the blank solution from the cuvette and add one or two drops of the IR sample solution. Dilute the sample by adding clean solvent with a pipette while mixing until the solution is only slightly colored, ensuring it is not too concentrated for UV analysis.

Place the prepared sample cuvette into the instrument with transparent sides facing left to right, close the cover, and click the start button in the software. If prompted, enter an appropriate session file name and sample label, then observe the spectrum collecting in real time.

Remove the sample cuvette from the instrument and close the cover. Dump the sample into a waste beaker and rinse the cuvette three times with clean solvent aliquots, taking care not to touch the pipette to the cuvette walls. Wipe the outside surfaces with a Kimwipe to remove smudges.