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How to Use an ATI-Unicam UV Spectrophometer With References

Ultraviolet spectrophotometers operate on the same basic principle. Ultraviolet (UV) light is sent through and absorbed by atoms in a sample. When atoms absorb light, the electrons move away from the nucleus. As electrons give up that energy, they move back, and emit another type of light. Scientist learn about the structure and composition of that sample by measuring the type of light released. The ATI-Unicam UV spectrophotometer is no different, and instructions for running a sample are outlined below.

Things You'll Need

ATI-Unicam UV Spectrophotometer
Cuvette
Standard Reference Samples
Unknown Test Sample

Instructions

- 1
  Start the ATI spectrophotometer software called SOLAAR.
- 2
  Place a clean and empty cuvette into one of the empty holders in the machine (there should be two holders). Click on "background" to calibrate stray radiation. Replace the blank cuvette with a standard reference sample; these are extremely pure examples of compounds to test against.
- 3
  Place another cleaned cuvette with an unknown sample to test into the other holder and click on "run." The spectrophotometer will run both the standard and the unknown samples. If the unknown contains the same chemical as the standard reference, then the spectrographs will correlate with each other.
- 4
  Use the mouse cursor to identify any peaks of interest on the spectrograph.

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