Vernier Spectrometer
(Order Code: V-SPEC)
The Vernier Spectrometer is a portable visible light
spectrometer.
What is Included with the Vernier Spectrometer?
Spectrometer (with light source/cuvette holder attached)
One package of 15 plastic cuvettes and lids
USB cable
Software Requirements
Logger Pro® 3 (version 3.8.5 or newer) software is required if you are using a
computer. LabQuest App version 2.0, or newer, is required if you are using
LabQuest
®
2. LabQuest App 1.1, or newer, is required if you are using the original
LabQuest. Visit the downloads section of www.vernier.com to update your software.
NOTE: Vernier products are designed for educational use. Our products are not
designed nor are they recommended for any industrial, medical, or commercial
process such as life support, patient diagnosis, control of a manufacturing process, or
industrial testing of any kind.
Safety
When this instrument is in data-collection mode labeled “Intensity”, the light
source will be blocked or turned off. Continue to use proper safety precautions.
Do not remove or modify any of the installed safety components of this device.
Doing so will create an unsafe operating condition and will void the product
warranty.
No user-serviceable parts are in this device. Do not attempt to open or modify this
device. Contact Vernier for all repairs and service including lamp replacement.
Handle the device with care. This instrument can be damaged if it is dropped.
Do not use this instrument if it is damaged in any way. Contact Vernier Technical
Support for troubleshooting and technical assistance.
Do not use this instrument for clinical or diagnostic procedures.
Use the Vernier Spectrometer with a Computer
(For LabQuest instructions, see page 5)
Getting Started
1. Ensure Logger Pro software (version 3.8.5 or newer) is installed on your
computer before using the Vernier Spectrometer.
2. Connect the Spectrometer to a powered USB port on the computer or a powered
USB hub. Note: The first time you connect a spectrometer, your computer may
ask you a few questions. Do not go online for device drivers. The device drivers
were installed when you installed Logger Pro 3.
3. Start Logger Pro software on your computer.
2
Select the Type of Data (or Units) You Want to Measure
The default data type is absorbance. If you want to measure the absorbance of a
solution, proceed directly to the Calibrate section below.
If you want to measure %T or intensity, do the following:
1. Choose Change Units ► Spectrometer from the Experiment menu.
2. Select the unit or data type you wish to measure.
Calibrate (Not Required if Measuring Intensity)
1. To calibrate the Spectrometer, choose Calibrate ► Spectrometer from the
Experiment menu. Note: For best results, allow the Spectrometer to warm up for a
minimum of five minutes.
2. Fill a cuvette about ¾ full with distilled water (or the solvent being used in the
experiment) to serve as the blank. After the Spectrometer has warmed up, place
the blank cuvette in the Spectrometer. Align the cuvette so the clear side of the
cuvette is facing the light source.
3. Follow the instructions in the dialog box to complete the calibration, and then
click
.
Collect Data with a Computer
There are three general types of data collection that measure absorbance or
transmittance—absorbance (or %T) vs. wavelength, which produces a spectrum,
absorbance (or %T) vs. concentration for Beer’s law experiments, and absorbance
(or %T) vs. time for kinetics experiments.
Measurement vs. Wavelength (Generate a Spectrum)
1. Fill a cuvette about ¾ full of a sample of the solution to be tested. Place the
sample in the Spectrometer and click . Click to end data
collection.
2. To store the spectrum data, choose Store Latest Run from the Experiment menu.
Measurement vs. Concentration (Beer’s law Studies)
1. Generate a spectrum as described above.
2. Click the Configure Spectrometer Data Collection button,
.
There are three regions in this box:
Collection Mode The three options for data collection are offered. If the
measurement (Absorbance in this example) vs. Time or vs. Concentration is
selected, a wavelength or wavelengths will need to be chosen.
Graph The graph displays a full-spectrum analysis of the sample in the
cuvette holder. By default, the wavelength with the maximum measured value
will be selected. You may wish to select a different wavelength. See Step 3 for
details.
List of wavelength options This column lists all the available wavelengths. It
becomes active when either the Concentration or Time mode is selected.
3. Select Absorbance (or %T) vs. Concentration as the data-collection mode. The
wavelength with the maximum value from the spectrum (λ max) will be
automatically selected. There are three options when choosing a wavelength (or
wavelengths) for subsequent measurements.
Option 1 The default option is to use a single 10 nm band. This measures the
average absorbance from ~5 nm on either side of the chosen wavelength. You
3
can change the center wavelength value by clicking on the graph or by
choosing a wavelength from the list.
Option 2 If you wish to use the λ max chosen by Logger Pro, but you want the
absorbance to be measured only at that one wavelength, change Single 10 nm
Band to Individual Wavelengths. You may then select up to ten wavelengths to
measure at the same time.
Option 3 If you wish to measure an average over a range of contiguous
wavelengths of your choice, change Single 10 nm Band to Individual
Wavelengths. Click
. Select boxes in the list or drag your cursor on
the graph to select up to ten contiguous wavelengths. Check Combine
Contiguous Wavelengths.
4. Click
to continue.
5. Click
.
Place your first sample in the cuvette slot of the Spectrometer.
After the readings stabilize, click . Enter the concentration of the sample
and click .
6. Place your second sample in the cuvette slot. After the readings stabilize, click
. Enter the concentration of the second sample and click .
7. Repeat Step 6 for the remaining samples. When finished, click to end
data collection.
8. Click Linear Fit,
, to see the best fit line equation for the standard solutions.
9. If doing Beer’s law to determine the concentration of an unknown, place the
unknown sample in the cuvette holder. Choose Interpolation Calculator from the
Analyze menu. A helper box will appear, displaying the absorbance and
concentration of the unknown. Click
.
Measurement vs. Time (Kinetics)
1. Generate a spectrum as described above.
2. Click the Configure Spectrometer Data Collection button,
.
3. Select Absorbance vs. Time as the data-collection mode. The wavelength of
maximum absorbance will be selected. Click
to continue or click
and select a wavelength on the graph or in the list of wavelengths.
See the previous section for more details.
4. The default settings are 1 sample per second for 200 seconds. To change the
data-collection parameters for your experiment, choose Data Collection from the
Experiment menu and make the necessary changes. Click
.
5. Mix the reactants. Transfer ~2 mL of the reaction mixture to a cuvette and place
the cuvette in the Spectrometer. Click
. Click if you wish to end
data collection early.
6. Click Curve Fit,
, to calculate a function for your data.
4
Measure Emission Spectra with a Computer
You may use your Spectrometer to measure the emission spectrum of a light source
such as an LED or a gas discharge tube. To do so, you will need to purchase an
optical fiber assembly (order code: VSP-EM-FIBER).
Measure Intensity of Light Emissions
1. Use a small screwdriver to loosen the two screws that connect the cuvette holder
to the Spectrometer (see Figure 1). Remove the cuvette holder and connect an
optical fiber assembly to the Spectrometer.
Figure 1
2. Use a USB cable to connect the Spectrometer to your computer.
3. Start Logger Pro 3.
4. Choose Change Units ► Spectrometer ► Intensity from the Experiment menu.
Intensity is a relative measure with a range of 0–1. Note: The Spectrometer is not
calibrated for measuring intensity.
5. Aim the tip of the optical fiber cable at a light source. Click
. Click
to end data collection.
If the spectrum maxes out (flat and wide peaks at a value of 1), increase the distance
between the light source and the tip of the optical fiber cable or reduce the sample
time (see Change the Settings in Logger Pro 3 below).
To increase the sample time, or if data collection is unusually slow, choose Set Up
Sensors ► Spectrometer: 1 from the Experiment menu. Set the Sample Time (begin
with 75 ms, with subsequent reductions by 20 ms) to a suitable value and decrease
the Samples to Average to 1.
Use the Stored Emissions Files in Logger Pro 3
Logger Pro 3 contains a folder of emissions graphs from selected discharge tubes,
including: argon, helium, hydrogen, mercury, oxygen, sodium, and xenon. You can
display and analyze these graphs without a Spectrometer connected to your
computer. Follow the steps below to view one of these graphs.
1. Choose Open from the File menu.
2. Open the Sample Data folder.
3. Inside the Sample Data folder, open the Physics folder.
4. Inside the Physics folder, open the Gas Discharge Spectra. Open the desired file.
You can use the mercury emissions graph to test fluorescent lighting for the presence
of mercury.
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