Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Spectrophotometry: Introduction

Spectrophotometry: Introduction

Spectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of the absorption, reflection, diffraction, or transmission of electromagnetic radiation through a material as a function of the intensity and wavelength of the radiation. A spectrophotometer is a device used to measure the change in the radiation intensity caused by its interaction with the material.
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...

UV–Vis Spectrometers

UV–Vis Spectrometers

The absorbance of UV and visible (UV–visible) radiations is measured using a UV–visible spectrophotometer. Deuterium lamps, which emit UV radiation, and tungsten lamps, which produce radiation in the visible region, are used as light sources in UV–visible spectrophotometers. A monochromator or prism is used for diffraction grating, i.e., to split the incoming radiation into different wavelengths. A system of slits is used to focus the desired wavelength on the sample cell. Samples for...

Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview

Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview

Ultraviolet–visible (UV–visible or UV–Vis) spectroscopy is an analytical technique that investigates the interaction between matter and UV–Vis light within the electromagnetic spectrum. This method is widely used for its versatility, simplicity, and relatively quick data acquisition, making it valuable for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. When UV–Vis radiation passes through a material, molecules absorb light depending on the energy required for electronic transitions. As a result...

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Instrumentation

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Instrumentation

An atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) comprises several components: a radiation source, an atomizer, a monochromator, and a detector. The radiation source can be a hollow-cathode lamp (HCL) or an electrodeless-discharge lamp (EDL), both of which provide a narrow emission line of the required wavelength. However, some instruments use continuum sources and high-resolution monochromators to achieve a narrow range of radiation.
The atomizer used in AAS can be either a flame atomizer or an...

IR Spectrometers

IR Spectrometers

There are two main infrared (IR) spectrophotometers: dispersive IR spectrometers and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers. In a dispersive IR spectrometer, a beam of infrared radiation produced by a hot wire is divided into two parallel equal-intensity beams using mirrors. One beam passes through the sample, while another is a reference beam. The beams then move through the monochromator, which separates the radiations into a continuous spectrum of different frequencies. The...

UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Woodward–Fieser Rules

UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Woodward–Fieser Rules

UV–Visible absorption spectra of conjugated dienes arise from the lowest energy π&VeryThinSpace;→&VeryThinSpace;π* transitions. The light-absorbing part of the molecule is called the chromophore, and the substituents directly attached to the chromophore are called auxochromes. A strong correlation exists between the absorption maxima, λmax, and the structure of a conjugated π system. The Woodward–Fieser rules predict the value of λmax for a given structure by adding the contributions...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The mechanics and characteristics of the cough.

Marquette medical review·2010

Same author

Photoreactivating enzyme from Escherichia coli: interactions with DNA and mechanism of action.

Biophysical journal·2009

Same author

Human photoreactivating enzyme action spectrum and safelight conditions.

Biophysical journal·2009

Same author

Light flux density threshold at which protein denaturation is induced by synchrotron radiation circular dichroism beamlines.

Journal of synchrotron radiation·2008

Same author

Clustered DNA damages as dosemeters for ionising radiation exposure and biological responses.

Radiation protection dosimetry·2002

Same author

The integrating ion imager: a device for determining heavy ion doses during irradiations.

Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB)·2002

Same journal

Compressed multi-scale entropy and its application in mechanical fault diagnosis.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

Bidirectional drive and multi-resolution adjustment across frequency bands in inertial impact piezoelectric motors via multimodal resonant vibration.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

A magnetic field sensor based on flaky Terfenol-D material and dual fiber grating.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

A novel E-field eight-way cavity combiner for high-power S-band applications.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

Constant radius blade spring suspended bench for vibration isolation.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

Qualification of infrared optical fibers and emitters for a spectrometer for in situ planetary exploration: Results from the TRIS (TRansmission and Illumination System) project.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

UV-Vis Spectroscopic Characterization of Nanomaterials in Aqueous Media

UV-Vis Spectroscopic Characterization of Nanomaterials in Aqueous Media

Published on: October 25, 2021

Universal computer interface for the Cary 118C spectrophotometer.

J C Sutherland¹, T T Boles

¹Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California 92717.

The Review of Scientific Instruments

|June 1, 1978

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A new interface enables computers to control a Cary 118C spectrophotometer and collect spectral data remotely. This system enhances flexibility for spectral analysis using high-level programming languages.

More Related Videos

Measurement and Analysis of Atomic Hydrogen and Diatomic Molecular AlO, C2, CN, and TiO Spectra Following Laser-induced Optical Breakdown

Measurement and Analysis of Atomic Hydrogen and Diatomic Molecular AlO, C₂, CN, and TiO Spectra Following Laser-induced Optical Breakdown

Published on: February 14, 2014

Using Three-color Single-molecule FRET to Study the Correlation of Protein Interactions

Using Three-color Single-molecule FRET to Study the Correlation of Protein Interactions

Published on: January 30, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

UV-Vis Spectroscopic Characterization of Nanomaterials in Aqueous Media

UV-Vis Spectroscopic Characterization of Nanomaterials in Aqueous Media

Published on: October 25, 2021

Measurement and Analysis of Atomic Hydrogen and Diatomic Molecular AlO, C2, CN, and TiO Spectra Following Laser-induced Optical Breakdown

Measurement and Analysis of Atomic Hydrogen and Diatomic Molecular AlO, C₂, CN, and TiO Spectra Following Laser-induced Optical Breakdown

Published on: February 14, 2014

Using Three-color Single-molecule FRET to Study the Correlation of Protein Interactions

Using Three-color Single-molecule FRET to Study the Correlation of Protein Interactions

Published on: January 30, 2018

Area of Science:

Analytical Chemistry
Spectroscopy
Instrumentation

Background:

The Cary 118C spectrophotometer is a widely used instrument for spectral analysis.
Remote operation and data collection from scientific instruments can improve experimental efficiency and accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a user-friendly interface for computer control of a Cary 118C spectrophotometer.
To enable remote spectral data collection and instrument wavelength setting.

Main Methods:

Construction of a simple computer interface compatible with various computer systems.
Development of software allowing operation via high-level programming languages (e.g., Fortran, BASIC).

Main Results:

Successful implementation of an interface for controlling the Cary 118C spectrophotometer.
Demonstrated capability for collecting spectral data and managing wavelength settings remotely.
Compatibility with most computer types, irrespective of proximity to the spectrophotometer.

Conclusions:

The developed interface provides a flexible and accessible solution for operating the Cary 118C spectrophotometer.
Facilitates automated spectral data acquisition and analysis through computer control.
Enhances the utility of the spectrophotometer in diverse laboratory settings.