1. If the software is not already running, double click on the Spectrum icon to start the acquisition program. When prompted, log in as chem313 with the password org313. The instrument is 1. Spectrum One. Do not activate IR assistant. Press Return or click okay.

2. The program will open and check the hardware. Then you will see a message which is titled Accessory Ready Check. It should say System Ready for Use. You may click the Cancel button.

2A. If you are not the first user and there is a spectrum already displayed, click on the Delete icon to clear the window for you.

3. Run a background spectrum.

1. Make sure the sample area is clean and empty.
2. Choose Scan from the Instrument menu drop down list.
3. A window titled Spectrum One Scan and Instrument Setup will open. It has several pages accessed by clicking on the tabs. Choose the Sample tab and enter the name background for Name. Next click on the Scan tab and enter Background as the Scan type (under Options in the middle of the page.) All other settings can be left with their default values.
4. Click the Apply button, and then the Scan button. The window will refresh, and soon you will see your background scan as it is running. A bar in the lower left corner of the screen shows the progress of the scan. When the scan is complete, you may be asked if you want to overwrite the old background scan. Answer Overwrite.
5. Click the Delete icon to clear the spectrum window. The background scan is not lost!

4. Run a spectrum of your sample.

1. Place a small quantity of your sample on the center of the sample plate and swing the pressure arm over the sample. Do not apply pressure yet.
2. Choose Scan from the Instrument menu drop down list.
3. The Spectrum One Scan and Instrument Setup window will open. Choose the Sample tab and enter a filename for your sample in the Name line. Fill in the description and comments as you choose. Then click the Apply button.
4. If you have a liquid sample, go to E. For a solid, click on the Monitor icon (it looks like a fuel gauge) in the upper left corner of the window. Then choose the Sample icon (the middle of the three blue-ringed icons) and adjust the pressure by turning the knurled knob on the pressure arm. You will see a green bar appear in the Force Gauge area. Adjust the pressure until the green bar almost fills the window. You should have a reading of 100-120 (above the right end of the bar). Click the Stop button to stop monitoring, then click the Scan button to start your scan. You will be able to monitor the progress of your scan as it runs. Now go to step 5.
5. If you have a liquid, click the Scan button to start your scan. You will be able to monitor the progress of your scan as it runs.

1. You can click on the Peaks icon to automatically label your peaks. Clicking a second time removes the labels. [If you need to adjust the threshold, you may choose Peak Table from the Process menu drop down list and set a new threshold there. Close Peak Table, then click on peaks twice, (once to remove the old labels and again to show the new) then click on the window enlargement box (next to the X in the top right corner of the window frame) to enlarge the image.]
2. You may zoom a region of the spectrum by dragging a box around the region of interest and then double clicking inside the box. The AutoX and AutoY icons will resize the spectrum to full scale.
3. Click on the Text icon to add text to your spectrum. You have control of the font, and you can drag the text to a new position after it is written.
4. Click on the Print icon to print a copy of your spectrum.
5. Click the Delete icon to clear the screen for the next user, or logout if that is appropriate.

Follow the directions from your lab instructor to clean off the sample area.