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Troubleshooting

Problem: The salt plates look damaged. Can I still use them?

An example of a salt plate that is in good condition
A salt plate that is in good condition

  • IR plates are very expensive and easily damaged. They are made of water-soluble potassium chloride and will dissolve upon contact with moisture. IR plates are to be handled by the edges only; moisture from your hands will damage the polished surface.
     
  • If the surface of the plate is badly scratched or is quite cloudy, it may affect the quality of recorded spectra.

An example of a salt plate that is in poor condition
A salt plate that is in poor condition

  • Plates that are physically broken may still be used so long as less than ¼ of the plate's width has been cleaved (the IR beam passes through the center of the plate only, not the full plate). However, if more than ¼ of the plate is missing, or if the plate is broken in more than one location, it can no longer be used.

A salt plate that can still be used
A salt plate that can still be used

A salt plate that is too badly damaged to use
A salt plate that is too badly damaged to use

Please report any damage to IR plates to your T.A. or the Laboratory Coordinator.

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Last modified: Monday, February 28, 2011
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