Organic Chemistry

Study of carbon-containing compounds and their reactions.

Advanced Topics

Spectroscopy and Organic Analysis

Seeing the Invisible

How do chemists know what they’ve made? Spectroscopy is the toolkit for identifying and analyzing organic molecules.

Major Techniques

  • Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Identifies functional groups by their vibrations.
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy: Reveals the arrangement of atoms.
  • Mass Spectrometry (MS): Measures molecular weights and fragments.

Why It’s Important

These techniques let scientists confirm structures, detect impurities, and understand complex mixtures.

In the Real World

Spectroscopy is vital in pharmaceuticals, forensics, and environmental monitoring.

Examples

  • NMR spectroscopy is used to check the purity of drugs.

  • Mass spectrometry helps detect banned substances in athletes.

In a Nutshell

Spectroscopy helps identify organic compounds and determine their structures.

Spectroscopy and Organic Analysis - Organic Chemistry Content | Practice Hub