INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

Introduction:
What is IR spectroscopy?
IR spectroscopy triggers molecular vibration through infrared light providing information about
the presence or absence of certain functional groups.

What happens when molecules absorb infrared radiation?

The importance of infrared radiation in chemistry is that it is absorbed by molecules and causes
two possible effects, both described as vibrations. these effects are
• Stretching – where the bond length increases and decreases.

• Bending – where the bond angle increases and decreases.

When a molecule absorbs infrared radiation, the amount of energy absorbed depends on:

• The length of the bond

• the strength of the bond

• the mass of each atom involved in the bond

INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM IR SPECTRA?

• IR is most useful in providing information about the presence or absence of specific functional
groups.

• IR can provide a molecular fingerprint that can be used when comparing samples. If two
pure samples display the same IR spectrum it can be argued that they are the same compound

• IR does not provide detailed information or proof of molecular formula or structure. It

provides information on molecular fragments, specifically functional groups

The fingerprint region

Although the entire IR spectrum can be used as a fingerprint for the purposes of comparing
molecules, the 600 - 1400 cm^-1 range is called the fingerprint region. This is normally a
complex area showing many bands, frequently overlapping each other. This complexity limits
its use to that of a fingerprint , and should be ignored by beginners when analyzing the
spectrum. As a student, you should focus your analysis on the rest of the spectrum, that is the
region to the left of 1400 cm^-1.

Applications pf IR spectroscopy?

Identification of functional group and structure

• Entire IR region is divided into group frequency region and fingerprint region. Range
of group frequency is 4000-1500 cm-1 while that of finger print region is 1500-400 cm-1.

Detection of impurities?

• IR spectrum of the test sample to be determined is compared with the standard compound.
If any additional peaks are observed in the IR spectrum, then it is due to impurities present in
the compound.
Infrared spectroscopy is used in research to identify samples, do quantitative analysis, or
detect impurities. Infrared spectroscopy can be used on gaseous, liquid, or solid samples and
does not destroy the sample in the process. Other applications include:
 Chemical analysis
 Forensics
 Environmental testing

Latest update on infrared spectroscopy

Infrared spectroscopy continues to be used for exciting new projects. In Hawaii, scientists have
installed a new infrared spectrometer that will enable them to see more distant areas of the
universe than ever before. The spectrometer can see things that are moving away from Earth,
causing their wavelengths to increase until they are in the infrared spectrum and become
invisible to the naked eye. They expect to be able to study distant galaxies, black holes, and the
distribution of dark matter. Infrared spectrometers are also being developed that can be used at
the nanometer level, allowing researchers to analyze much smaller particles than they have
been able to previously.

Conclusion

In this project I understand that IR spectrum can be used in many industrial areas to detect
impurities and faults in the molecule or compound, also learnt that how to use a
spectroscope and it also can be used to see distant stars that astronomy couldn’t help with ,
spectroscopy can also detect incoming Danger from space.