TPS 3104: SPECTROSCOPIC

METHODS
2nd Semester, Year 1, 2014

COURSE CONTENT
Understanding of the spectrophotometric
methods in the identification and structure
determination of organic compounds.
UV/VS, IR and FTIR, NMR, various
combinations of chromatographic-mass
spectrometry determinations

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE UNIT

This course is designed to teach you how to interpret
spectral data for the purpose of elucidating structures
of organic molecules.
Some theoretical background will be given for various
spectroscopic/identification methods, but the
emphasis will be placed on interpreting and explaining
the spectral data for organic compounds
Identification methods to be covered include UV/Vis
spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy,
and various combinations of chromatographic-mass
spectrometry determinations

BOOKS RECOMMENDED
1. Spectrometric Identification of organic
compounds (by Silverstein et al, John Wiley &
Sons, INC.)
2. Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry (by
Williams and Fleming, McGraw-Hill Company)
3. Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry (by
Hesse et al, Thieme)
4. Organic Structural Spectroscopy (by Lamberiet
al, Prentice Hall)

Unit Objectives
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Explain the principles behind different
spectroscopic techniques.
2. Propose the expected spectroscopic
features of organic molecules.
3. Determine the structure of organic
compounds using different spectroscopic
methods.

What is spectroscopy??
From Wikipedia
Spectroscopy: The study of the interaction between
radiation and matter (i.e. molecules/atoms)
Spectrometry: The measurement of these interactions
Every molecule has it own unique set of spectra. While
similar molecules will have some spectra that look
similar or near identical, there will be one spectrum
that will distinguish them.
The trick is to know what pieces of the puzzle the
different methods reveal, as well as what their
limitations are.

Organic Spectroscopy
The study of the interaction of
electromagnetic radiation with organic
molecules.
Purpose: structure determination of
organic molecules.

 Electromagnetic radiation has both the

properties of a wave as well as particles.
It can be described as a wave occurring
simultaneously in electrical and
magnetic field.
And it can also be described as if it
consisted of particles called quanta or
photones.

 Wave length () or frequency () are used

to describe a wave.
The distance between consecutive crests
(or troughs) is the wave length.

 Electromagnetic radiation can also be characterized by

its frequency (),
which is defined as the number of complete cycles per
second (cps) also called Hertz (Hz)
Or number of complete cycles per centimetre called
wave number (cm-1)

Introduction
The full range of electromagnetic radiation
wavelengths is referred to as the electromagnetic
spectrum
Spectrum is the display of the energy level of an
e.m.r. as a function of wave number of
electromagnetic radiation energy.
The energy level of an e.m.r. may be expressed in
any of the following terms:
1 Absorbance (e.m.r. absorbed)
2 Transmittance (e.m.r. passed through)
3 Intensity (radiant power of e.m.r).