All Spectroscopy articles
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IdeasBack to basics with spectrophotometry
How to demonstrate the Beer–Lambert law using your smartphone as a light meter
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Smartphone spectroscopy: Beer–Lambert law
Use your smartphone to measure changes in concentration across different concentrations of squash at home or in the classroom. Use your results to predict the concentration of an unknown dilution of squash.
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The science of smartwatches
How wearable tech uses chemistry to help monitor your health – with spectroscopy, battery technology and smart materials
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How chemists are stopping paint drip
Analytical chemistry is playing an important role in discovering why some 20 th century paintings have started to liquefy
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Learning at home for 16–18
Use these curriculum-relevant resources and activities remotely with your 16–18 classes
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Structure determination starter (16–18)
Practice interpreting 1H and 13C NMR, mass spectra, and thin layer chromatograms with these Starter for ten questions.
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Analysis starters (16–18)
Practice using analysis skills with these mass spectrometry and infra-red spectroscopy Starter for ten questions.
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Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy: Hydrogen
Numclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is particularly useful in the identification of the positions of hydrogen atoms (1H) in molecules. This is an invaluable technique in the identification of organic compounds and commonly used in analytical laboratories
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Ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy: Explanation of colour
Why do some compounds appear certain colours? The electron configuration of transition metal complexes is essential in understanding their behaviour. Understand the theory of how d-orbitals influence colour through their shape and crystal field splitting
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Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-vis): The origin of colour in organic compounds
DIscover how unsaturation in organic compounds leads to colour. Such electon configuration allows transitions between orbitals of lower energy and antibonding orbitals occur when electromagnetic radiation of suitable energy is absorbed by the molecule.
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Ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy: Colour in transition metal compounds
Transition elements are found in the d-block of the periodic table and the most interesting feature of transition metal compounds is that most are highly coloured.
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Infrared (IR) spectroscopy: More complicated molecules
Learn about the fundamental physics responsible for the IR spectra of more complicated molecules. Bringing together vibrational modes, bond strengths and dipole moments — and how these translate to the recorded spectra.
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Infrared (IR) spectroscopy: Energy levels
Infrared spectroscopy reflects the type of bonding present within a molecule, learn how the energy levels of bond vibrations and dipole moments contribute to the frequencies observed
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Infrared (IR) spectroscopy: Uses of IR spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy is a valuable technique in analytical chemistry. Learn about how spectra arise and the instruments used to measure them
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Infrared (IR) spectroscopy
Absorption of infrared radiation brings about changes in molecular vibrations within molecules and ‘measurements’ of the ways in which bonds vibrate gives rise to infrared spectroscopy. Atom size, bond length and bond strength vary in molecules and so the frequency at which a particular bond absorbs infrared radiation will be different over a range of bonds and modes of vibration.
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Introduction to spectroscopy
Get back to basics with this primer on the principles of spectroscopic techniques, including infrared (IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). To make it even easier, each technique has clear explanations and descriptions supported by animations.
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Ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy
Learn how UV-visible radiation can be used to shed light on chemical identification and how our senses percept colour. From the theory behind molecular orbitals and electronic transitions to the application of this technique with relatable examples. Includes examples and interactive simulations to aid understanding.
