Spectrometry

Spectroscopy

A technique that measures electromagnetic radiation absorbed or emitted by analytes.

Emission Spectroscopy

A type of spectroscopy that measures the radiation emitted by analytes.

Absorption Spectroscopy

Measures the radiation absorbed by analytes, commonly in UV-vis and IR.

Fluorescence Spectroscopy

A technique where radiation is absorbed and then re-emitted at a lower energy.

Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)

Radiation that displays both wave-like and particle-like properties.

Wavelength

The distance between successive peaks of a wave in electromagnetic radiation.

Frequency

The number of times a wave oscillates in one second.

Amplitude

The height of the wave associated with electromagnetic radiation.

Photons

Energy packets of electromagnetic radiation.

Planck's equation

E = hν, a formula that relates energy to frequency.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

A technique that uses radiowaves to alter atomic nuclei.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR)

A spectroscopic technique used to study materials with unpaired electrons.

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy

A technique that detects bond vibrations for identifying functional groups.

Visible & UV Spectroscopy

Techniques that excite outer electrons to higher orbitals.

X-rays

High-energy radiation that excites core electrons.

Mass Spectrometry

A method that analyzes compounds based on their mass-to-charge ratio.

Ionization

The process used in mass spectrometry to generate charged ions from compounds.

Elemental Analysis

The determination of the mass percentages of elements in a compound.

Combustion analysis

A method used to analyze gases produced by burning a sample in oxygen.

Functional groups

Specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for characteristic reactions.

UV-visible Spectroscopy

Technique that detects conjugated π-systems and certain functional groups.

NMR Spectroscopy

Technique that provides information about hydrogen and carbon environments in a molecule.

Quantitative Analysis

Estimation of the concentration of compounds based on peak intensities.

Molecular mass

The mass of a molecule, often determined by mass spectrometry.

Structural details

Information regarding how atoms are arranged within a molecule.

Choosing the right technique

The process of selecting appropriate spectroscopic methods based on required information.

Molecular structure

The arrangement of atoms within a molecule.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

Atom distribution

The spatial arrangement of different atoms within a compound.

Bond vibrations

Movements occurring in chemical bonds, detected by infrared spectroscopy.

Analytes

Substances or compounds being analyzed in a spectroscopic study.

Absorption peak

A specific wavelength of light absorbed by a substance, used for analysis.

Concentration

The amount of a substance in a given volume of solution.