3.3.6.3 Infrared spectroscopy

Question 1

Why do bonds form IR spectra?

Answer 1

Atoms continuously vibrate and the frequency of the vibration is unique to each atom in a covalent bonds

Question 2

What type of bonds don’t show up in IR spectra?

Answer 2

Ionic

Question 3

What causes fingerprint regions?

Answer 3

Complex vibrations

Question 4

What can the fingerprint region be used for?

Answer 4

To see if a sample is pure because it is unique to each molecule (compare with database)

Question 5

How to tell which greenhouse gasses are better?

Answer 5

Look at IR spectrum, for a given range, the molecule which absorbs more IR is the better greenhouse gas
* sometimes vibrations can cancel out because the molecule is symmetrical