4.2.4 - Analytical techniques Flashcards
What happens when a
molecule absorbs infrared
radiation?
It makes the covalent bond vibrate more
in a stretching or bending motion
What factors affect the amount
of vibration of a bond?
● Bond strength
● Bond length
● Mass of each atom in the bond
How does infrared
spectroscopy work?
Every bond has a unique vibration frequency in the infrared region of the EM
spectrum
Bonds absorb radiation that has the same frequency as their frequency of
vibration
Infrared radiation emerged from a sample is missing the frequencies that have
been absorbed → this information can be used to identify the compound’s
functional group
What do the peaks on an
infrared spectrum represent?
Absorbance of energy from the infrared
radiation
What are the 2 peaks that
must be present to identify a
substance as carboxylic acid?
● Very broad peak at 2500 - 3300 cm-1
→ O-H group
● Sharp peak at 1680 - 1750 cm-1 →
C=O group
What happens inside a mass
spectrometer?
● Organic compound is vaporised and passed through the
spectrometer
● Some molecules lose an electron and forms molecular ions
● Excess energy from the ionisation makes the bonds vibrate
more
● Vibration causes bond to weaken
● Molecular ion splits by fragmentation
What is the symbol of
molecular ion?
M+
Is fragmentation predictable?
Why?
No, because it can happen anywhere in
the molecule
In a mass spectrometry how is
a molecular ion represented?
It is the peak with the highest
mass/charge ratio
In a mass spectrometry how is
a molecular ion represented?
It is the peak with the highest
mass/charge ratio
The molecular mass of the
molecular ion is equal to
what?
Relative molecular mass of the
compound
Will the molecular ion peaks of
two isomers of the same
compound be same or
different?
Same
What is the m/z value of
CH3+?
15
What is the m/z value of OH from alcohol?
17
What is the m/z value of C2H5+
?
29
