Spectroscopy Flashcards
What is the order of energy levels for vibrational, electronic and rotational?
Electronic > Vibrational > Rotational
What types of light on the EM spectrum are electronic?
UV/visible
What types of light on the EM spectrum are vibrational?
Infrared
What types of light on the EM spectrum are rotational?
Radio
What can UV/visible spectroscopy be used to investigate?
Presence of double bonds
Transition metals
Concentration
What can infrared spectroscopy be used to investigate?
Functional groups
What can radio (NMR) spectroscopy be used to investigate?
Molecular structure
How can you determine energy of radiation, using Plancks constant (formula + units)?
Energy of radiation = Plancks constant (J) x Speed of light (m/s) x Lamnda wavelength (m)
What is the visible spectrum in order of decreasing wavelength?
Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet
ROY G BIV
What is the Beer-Lambert Law (formula)?
Absorption = molar extinction coefficient x concentration x path length
What can you deduce from plotting absorption against concentration on a graph?
If there is a linear relationship (you get a straight line), it adheres to the Beer-Lambert law within that range of concentrations
What are electrons in bonding orbitals found?
In bonding orbitals, it is probable that the electrons will be found in between the two nuclei
What does a high molar absorption coefficient tell you?
That the compound is very effective at absorbing light (of a certain wavelength)§
What is the molar absorption coefficient?
A measurement of how strongly a chemical species absorbs light at a given wavelength
What are electrons in anti-bonding orbitals found?
In anti-bonding orbitals, it is probable that electrons will be found on opposite sides of the nuclei
Which orbitals are higher energy out of bonding and anti-bonding?
Anti-bonding orbitals are higher energy
On a UV spectroscopy diagram, which electron transition will be the higher peak?
The transition from anti-bonding to bonding orbitals, as there is a greater energy gap
On a UV spectroscopy diagram, what does the smaller peak represent?
The non-bonding to anti-bonding electron transition; this requires less energy, compared to bonding to anti-bonding
What does HOMO stand for?
Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital
What does LUMO stand for?
Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital
When do electrons enter anti-bonding orbitals?
When they are excited
What is a conjugated molecule?
A molecule made up of alternating double and single bonds
What is the relationship between conjugation, and HOMO & LUMO?
With increasing conjugation, HOMO and LUMO get closer together
What does increasing conjugation mean wrt wavelength?
More conjugation = lower energy gap = longer wavelength
At what wavelengths will the substance appear colourless/white?
Less than 400nm or greater than 750nm
What are the two types of vibration in molecules?
Bending and stretching vibrations
What is a bending vibration?
Where the bond length doesn’t change
What is a stretching vibration?
Where the bond length is changing
What is the Y-axis on IR spectroscopy graphs?
% of either absorption or transmittance
What is the X-axis on IR spectroscopy graphs?
Wavenumber
What is the unit of wavenumber?
cm^-1
How do you convert from um to cm^-1?
Convert to cm, then take the reciprical
Example:
1um = 0.01 cm
1 / 0.01 = 100 cm-1
What is wavenumber determined by?
- Bond strength, quantified by force constant (k)
- Mass of atoms, quantified by reduced mass (u)
How can you deduce reduced mass (u)?
Multiply the atomic masses, then divide by the sum of the masses:
Reduced mass (u) = m1m2 / m1 + m2