INTRODUCTION TO SPECTROSCOPY

JAT I N DA L A L
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CS E
Definition:

The practical side of study of spectra, including the excitations of the

spectrum, its visual or photographic observation or precise
determination of wavelengths.
Introduction

The transitions of electrons from one energy level to another energy

level of the atom results in the emission or absorption of
electromagnetic radiations and the energy difference between the
involved energy levels gives spectral lines in different regions,
thereby giving rise to atomic spectra, which provide useful
information, about the atomic structure. Similarly molecular spectra
provide useful information regarding the molecular structure.
Molecular Spectroscopy

The study of interaction of electromagnetic radiations with

molecules.
Types of energy present in molecules:
1) Translational Energy : It is concerned about the overall movement
of molecule along the three axes.
2) Rotational energy : It involves the spinning of molecules about the
axes passing through their center of gravity.
3)Vibrational Energy : It is associated with vibrations of molecule
such as the stretching or bending of bonds.
4)Electronic Energy : It involves changes in the distribution of
electrons by the promotion of electrons to higher levels on
absorption of energy.
E = Etrans + Erot + Evib + Eelec
Types of spectra:
1)Emission Spectra
2)Absorption Spectra
Emission Spectrum
Molecules give out spectra when subjected to intense heat or
electric discharge. The molecules obtain the necessary energy to be
excited, on returning to the lower energy state they emit radiation.
This energy is emitted as a photon and the corresponding frequency
is recorded as the emission spectrum.
If the transition is from upper energy level to lower energy level the
frequency of photon emitted is

Frequency = ( (energy)1 – (energy) 2 ) / plank’s constant

Absorption Spectrum
When a substance is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, the
energy of the incident photons may be transferred to the molecules,
raising them from the ground state to an excited state. This process
is known as absorption, and the resultant spectrum obtained is
known as absorption spectrum.
Energy absorption occurs only when the energy difference between
the ground and higher state is exactly equal to that of the incident
electromagnetic radiation.
Representation of absorption spectrum
When electromagnetic radiation interacts with the molecules, then
some of the wavelengths of radiations are absorbed; while rest is
transmitted. We can plot either:
1) Absorbance vs wavelength or frequency or wavenumber
2) Percent transmittance vs wavelength or frequency or
wavenumber
Spectrometer
The instrument to record spectra of molecules is called a
spectrometer. The design of the instrument varies according to the
spectral region being examined.