• Evaluation:

• Quiz (5%)
• Assignment (25%)
• Mid Term (30%)
• Final Exam (40%)
• Molecular excitation, electronic transition, atomic
• vibration and ionisation
Do you know….
Methane Ethanol

Propanal Acetic acid

 Introduction to spectroscopy
 Spectroscopy:
 A branch of Science -
Study of interaction
between radiation and
matter.

 Spectrometry:
 Analytical methods based
on atomic and molecular
spectroscopy
Spectroscopy & Electromagnetic Spectrum
•Studying the properties of matter through its interaction
with different frequency components of the
electromagnetic spectrum (light).

E, Energy = h Velocity = frequency () x wavelength (l)

 =c/l c = 3 x 108 m/s
Wavenumber= 1/l h: Planck constant
 Light as a Wave

Douglas A. Skoog, et al. Principles of Instrumental Analysis, Thomson, 2007

6
Light as photons
What is spectroscopy?
• Latin: “spectron”—ghost
or spirit

• Greek: “ σκοπειν ”—to see

• Each type of
spectroscopy—different
light frequency—gives a
different picture → the
spectrum.
Aims of spectroscopy
1. Qualitative analysis of a new substance/mixture
(to identify the molecular species present)

2. Quantitative determination of a known substance

3. Structural characterisation of a substance.

Types of Spectroscopy

Douglas A. Skoog, et al. Principles of Instrumental Analysis, Thomson, 2007

11
Types of Spectroscopy
In most spectroscopies, we characterize how a sample
modifies light entering it.
1) Absorption: Change in intensity, I of incident light
 Sample attenuates light → transmission T=I/Io

• We measure the absorption of light at different

frequency or wavelength.
 ...continue

2) Emission: Excitation induces emission of light

from the sample (usually of different frequency).

Includes:
Fluorescence (emission from excited electronic singlet states)
Phosphorescence (emission from excited electronic triplet states)
Raman Scattering (light scattering involving vibrational transition)
 ..continue

3) Optical Rotation: Change of phase of light incident on

sample (rotation of polarization)
UV-Vis Spectroscopy
• Observes electronic
transitions

• Provides information on
the electronic bonding in
a molecule.

Absorption Spectrometry
 Molecular UV Absorption
Spectrometry
 Molecular Visible Absorption
Spectrometry
 Infrared Spectrometry
 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
(NMR)
 Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry
Emission Spectrometry
 Fluorimetry
 Emission Spectrography
(Arc/Spark Emission
Spectrometry)
 Atomic Emission
Spectrometry (Flame
photometry)
 Atomic Fluorescence
Spectrometry
 X-ray Fluorescence
Spectrometry
 Radiochemical Methods of
Analysis
Infrared Spectroscopy

 Used to determine the

functional groups present in a
molecule
Mass Spectrometry
 Breaks molecule into
fragments.

 Analysis of the masses of

the fragments to provide
molecular weight and
clues to the structure of
the molecule.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Spectroscopy
 Observes the chemical environment of the hydrogen
(or carbon) atoms in the molecule.

 Helps provide evidence for the structure of the carbon

skeleton and/or alkyl groups present.
What does a spectrum measure?
 Interaction of light with a sample can influence
the sample and/or the light.
Describing absorption.
 Let’s look at a typical absorption spectrum.
What are the axes?
 X-axis: Characterizes the input light in terms of
frequency-wavelength-energy
 y-axis: Absorption
…continue

 This comes from assuming that the fraction of light

absorbed as you propagate through the sample is
proportional to the distance traversed
 How do you measure absorption spectra?

• Measure the change of intensity of light at different

frequencies as it passes through a sample.
Tutorial 1
1. Fill in the missing information.

Wavelength Frequency Wavenumber Energy

(m) (s-1) (cm-1) (J/molecule)

1.33 × 1015
3215
Tutorial 1
2. A laser emits light of frequency 4.74 x 1014 sec-1 . What
is the wavelength of the light in nm?
3. A certain electromagnetic wave has a wavelength of
625 nm. What is the frequency of the wave?
4. The blue color of the sky results from the scattering of
sunlight by air molecules. The blue light has a frequency
of about 7.5 x 1014 Hz. Calculate the wavelength, in nm,
associated with this radiation.
5. What is E in joules for an atom that releases a photon
with a wavelength of 3.2 x 10-7 meters?