Spectroscopy
1. Molecular spectroscopy involves the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with
materials in order to produce an absorption pattern from which structural or
compositional information can be deduced. This also involves change in energy at
molecular level.
2. Mass spectroscopy is not based on electromagnetic radiations therefore, EMR are
not used in mass spectroscopy.
3. On the basis of change of energy, spectroscopy is classified into two types. These
are molecular spectroscopy and atomic spectroscopy. Molecular spectroscopy
involves change in energy at molecular level and atomic spectroscopy involves
change in energy at atomic level.
4. On the basis of the working principle of absorption of radiation, spectroscopy is
classified into three types. These are UV (Ultraviolet-visible) spectroscopy, IR
(Infrared) spectroscopy and colorimetry.
5. On the basis of the working principle of change in EMR due to change in magnetic
level, spectroscopy is classified into three types. These are ESR (Electron
paramagnetic resonance) and NMR (Nuclear magnetic resonance).
6. The energy content E of photons is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the
electromagnetic wave according to the following equation:
E = h.v = h (c/λ).
7. As you know, wavenumber is (1/λ), hence it is directly proportional to energy.
8. Infrared spectroscopy has wavenumber in the range 40-13000 cm-1 whereas visible
light has wavenumber in the range 12500-25000 cm-1. Therefore, infrared radiation
has a lower wavenumber than visible light.
9. Energy of EMR is calculated by the equation E = hv, where, ‘E’ is the energy of
radiation, ‘h’ is the Plank’s constant and ‘v’ is the frequency of radiation. EMR is
made up of discrete particle called as photons. It has both particle and wave
characteristics.
10.A colorimeter is used to measure the absorbance of a colored compound in a
solution as it measures the particular wavelength of light.
11.According to the Beer-Lambert law, absorbance depends on the extinction coefficient
of the sample, length or distance of the path light travelled and concentration of the
solution. It does not depend upon the color of the solution.
12.The wavenumber range of infrared spectrum is 40 to 13,000 cm-1. Therefore, the
transition with wavenumber 2000 cm-1 lies in infrared spectrum. Infrared radiations
have wavelengths longer than visible light.
13.The wavelength range of ultraviolet-visible is between 200 to 800 nm. Therefore, the
wavelength of absorption with 495 nm lies in ultraviolet-visible region. Absorption of
visible and ultraviolet radiation is associated with excitation of electrons.
14.The classification of electromagnetic waves done according to the frequency called
the electromagnetic spectrum.
15.The energy of electromagnetic waves is directly proportional to the frequency of the
electromagnetic waves. So the order of frequency is given as:
vmicro < vinfrared < vvisible < vultraviolet < vgamma
Since E=hv ➔ E ∝ v
The order of energy is as follows:
Emicro < Einfrared < Evisible < Eultraviolet < Egamma
16.If the speeds of microwaves, infrared waves, and ultraviolet waves are Vm, Vi,
and Vu respectively, Vm = Vi = Vu. This is because, in vacuum, all the
electromagnetic waves will travel at the same speed. The speed with which they
travel in vacuum is the speed of light. (c = 3 × 108 m/s).
17.Radio Waves are generally in the frequency range ➔ 500 kHz to 1000 MHz. Radio
waves are used for long-distance communication, such as in television, mobiles, and
radios. These devices receive radio waves and convert them to mechanical
vibrations in the speaker to create sound waves.
18.UHF stands for Ultra high frequency. Cellular phones used radio waves to transmit
voice communication in the Ultra high-frequency Band. The UHF band extends from
900 MHz to 5 x 109 Hz or 5000 MHz. Radio waves are produced by oscillating
circuits having an inductor and capacitor.
19.Microwaves are produced by special vacuum tubes such as klystrons and
magnetrons. Microwaves are high-frequency radio waves of frequency range 1 G Hz
to 300 G Hz. Microwaves are used in radar systems and the study of atomic and
molecular structure.
20.Infrared waves are heat radiations also known as heatwaves. These waves are
produced by hot bodies and molecules. They do heating because water molecules
present in most of the materials readily absorb infrared waves and their thermal
motion increases, so they heat themselves and also heat their surroundings.
21.Infrared waves can be used to take photographs during conditions of smoke, fog, etc.
as these waves are scattered less than visible rays and hence travel longer distances
through the atmosphere.
22.Ultraviolet (UV) radiations in large quantities are highly harmful to humans. These
rays in solar radiation on reaching earth are absorbed by the ozone layer in the
atmosphere. UV rays are produced by special lamps such as mercury and from arc
lamps and by very hot bodies like the sun.
23.The frequency range of Gamma rays is 3 × 1018 to 5 × 1022 Hz. These rays have a
wavelength of 6 × 10-13 to 10-10m. Gamma rays are produced in nuclear reactions and
are also emitted by radioactive nuclei.
24.The attenuation of light to the material’s properties through which the light travels is
given by the Beer-Lambert law. It states that, for a given material, the sample path
length and concentration of the sample are directly proportional to the absorbance of
the light.
It is given by the formula: A = εLc
Where,
c – Concentration of the absorbing species
A – Quantity of light absorbed for a particular wavelength by the sample
L – Distance covered by the light through the solution
ε – Molar extinction coefficient
25.Beer Lambert’s law gives the relation between Energy absorption and Concentration.
26.Assumption's of Beer Lambert's Law:
Concentration must be lower
Radiation source must be monochromatic
Does not consider factors other than thickness and concentration that affect
absorbance
27.Beer’s law states that the intensity of light decreases with the concentration of the
medium and [Link] Absorption spectroscopy: It involves transmission,
Scattering is kept minimum, Reflection is kept minimum, Intensity of radiation leaving
the substance is an indication of a concentration
28.Unit of absorbance which can be derived from Beer Lambert’s law is no unit
29.The unit of absorptivity is L mol-1 cm-1. If concentration is represented as gm per
litre it becomes L gm-1 cm-1.
30.Scattering of light due to particles, fluorescence of the sample and
non-monochromatic radiation are some of the limitations of Lambert-Beer’s law. It
relates the attenuation of light to the properties of the material through which the light
is traveling.
31.Transmittance is the ratio of the radiant power transmitted by a sample to the radiant
power incident on the sample. Absorption is the negative logarithm of transmittance.
Transmittance is given as T = P/Po
32.The electronic spectra in the visible range span 12500-25000 cm-1 and in the UV
region span 25000-72000 cm-1.
33.n→n* transitions are of weak intensities and lie in the visible region.
The correct order is- n→π* < π→π* < n→σ* < σ→σ*.
34.Detection of impurities, control of purification, study of the kinetics of the chemical
reaction, determination of molecular weight and determination of unknown
concentration are the applications of electronic spectroscopy.