6.

Spectroscopy and chromatography

The effect of different types of radiation on molecules
i infrared in analysis infra red energy causes bonds to vibrate. This can be used to identify the types
of bond in a molecule
ii microwaves for heating- certain molecules absorb the microwaves causing them to rotate
iii radio waves in nmr can cause the hydrogen nucleus to change its spin state. This can give us
information about the arrangements of hydrogens in a molecule.
iv ultraviolet in initiation of reactions UV energy can break bonds such as the Cl-Cl bond or C-Cl
bond

NMR spectroscopy
NMR spectroscopy involves interaction of materials with the lowenergy radiowave region of the electromagnetic spectrum

The radio waves used in

proton nmr cause the
hydrogen nucleus to change
its spin state.

NMR spectroscopy is the same technology as that used in magnetic

resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain diagnostic information about
internal structures in body scanners e.g. scanning for brain disorders

Equivalent Hydrogen atoms.

In addition the intensity (integration value)
of each signal is proportional to the number
of equivalent H atoms it represents.

In an H NMR spectrum, there is one

signal for each set of equivalent H atoms.

Ha H b

Hb

a H

O
H

Ha

Hb

Hc

H d

Hc

aH
H C Ha

2
1

O
H3C

CH2

O
C O C

CH3

O
b
CH2 C

CH3c

H3C

4sets of equivalent Hs:

ratio [Link]

Ha

Ethanol has 3
groups of different
hydrogen atoms

Hd

H3C

1 signal
a
c

CH3

CH3

3 sets of equivalent Hs: ratio [Link]

CH3

Br

3 sets of equivalent Hs: ratio [Link]

a

H3C

CH CH2

3 sets of equivalent
Hs: ratio [Link]

CH3

CH

CH2

CH3

4 sets of equivalent Hs: ratio [Link]

Solvents
Samples are dissolved in solvents without any 1H atoms, e.g. CCl4, CDCl3.

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This means that in the H NMR the

solvent will not give any peaks

Calibration and shift

A small amount of TMS (tetramethylsilane) is added
to the sample to calibrate the spectrum
The spectra are recorded on a
scale known as the chemical
shift (), which is how much the
field has shifted away from the
field for TMS..

CH3

TMS is used because:

its signal is away from all the others
it only gives one signal
it is non-toxic
it is inert
it has a low boiling point and so can be removed
from sample easily

H3C

Si

CH3

CH3
tetramethylsilane

The is a measure in parts per million (ppm) is a relative

scale of how far the frequency of the proton signal has
shifted away from that for TMS.

10

chemical shift (ppm)

H NMR shift
The depends on what other atoms/groups are near the
H more electronegative groups gives a greater shift.
3
H3C

CH2

O
C

CH3

ppm
3

O
C
O

ppm

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Spin-Spin coupling in H NMR

Nuclei in identical chemical

environments do not show
coupling amongst themselves!

In high resolution H NMR each signal in the spectrum can be split into
further lines due to inequivalent Hs on neighbouring C atoms.
Splitting of peak = number of inequivalent Hs on neighbouring C atoms + 1
signal

singlet

doublet

triplet

quartet

quintet

number of
neighbouring
inequivalent
H atoms

H3C

CH2

O
C

CH3

The peak due to group a will

be a triplet as it is next to b
(a carbon with 2 Hs)

appearance

Split number
of peaks

relative size

1:1

[Link]

[Link]

a
H

The peak due to group b will

be a quartet as it is next to a
(a carbon with 3Hs)

The peak due to group c will

be a singlet as it is next to a
carbon with no Hs)
For 6 split peaks use the
term hextet or multiplet

[Link]

C O

a H

b H

H c

c
b

The peak due to group a will

be a singlet as it is next to
a carbon with 0 Hs
Shift 2.1-2.6
Integration trace 3

The peak due to group c will

be a triplet as it is next to a
carbon with 2 Hs
Shift 0.7-1.2
Integration trace 3
The peak due to group b will
be a quartet as it is next to
a carbon with 3 Hs
Shift 3.7 -4.1
Integration trace 2

ppm

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Infrared spectroscopy
Complicated spectra can be obtained than
provide information about the types of bonds
present in a molecule

Certain bonds in a molecule absorb infra-red radiation at

characteristic frequencies causing the covalent bonds to
vibrate
ABOVE 1500 cm-1 Functional group identification

BELOW 1500 cm-1 Fingerprinting

Complicated and contains many
signals picking out functional group
signals difficult.
This part of the spectrum is unique for
every compound, and so can be used
as a "fingerprint".

A computer will compare the IR

spectra against a database of known
pure compounds to identify the
compound

e.g. C=O 1640 1750 cm-1

O-H (acid) 2500- 3300 cm-1

Use an IR absorption table provided in exam

to deduce presence or absence of particular
bonds or functional groups
use spectra to identify particular functional groups limited to data

Bond

Wavenumber

C-O

1000-1300

C=O

1640-1750

C-H

2850 -3100

O-H
Carboxylic acids

2500-3300
Very broad

N-H

3200-3500

O-H
Acohols, phenols

3200- 3550
broad

presented in wavenumber form e.g. an alcohol from an absorption peak

of the OH bond,

Spectra for
butanal
O
H3C CH2 CH2 C

2000

1500

C=O
Absorption or trough in between 1640-1750 cm-1 range indicates
presence of C=O bond
Always quote the wave number range from the data sheet
Spectra for
ethanoic acid

O-H absorptions tend

to be broad

O
Absorption or trough in
between 2500-3300 cm-1 range
indicates presence of O-H
bond in an acid

H3C

C
OH

C=O
Modern breathalysers measure ethanol in the breath by analysis using infrared spectroscopy

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Mass spectrometry
Measuring the Mr of an organic molecule

Spectra for C4H10

If a molecule is put through a mass spectrometer

it will often break up and give a series of peaks
caused by the fragments. The peak with the
largest m/z, however, will be due to the complete
molecule and will be equal to the Mr of the
molecule. This peak is called the parent ion or
molecular ion

Mass spectrum for butane

43

Molecular ion
C4H10+

29
58

Fragmentation

Molecular ion formed:

When organic molecules are passed through a mass

spectrometer, it detects both the whole molecule and
fragments of the molecule.

M [M]+. + e

The molecule loses an electron and

becomes both an ion and a free radical

Several peaks in the mass spectrum occur due to fragmentation.

The Molecular ion fragments due to covalent bonds breaking: [M]+. X+ + Y.

This process produces an ion

and a free radical. The ion is
responsible for the peak

Relatively stable ions such as carbocations R+ such as CH3CH2+ and

acylium ions [R-C=O]+ are common. The more stable the ion, the greater
the peak intensity.
The peak with the highest mass/charge ratio will be normally due to the
original molecule that hasnt fragmented (called the molecular ion) . As
the charge of the ion is +1 the mass/ charge ratio is equal to Mr.
Equation for formation molecular ion

Mass spectrum for butane

C4H10 [C4H10]+. + e

43

Equations for formation of fragment ions from molecular ions

29

C4H10 = 58

[C4H10]+. [CH3CH2CH2]+ + .CH3 m/z 43

[C4H10]+. [CH3CH2]+ + .CH2CH3

m/z 29

Equation for formation molecular ion

Mass spectrum for butanone

CH3CH2COCH3 [CH3CH2COCH3]+. + e

The high peak 43

at 43 due to
[CH3CO]+

m/z 72

Equations for formation of fragment ions from molecular ions

stability of acyl
group

29
[CH3CH2]+

m/z 58

[CH3CH2COCH3]+. [CH3CH2CO]+ + .CH3 m/z 57

[CH3CH2CO]+
+.
57 [CH3CH2COCH3]

72

[CH3CH2COCH3]+. [CH3CO]+ + .CH2CH3 m/z 43

[CH3CH2COCH3]+. [CH3CH2]+ + .COCH3 m/z 29

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Chromatography
The mobile phase may be a liquid or a gas.
The stationary phase may be a solid (as in thinlayer chromatography, TLC) or either a liquid or
solid on a solid support (as in gas
chromatography, GC)

Chromatography is an analytical technique that separates

components in a mixture between a mobile phase and a
stationary phase
Separation by column chromatography depends on
the balance between solubility in the moving phase
and retention in the stationary phase.
A solid stationary phase separates by adsorption,
A liquid stationary phase separates by relative solubility

HPLC stands for high performance liquid

chromatography.
HPLC: stationary phase is a solid silica
HPLC: mobile phase a liquid

If the stationary phase was polar and the moving

phase was non- polar e.g. Hexane. Then nonpolar compounds would pass through the column
more quickly than polar compounds as they would
have a greater solubility in the non-polar moving
phase.
(Think about intermolecular forces)

In gas-liquid chromatography GC the mobile phase is

a inert gas such as nitrogen, helium, argon.
The Stationary phase is a liquid on an inert solid .

Gas-liquid chromatography can be used to separate

mixtures of volatile liquids

In gas-liquid chromatography, the mobile

phase is a gas such as helium and the
stationary phase is a high boiling point
liquid absorbed onto a solid.

The time taken for a particular compound to

travel from the injection of the sample to where
it leaves the column to the detector is known as
its retention time. This can be used to identify
a substance

Sample in
Flow
control

oven

Some compounds have similar retention times so

will not be distinguished.

display
Waste
outlet

column

Basic gas-liquid chromatography will tell us how

many components there are in the mixture by the
number of peaks. It will also tell us the
abundance of each substance. The area under
each peak will be proportional to the abundance
of that component

Carrier gas

It is also possible for gas-liquid chromatography

machine to be connected to a mass
spectrometer, IR or NMR machine, enabling all
the components to be identified in a mixture.
GC-MS is used in analysis, in forensics, environmental
analysis, airport security and space probes.

detector

Most commonly a mass spectrometer is combined

with GC to generate a mass spectra which can be
analysed or compared with a spectral database by
computer for positive identification of each
component in the mixture.

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Bringing it all together

1. Work out empirical formula

66.63/12
=5.5525
=4

Elemental analysis C 66.63% H 11.18% O 22.19%

2. Using molecular ion peak m/z value from mass

spectrum calculate Molecular formula

11.18/1
=11.18

22.19/16
=1.386875

=8

=1

Mr empirical formula C4H8O = 72

molecular ion peak m/z value= 144

If Mr molecular formula 144 then

compound is C8H16O2

3. Use IR spectra to identify main

bonds/functional group

C8H16O2 could be an ester, carboxylic acid or combination of

alcohol and carbonyl. Look for IR spectra for C=O and O-H
bonds

There is a C=O but no

O-H absorptions, so
must be an ester.

C-H
C=O

CH3
H3C
singlet of area 9
At =0.9
Means 3 CH3 groups

4. Use NMR spectra to give details of carbon chain

4 peaks only 4 different environments.

Peak at 4 shows HCO

C
H

Area 2 suggests CH2

Singlet means adjacent to
C with no hydrogens

CH3
9

Peak at 1.2
shows R-CH3
Area 3 means CH3
Triplet means next
to a CH2

Peak at 2.2 shows HC=O

Area 2 suggests CH2

Quartet means next to a
CH3
H

CH3

H 2

ppm

Put all together to give final structure

CH3
H3C C

O
CH2 C

CH2

CH3

CH3

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