Organic Chemistry

Study of carbon-containing compounds and their reactions.

Structure and Bonding in Organic MoleculesFunctional Groups and Organic NomenclatureTypes of Organic Reactions
Stereochemistry: 3D Shapes of MoleculesSpectroscopy and Organic AnalysisOrganic Chemistry in Biological Systems
Pharmaceuticals and Drug DesignPlastics and Polymers in Everyday LifeFood Chemistry and Nutrition
Mastering Organic StructuresApproaching Reaction Mechanisms
Structure and Bondin...Functional Groups an...Types of Organic Rea...Stereochemistry: 3D ...Spectroscopy and Org...Organic Chemistry in...Pharmaceuticals and ...Plastics and Polymer...Food Chemistry and N...Mastering Organic St...Approaching Reaction...
Advanced Topics

Spectroscopy and Organic Analysis

How Do We Know What’s in a Molecule?

Scientists use powerful tools to figure out what organic molecules look like and what they’re made of.

Types of Spectroscopy

  • Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Shows what functional groups are present by how molecules vibrate.
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR): Reveals the environment of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
  • Mass Spectrometry (MS): Tells us the mass and structure of molecules.

Why It Matters

These tools help chemists identify unknown substances, check purity, and solve crimes (forensics).

Real World Connections

NMR is used in medicine as MRI to image the body, and MS is used in doping control in sports.

Examples

  • IR shows the difference between alcohols and carboxylic acids.

  • NMR helps determine if a drug is pure or contaminated.

In a Nutshell

Spectroscopy helps us identify and study molecules using light and magnetism.

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Organic Chemistry in Biological Systems