The spelling of "infrared spectroscopy" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription. It is pronounced as /ɪn.fra.red spɛkˈtrɒs.kə.pi/. The first syllable "in" is pronounced as "ih-n", followed by "fra" pronounced as "fruh". The emphasis is on the second syllable "red" pronounced as "red". The next syllable "spec" is pronounced as "spek" and "tro" is pronounced as "truh". The final syllable "scopy" is pronounced as "skuh-pee". Infrared spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool used in the field of chemistry to identify and characterize compounds.
Infrared spectroscopy is a scientific technique used to analyze and identify chemical compounds by studying their interaction with infrared radiation. It involves measuring and analyzing the energy absorbed or transmitted by a sample when subjected to infrared light. Infrared radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum with longer wavelengths and lower frequencies than visible light.
Infrared spectroscopy provides valuable information about the functional groups and molecular structure of substances. This technique is based on the principle that different chemical bonds vibrate at specific frequencies and absorb distinct infrared wavelengths. By examining the absorption or transmission of this energy, scientists can determine the types of chemical bonds present in a sample, which in turn helps identify the compound. The resulting spectrum is known as an infrared spectrum or vibrational spectrum.
Infrared spectroscopy finds wide-ranging applications in various scientific fields, including chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, and forensics. It is commonly used to identify organic compounds, such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. It is also used in the analysis of inorganic compounds and determining unknown substances. Infrared spectroscopy is a non-destructive and non-invasive technique, making it highly advantageous in many research and analytical settings.
Overall, infrared spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool that offers valuable insights into the composition and structure of chemical compounds by assessing their interaction with infrared radiation.
The word "infrared spectroscopy" is derived from two primary components: "infrared" and "spectroscopy".
The term "infrared" refers to the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths longer than those of visible light but shorter than those of radio waves. It comes from the combination of the Latin prefix "infra", meaning "below", and "red" referring to the color with the longest wavelengths of visible light. Infrared radiation was first discovered by William Herschel in 1800 during his experiments with sunlight, where he observed a temperature increase beyond the red part of the spectrum.
"Spectroscopy" comes from the combining form "spectro-" originating from the Latin word "spectrum" meaning "appearance" or "apparition". "Spectroscopy" refers to the study and analysis of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation across different wavelengths.