Spectroscopy of Organic Molecules

1. Spectroscopy: Interaction of electromagnetic (EM) radiation with matter. Because the response of a compound to EM radiation depends on its structure, spectroscopy can be used to educate the structure of unknown chemical products.

2. Dual nature of EM radiation: EM radiation behaves both as a particle of light (called a photon) and as a wave moving at the speed of light (c; c = 3 x 10⁸m/s).

3. Properties of EM particles and waves:

   1. Wavelength (λ): Distance between two peaks or troughs in a light wave.

   2. Frequency (ν): Number of wave cycles that pass a given point per line. Usually measured in Hertz (Hz; 1 Hz = 1 cycle/second).

   3. Energy of a photon: E = hν = hc/λ, where h = Planck’s constant = 6.6 x 10^–34 J/sec.