Spectroscopy
Undergraduate · Chemistry
Syllabus focus
Standard syllabus · STEM / applied
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Topics typically covered
Standard syllabus
Electromagnetic radiation and interaction
- Electromagnetic spectrum: wavelength, frequency, energy
- Photon absorption, emission, and scattering processes
- Beer–Lambert law and molar absorptivity
- Selection rules and transition probabilities
- Einstein coefficients: absorption, spontaneous emission, stimulated emission
- Linewidths: natural, Doppler, collisional broadening
- Instrumentation: sources, monochromators, detectors
- Fourier transform advantages in spectroscopy
- Signal-to-noise ratio and detection limits
- Sample preparation for spectroscopic analysis
UV-Vis and electronic spectroscopy
- Electronic transitions: σ→σ*, n→π*, π→π*
- Franck–Condon principle and vibronic structure
- Solvatochromism and solvent effects
- Charge-transfer bands
- UV-Vis of inorganic complexes: d-d transitions
- Spectrophotometric quantitative analysis
- Derivative spectroscopy (introduction)
- Circular dichroism for chiral molecules (intro)
- Fluorescence: quantum yield, quenching, Stern–Volmer
- Phosphorescence and intersystem crossing
Vibrational spectroscopy
- Harmonic oscillator model for diatomics
- Anharmonicity and overtone bands
- Normal modes in polyatomic molecules
- IR selection rules and group frequencies
- FTIR instrumentation and sample techniques (KBr pellets, ATR)
- Raman scattering and selection rules
- Raman vs IR complementarity
- Resonance Raman spectroscopy (introduction)
- Vibrational circular dichroism (overview)
- Spectral interpretation for functional group identification
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- Nuclear spin and magnetic moments
- ¹H NMR: chemical shift, integration, coupling
- Spin-spin splitting: first-order analysis
- ¹³C NMR and DEPT editing
- 2D NMR: COSY, HSQC, HMBC (introduction)
- NMR instrumentation: superconducting magnets, probes
- EPR/ESR for paramagnetic species (overview)
- NMR in solids: MAS-NMR (introduction)
- Dynamic NMR and exchange phenomena
- Structure elucidation strategies combining NMR data
STEM / applied
Laboratory and instrumental practice
- UV-Vis calibration and standard curves
- FTIR sample preparation: solids, liquids, gases
- NMR sample preparation and deuterated solvents
- Shimming and tuning NMR instruments
- Spectral library searching and databases
- Quantitative NMR (qNMR) for purity assessment
- Time-resolved fluorescence measurements
- Laser safety and pulsed spectroscopy (intro)
- Computational prediction of spectra (DFT)
- Writing spectroscopy lab reports with structure assignments
Applied spectroscopy
- Pharmaceutical identification and polymorph detection
- Forensic spectroscopy: drugs, paints, fibers
- Environmental monitoring by UV-Vis and fluorescence
- Process analytical technology (PAT) with IR and NMR
- Art conservation and pigment identification
- Food authenticity testing by spectroscopy
- Clinical diagnostics: pulse oximetry, MRI principles
- Astronomical spectroscopy connections
- Remote sensing and hyperspectral imaging (overview)
- Career paths in analytical and structural chemistry
Notes
Topics reflect common spectroscopy syllabi at US colleges and universities. May be taught as a standalone course or integrated with organic and analytical chemistry. Prior organic chemistry background expected.