Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy
IR spectroscopy is a technique used to identify functional groups in a molecule by measuring the absorption of infrared light at different wavelengths. The resulting spectrum shows peaks corresponding to the vibrational frequencies of bonds within the molecule. Key regions include the O-H stretch around 3200-3600 cm⁻¹, C=O stretch near 1700 cm⁻¹, and C-H stretches around 2800-3000 cm⁻¹.
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Mass Spectrometry
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to determine the molecular weight and structure of a compound by ionizing chemical species and sorting the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). The spectrum displays peaks that represent fragments of the molecule, with the highest m/z peak often corresponding to the molecular ion, providing insight into the molecular weight of the compound.
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Functional Group Identification
Identifying functional groups is crucial for determining the structure of a molecule. In IR spectroscopy, specific absorption bands correspond to different functional groups, such as alcohols, carbonyls, and amines. By analyzing these bands, one can deduce the presence of certain functional groups, which, combined with mass spectrometry data, helps in constructing the molecular structure.
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