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IR Spectroscopy – The Basics

The pharmaceutical industry is reliant on the
advantages of infrared spectroscopy. 

Infrared Spectroscopy is likened very much to a fingerprint, and it is by these fingerprints that the properties and appropriate identification of compounds and materials can be gleaned. As each and every human being has a set of fingerprints which are different in 100% of cases, but the same for each individual, as each property gleaned from IR spectroscopy is the same amongst all examples of a particular material, but different between different types.

The method of IR Spectroscopy is to look at characteristics of each “fingerprint” in order to identify the material from this. Instead of whirls or dips being examined, IR Spectroscopy is a matter of looking at a graph which appears to be full of troughs and peaks.

These graphs are obtained by using an appropriate IR Spectroscopy device in order to set a cantilever to the material, aim a fine-tuned laser at the cantilever, then blast the material with short bursts of radiation which is tuned to a point where the material reacts.

A material typically reacts by expanding to the radiation beam, and the cantilever then moves in response. When the cantilever moves, as does the laser which is tuned upon it, allowing for these very specific dips and troughs at the radiation to be formed and plotted to a graph. This radiation is typically tuned along the spectrum, from gamma, to X Ray, to UV rays, to Infrared, Microwave, and then finally as radio waves.

Should the material react on a gamma ray wavelength, the troughs of the graph will be far shorter. Likewise, as the material reacts on radio wave length, the troughs will be much longer.

These wavelengths are then appropriately converted into wave numbers via a number of established scientific formulas. Essentially, the goal in mind is to analyse the number of atoms in a sample material via this method, and with certain IR Spectrometers, it is very possible to form an accurate depiction of a material through establishing characteristics such as these.

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