What is a major use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy?

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique primarily used to identify the structure of organic compounds. This technique exploits the magnetic properties of certain nuclei, particularly hydrogen and carbon, to provide information about the arrangement of atoms within a molecule.

In NMR, the sample is placed in a strong magnetic field and exposed to radiofrequency radiation, which causes the nuclei to resonate. The resulting spectra provide detailed insights into the environment surrounding the nuclei, such as chemical shifts that can indicate the presence of functional groups, connectivity between atoms, and stereochemistry. This structural information is crucial for chemists when deducing the molecular architecture of organic compounds, confirming identities, and studying complex mixtures.

While NMR can provide some quantitative information about concentration, its primary and most significant application lies in elucidating the structures of organic molecules. Other techniques are more suited for directly measuring temperature, determining color, or quantifying solutes.