Working Principle of Infra-Red (IR) Spectroscopy

Infra-Red (IR) radiation does not have enough energy to induce electronic transitions as seen with UV. Absorption of IR is restricted to compounds with small energy differences in the possible vibrational and rotational states. For a molecule to absorb IR, the vibrations or rotations within a molecule must cause a net change in the dipole moment of the molecule. Electromagnetic radiation consists of an oscillating electrical field and an oscillating magnetic field perpendicular to each other. The alternating electrical field of the radiation interacts with fluctuations in the dipole moment of the molecule. If the frequency of IR radiation matches the vibrational frequency of the molecule, then radiation will be absorbed, causing the change in amplitude of molecular vibration. Read more