Animated Infra-Red Spectroscopy (AIRS)

Introduction to the Website

This website contains animated infra-red spectra for a variety of organic compounds. Each spectrum allows access to animated molecular vibrations for many of its peaks. Clicking on a particular peak will download the animation of the corresponding vibration. Experimental spectra were collected using NaCl plates with a Nicolet Spectrometer. Calculated vibrational modes were determined using the Spartan molecular modeling program. This site is currently under development, so new compounds and animations will be added regularly. This project is generously supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (HRD-9752985).

List of Available Animated Spectra Arranged By:

• Compound Name
• Functional Group
• Formula

Background Information for Students

Infra-red spectroscopy is an experimental tool for obtaining information about chemical structure. Molecules can absorb infra-red light of frequencies that match the energy of changes in molecular vibrations. Infra-red spectroscopy is therefore often also called vibrational spectroscopy. This absorption of light can be very useful because similar functional groups (such as O-H bonds, C=O bonds...) will often absorb infra-red light in a small range of frequencies regardless of other structural features. So all compounds containing carbonyls will show absorptions at the same place on an infra-red spectrum. While you are exploring this website, you may find it helpful to look at the spectra (and corresponding vibrations) for several molecules containing the same functional group. A list of molecules arranged by functional group can be accessed through the list above.

Last Modified 5/14/98