Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

1: Intro Structure Determination

  • Page ID
    309304
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    Introduction to Structure Determination

    The determination of the structure of a chemical is a critical laboratory skill for a chemist. This allows the chemist to know whether they have synthesized the molecule that they wanted or determine the structure of a molecule that has a specific biological activity.

    Structure determination can be applied to a range of targets from very simple diatomic molecules to large complex biomolecules or polymers or even organometallic coordination complexes.

    Due to the importance of these methods, chemists have developed several techniques to elucidate the structure of a molecule.

    This course will introduce students to a wide range of methods including Infrared Spectroscopy, Ultraviolet Spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry, and several Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic techniques.

    \(^*\) Spectra are either from SDBS (Japan National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) or simulated.

    Introduction to Representing Molecules

    Review Representations:

    Before we begin to determine the structures of molecules, we will review methods for drawing potential structures and communicating them to others.

    1. Lewis "Dot" Structures

    Bond = an electron pair

    Lewis structures can be cumbersome to draw, but they form the basis for devising all types of structures.

    Methane (\(CH_4\)) Formaldehyde (\(CH_2O\)) Acetonitrile (\(CH_3CN\))

    clipboard_efb848b21ebfe1301a7e1110ea0051bfc.png clipboard_e798d164fcb00caa92d53b38b0355234a.png clipboard_e46aaaae44ae2259aea1d130b340a3fd4.png

    2. Bond-Line Structures

    Bond = an electron pair = a line

    This is just a slightly more convenient way of representing Lewis structures.

    Methane (\(CH_4\)) Formaldehyde (\(CH_2O\)) Acetonitrile (\(CH_3CN\))

    clipboard_e29a963d1561ba359ce848327e0802f37.png clipboard_ee5518bb3cf58a75f1965af5d786454b4.png clipboard_e8ed08a59ab64c79fa07d065a4a2e95e0.png

    3. Condensed Formulas, Line-Bond, and Skeletal Representations

    A shorthand method for drawing has developed.

    a) All bonds are lines.

    b) Every corner or end of a line is a carbon.

    c) Every carbon is assumed to have four bonds. If there are not four bonds, the missing bonds must be to hydrogens.

    d) All other atoms are shown.

    • Fill in the missing information in the table below:
    Condensed Formula Line-Bond Skeletal

    \(CH_3CH_3\)

    clipboard_e65f2e9fa83dd848cd1c59ab54f6b0a1d.png

    clipboard_ebb178bde3fb982c60c3ad19000b0b6af.png

    \(CH_3CH_2OH\)

     

    clipboard_e40f60a150e0cb02def71a8a575400b82.png

    \((CH_3)_2CHCH_3\) clipboard_e63292e70f6ae096dfe765a6c00b99e83.png  
    \(CH_3CH(NH_2)CH_3\)   clipboard_e7065762ebb4872d7533096ccf686db39.png
    \(CH_3(CO)CH_3\)   clipboard_e5d8c7c21708e8dff8a73d7ce9fc41fe1.png
    \(CH_3CO_2H\) clipboard_eeb4da99082c28f20c28834cbe1736be8.png  

    4. Practice with Condensed Formulas

    These structures are often used in textbooks because they fit nicely into lines of typed text.

    a) The molecule is written in a single line of type that generally follows the longest continuous chain of atoms in the molecule.

    b) Each chain atom is followed by all atoms attached to it and then by the next chain atom (no bonds are explicitly expressed).

    c) When there is a branch in the primary chain, groups in the branch are enclosed in parentheses and follow the primary chain atom to which they are attached.

    • Draw a bond-line representation for each of the following:
    \(CH_3(CH_2)_3CH_3\) \((CH_3)_2CHOCH_2CH_2CH_2OH\)
     
    \(CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2CO_2H\) \(Cl_2CHCH(CH_2SH)CH_2CHO\)
     

    5. Functional Groups

    Functional Group Functional Group Name Example
    C-C-H (only single C andHsingle bonds) alkane  
    R-C=CH2 (R can be any carbon group) alkene  
    R-C CH alkyne  
      aromatic ring  
      alcohol  
      ether  
      amine  
      phosphine  
      ketone (carbonyl refers to C=O)  
      aldehyde (carbonyl refers to C=O)  
      carboxylic acid (carbonyl refers to C=O)  
      ester (carbonyl refers to C=O)  
      amide (carbonyl refers to C=O)  
      sulfonate ester  
      phosphate ester  

    This page titled 1: Intro Structure Determination is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kate Graham.

    • Was this article helpful?