Introduction to Molecular Spectroscopy from Coursera

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Syllabus

Ultraviolet and Visible Spectroscopy

In this first week we introduce the electromagnetic spectrum and the origin of transitions giving rise to ultraviolet and visible (UV/Vis) spectra. You will learn that electronic transitions are caused by absorption of radiation in the UV/Vis region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The reason for the wavelength and intensity of bands will be described and the colour origin of certain compounds will be discussed. You will also be shown how UV/Vis spectroscopy is performed and you will be able to run and analyse your own spectra. As the final activity in this module you are given a link to view how to obtain a UV/Visible spectrum in the laboratory. Good luck, try and participate in the discussion forums to enhance your learning and don't forget to complete the end of week laboratory quiz which contributes to your final mark.

Infrared Spectroscopy

In this module we introduce the theory underpinning infrared (IR) spectroscopy and show examples of analysis using the technique. Transitions between the vibrational energy levels of molecules occurs in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. We start with the theory underlying vibration using the simple harmonic oscillator model. Analysis of more complex molecules is introduced using group frequencies and number of vibrational modes. You will also be shown how to obtain an infrared spectrum and will have an opportunity to run your own spectrum. At the end of this module you are given a link to view how to obtain an infra red spectrum in the laboratory. Don't forget to complete the end of week laboratory quiz which contributes to your final mark for this course.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

This week we concentrate on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Here a magnetic field is used to create energy levels for magnetic nuclei present in a molecule. Transition between these energy levels occurs in the radiofrequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The positions of the bands in the observed spectrum is dependent on the shielding of the nuclei by the local electronic structure, giving rise to a parameter known as chemical shift. Bands also display fine structure caused by spin-spin coupling with neighbouring nuclei. Examples on the analysis of NMR spectra for structure determination will be given. As the final activity in this module you are given a link to view how to obtain an NMR spectrum in the laboratory. Don't forget to compete this end of week laboratory quiz which contributes to your final mark.

Final Assessment

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches students the fundamental concepts of spectroscopy and teaches them how to use their knowledge of spectroscopy to analyze the molecular and electronic structure of atoms and molecules

Utilizes concise video lectures and quizzes to ensure learners' comprehension of the materials

Provides virtual spectroscopic laboratory to enable learners to measure and analyze spectra online

Reviews summary

Fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy

Learners say this course is a good introduction to the fundamental principles of molecular spectroscopy. It covers the basics of UV, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. The course is well-received by learners and features engaging assignments, such as lab quizzes. The instructor, Patrick O'Malley, is knowledgeable and explains concepts clearly. The course is a great resource for students, researchers, and anyone interested in spectroscopy.

The course includes a variety of helpful resources, such as lecture notes, problem sets, and practice quizzes. These resources help learners to review the material and test their understanding of the concepts.

"notes were really informative and helpful."

"Assignment questions were of a good level."

"The workshop questions were interesting to do using the spectra."

This course is well-structured, with a logical progression of topics. The course covers the fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy in a clear and concise way.

"This course is very useful in learning all the spectroscopic techniques."

"The course was very informative with lot of emphasis given on SI units and its conversion to other metric forms."

"The subject is more useful to my further studies."

The lectures are informative and engaging. The instructor, Dr. O'Malley, is a knowledgeable and experienced teacher who presents the material in a clear and engaging way.

"This course gives a great overview of UV, Visible, Infrared and NMR spectroscopy."

"I learned a lot about the physics behind spectroscopy."

"The explanations are very easy to understand."

The course features a variety of engaging assignments, including lab quizzes and problem sets. These assignments help learners to apply the concepts they learn in the lectures.

"Great course for those who are actually interested in this field well really easy to understand and useful."

"It was really a wonderful course and I got to learn more about the spectroscopy and I thank Coursera for offering this course"

"I found the course very helpful and forms the basis of in depth study."

The course is somewhat limited in depth. It provides a good overview of the fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy, but it does not go into great detail on any one topic.

"It was useful only for already subject known candidates."

"Course is quite outdated and new modified course on this very important topic must be launched with better teaching methods."

"The lectures could have been more clear and planned."

Some learners have reported experiencing technical issues with the course, such as problems with the quizzes or difficulty viewing the videos.

"In initial videos, the coughing was disturbing."

"Very interesting lectures, topics explained pretty clear. But Eng subs are not very good and some practice quizzes have incomplete text."

"Errors in the quices that need to be improved to make it a 5-star course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Molecular Spectroscopy with these activities:

Review Basic Chemistry Concepts

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Reviewing basic chemistry principles will provide a solid foundation for understanding spectroscopic techniques.

Browse courses on Atomic Structure

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Identify areas of weakness in your chemistry knowledge.
Find resources such as textbooks, online courses, or tutorials to refresh your understanding.

Review Fundamental Chemistry Concepts

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Refresh your foundational chemistry knowledge to support your learning in spectroscopy.

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Review notes or textbooks on basic chemistry concepts.
Complete practice problems on atomic structure, molecular bonding, and chemical reactions.

Summarize Infrared Spectroscopy Concepts

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Summarizing key infrared spectroscopy concepts will solidify your understanding and improve recall.

Browse courses on Infrared Spectroscopy

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Review infrared spectroscopy principles and applications.
Create a summary in your own words, highlighting the most important concepts.
Regularly review your summary to reinforce your knowledge.

Nine other activities

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Solve UV/Vis Spectroscopy Problems

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Regular practice with UV/Vis spectroscopy problems will enhance your problem-solving skills and reinforce fundamental concepts.

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Identify and gather practice problems and exercises.
Attempt to solve the problems on your own.
Check your solutions against provided answer keys or consult online resources.
Analyze incorrect solutions to identify knowledge gaps.

Practice Spectrophotometry Experiments

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Following online tutorials on spectroscopy simulations will provide you hands-on experience in performing experiments and interpreting results.

Browse courses on Spectroscopy

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Find reputable online spectroscopy simulators.
Select a tutorial that aligns with your learning objectives.
Follow the tutorial instructions to perform virtual experiments.
Analyze the data and interpret the results.
Compare your findings with expected values and draw conclusions.

Interactive Infrared Spectroscopy Tutorial

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Enhance your understanding of infrared spectroscopy through guided tutorials.

Browse courses on Infrared Spectroscopy

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Enroll in an online tutorial platform.
Complete interactive modules on IR theory and applications.
Practice identifying functional groups using IR spectra.

Virtual Spectroscopic Laboratory Tutorial

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Practice your spectroscopic skills in a virtual environment.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Access the virtual spectroscopic laboratory.
Follow guided instructions to perform spectroscopic experiments.
Analyze and interpret the resulting spectra.

Discuss Spectroscopic Techniques

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Engaging in discussions with peers will foster collaboration, exchange of ideas, and deepen your understanding of spectroscopy.

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Form or join a study group with fellow students.
Choose specific spectroscopic topics for discussion.
Prepare for discussions by reviewing the material and formulating questions.
Actively participate in the discussions, sharing your insights and listening to others' perspectives.

IR Spectral Interpretation Practice

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Strengthen your ability to interpret IR spectra through repetitive exercises.

Browse courses on Infrared Spectroscopy

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Gather a set of IR spectra with known functional groups.
Identify and label the characteristic absorption bands.
Determine the corresponding functional groups.

NMR Spectroscopy Drill

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Reinforce your understanding of NMR spectroscopy through repetitive exercises.

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Set up your NMR simulation software.
Practice identifying different nuclei and their corresponding peaks.
Determine the chemical shifts of protons and carbons.
Analyze the spin-spin coupling patterns.

Contribute to Spectroscopic Database

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Apply your knowledge and contribute to a publicly available spectroscopic database.

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Identify an open-source spectroscopy database.
Download and explore the database.
Analyze spectra to identify missing or incomplete data.
Submit corrections and additions to the database.

Spectroscopic Summary Report

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Consolidate your learning by creating a comprehensive summary of spectroscopic techniques.

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Review the principles of UV/Visible, IR, and NMR spectroscopy.
Identify key applications and limitations of each technique.
Write a report that compares and contrasts the spectroscopic methods.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Molecular Spectroscopy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chemistry Teacher

Chemistry teachers develop and deliver lesson plans for chemistry courses at the high school or college level. By enrolling in this course, chemistry teachers can explore spectroscopy in more depth, which can help them provide more engaging and effective instruction to their students. Knowledge of spectroscopic techniques is also valuable when designing and conducting laboratory experiments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemistry Teacher

Biochemist

Biochemists study the chemical processes that occur in living organisms. This course can provide a strong foundation for a career as a biochemist, as it introduces the fundamental principles of spectroscopy. Spectroscopic techniques are widely used in biochemistry to analyze the structure and function of biological molecules.

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Analytical Chemist

Analytical chemists use chemical techniques to analyze the composition and structure of materials. This course may be useful for analytical chemists who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the molecular structure of materials, and this course can help analytical chemists to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Analytical Chemist

Materials Scientist

Materials scientists develop and study new materials for use in a variety of applications. This course may be useful for materials scientists who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for characterizing the structure and properties of materials, and this course can help materials scientists to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Pharmaceutical Chemist

Pharmaceutical chemists develop and test new drugs and medications. This course may be useful for pharmaceutical chemists who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the structure and properties of drugs and medications, and this course can help pharmaceutical chemists to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmaceutical Chemist

Forensic Scientist

Forensic scientists use scientific techniques to analyze evidence in criminal cases. This course may be useful for forensic scientists who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the composition of materials, and this course can help forensic scientists to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental scientists study the environment and its components. This course may be useful for environmental scientists who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the composition of environmental samples, and this course can help environmental scientists to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

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Geochemist

Geochemists study the chemistry of the Earth. This course may be useful for geochemists who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the composition of geological samples, and this course can help geochemists to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

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Nuclear Medicine Physician

Nuclear medicine physicians use radioactive substances to diagnose and treat diseases. This course may be useful for nuclear medicine physicians who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the composition of radioactive materials, and this course can help nuclear medicine physicians to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Medicine Physician

Radiologist

Radiologists use imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases. This course may be useful for radiologists who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the composition of biological tissues, and this course can help radiologists to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

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Medical Physicist

Medical physicists use physics principles to develop and use medical equipment. This course may be useful for medical physicists who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the composition of biological tissues, and this course can help medical physicists to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Physicist

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers design and develop medical equipment and devices. This course may be useful for biomedical engineers who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the composition of biological tissues, and this course can help biomedical engineers to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

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Chemical Engineer

Chemical engineers design and operate chemical plants and processes. This course may be useful for chemical engineers who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the composition of chemical compounds, and this course can help chemical engineers to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Materials Engineer

Materials engineers develop and test new materials for use in a variety of applications. This course may be useful for materials engineers who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for characterizing the structure and properties of materials, and this course can help materials engineers to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers design and develop mechanical systems and devices. This course may be useful for mechanical engineers who want to learn more about spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the composition of materials, and this course can help mechanical engineers to understand how to use spectroscopic techniques to solve problems in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer