Infrared Spectral Interpretation

This author’s second volume introduces basic principles of interpreting infrared spectral data, teaching its readers to make sense of the data coming from an infrared spectrometer. Contents include spectra and diagnostic bands for the more common functional groups as well as chapters on polyester spectra and interpretation aids. Discussions include: Science of infrared interpretation Light and molecular vibrations How and why molecules absorb infrared radiation Peak heights, intensities, and widths Hydrocarbons, carbonyl groups, and molecules with C-N bonds Polymers and inorganic molecules The use of atlases, library searching, spectral subtraction, and the Internet in augmenting interpretation Each chapter presents an introduction to the nomenclature and structure of a specific functional group and proceeds with the important diagnostic bands for each group. Infrared Spectral Interpretation serves both novices and experienced practitioners in this field. The author maintains a website and blog with supplemental material. His training course schedule is also available online.

Author Biography

Dr. Brian C. Smith founded Spectros Associates in 1992. He has practiced spectroscopy for over 30 years, and has worked for companies such as Bell Labs and Bio-Rad. Dr. Smith is also an experienced trainer and thousands of people have benefited from his spectroscopy and software training. Dr. Smith is the author of Fundamentals of Fourier Transform Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectral Interpretation, published by CRC Press, and Quantitative Spectroscopy: Theory and Practice, published by Academic Press. Dr. Smith earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Dartmouth College, and graduated summa cum laude from Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Chemistry.