Researching Chemistry: Practical Skills and Techniques

Section 1: Introduction to Organic Chemistry Techniques

Organic chemistry involves the study of carbon-containing compounds, including hydrocarbons and their derivatives.
It is a branch of chemistry that explores how these compounds are structured, their properties, reactions, and synthesis.
The techniques used foster understanding of molecular composition and structure, functional groups, and the mechanisms of organic reactions.

Section 2: Organic Analysis Techniques

Mass Spectrometry (MS): This instrumental technique is used to determine the molecular mass of a compound and its molecular formula.
Infra-Red Spectroscopy (IR): Used for determining the functional groups present in an organic compound.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy: Applies to identify hydrogen and carbon atoms within a molecule, providing information about the structure of a molecule.

Section 3: Chromatography in Organic Analysis

Chromatography is a technique applied in separation, identification, and purification of components present in a mixture.
There are several types of chromatography including Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Gas-Chromatography (GC) primarily used in the study of organic compounds.

Section 4: Organic Synthesis Techniques

Organic synthesis involves building complex organic compounds from simpler ones.
It aims to design effective routes to the desired compounds.
Techniques include substitution reactions, addition reactions, elimination reactions, and rearrangements.

Section 5: Introduction to Instrumental Analysis

Instrumental analysis involves the use of instruments to quantitatively and qualitatively analyse samples.
It is applied for detecting and identifying compounds, determining amounts present and even for monitoring chemical reactions.

Section 6: Techniques in Instrumental Analysis

Spectroscopy: Techniques such as UV-VIS, IR, NMR, and MS exploit the interaction of light (or other types of radiation) with matter to yield detailed information about the structure and properties of substances.
Chromatography: Techniques like GC, HPLC, and TLC involve separating the components of a mixture, allowing further analysis of individual components.

Section 7: Role of Instrumental Analysis in Research

Instrumental analysis provides accuracy, precision, speed and minute data for analysing several components in the sample efficiently.
It is crucial in various scientific disciplines including materials science, forensic analysis, environmental science, and pharmaceutical development.