Ep 27. UV-Visible Spectroscopy

Foundations of Organic Chemistry is an educational and informative show that dives deep into Organic Chemistry. Episode 27 of season 1 is titled UV-Visible Spectroscopy and it provides an in-depth understanding of the technique and its applications in this field.

The episode begins with an introduction to the basics of spectroscopy. It then moves on to explain the principles of UV-Visible spectroscopy, which is a technique widely used in the field of Organic Chemistry. UV-Visible spectroscopy is the study of the interaction of light with matter, specifically the absorption of ultraviolet and visible light by molecules. The episode highlights the importance of this technique in the field of Organic Chemistry as it gives insight into the electronic structure of molecules.

The host then takes us through the instrumentation of UV-Visible spectroscopy. This includes a light source, a sample holder, a monochromator, and a detector. He walks us through each of these components and explains how they work together to obtain a spectrum. The episode explains that a spectrum is a plot of the amount of light absorbed by a sample as a function of its wavelength. The host then goes on to explain the factors that affect the spectrum, including the concentration of the sample and the solvent used.

After the instrumentation, the episode delves into the theory behind UV-Visible spectroscopy. The host explains that when a molecule absorbs ultraviolet or visible light, an electron excites from the ground state to a higher energy state. The wavelength of light absorbed depends on the energy difference between the ground state and the excited state. The host then goes on to explain the nature of the absorption bands seen in a spectrum, including their shape and intensity. He also explains how these absorption bands can be used to identify the functional groups present in a molecule.

The episode then moves on to the applications of UV-Visible spectroscopy. The host discusses how this technique can be used in the quantification of substances. He explains that the concentration of a sample can be determined by measuring the amount of light absorbed by the sample at a particular wavelength. The host also explains how UV-Visible spectroscopy can be used to study the kinetics of a reaction. The change in absorbance over time can be used to determine the rate of the reaction.

The host then takes us through some examples of real-life applications of UV-Visible spectroscopy. These include the analysis of dyes in textiles, the quantification of caffeine in beverages, and the determination of the oxidative stability of oils. The episode also highlights the use of UV-Visible spectroscopy in drug discovery, particularly in the identification of lead compounds. The host explains that this technique can be used to screen a large number of compounds quickly and efficiently.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the advantages and limitations of UV-Visible spectroscopy. The host explains that this technique is relatively simple and inexpensive, making it a popular choice in the field of Organic Chemistry. However, UV-Visible spectroscopy can only be used to study molecules with conjugated systems, and it cannot provide structural information about a molecule.

Overall, episode 27 of season 1 of Foundations of Organic Chemistry provides an in-depth understanding of UV-Visible spectroscopy and its applications in Organic Chemistry. It covers the basics of spectroscopy, the instrumentation of UV-Visible spectroscopy, the theory behind the technique, and its applications, including some real-life examples. The episode also discusses the advantages and limitations of this technique, providing a well-rounded overview for viewers who are interested in this field.