What is a common application of IR spectroscopy in environmental analysis?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is a common application of IR spectroscopy in environmental analysis?
Measuring pH levels
Identifying pollutants
Determining molecular weight
Separating mixtures
IR spectroscopy is used to identify pollutants in environmental samples by detecting specific functional groups associated with contaminants.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is a common application of IR spectroscopy in environmental analysis?
Solution: IR spectroscopy is used to identify pollutants in environmental samples by detecting specific functional groups associated with contaminants.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what IR spectroscopy is. It is a technique that uses infrared light to identify different substances based on how they absorb that light.
Step 2: Know that pollutants are harmful substances found in the environment, like chemicals in water or air.
Step 3: Learn that every substance has specific functional groups, which are parts of molecules that determine how they behave and interact.
Step 4: Realize that IR spectroscopy can detect these functional groups by measuring the light absorbed by the sample.
Step 5: Conclude that by identifying these functional groups, scientists can determine what pollutants are present in environmental samples.
