1. Qualitative Analysis:
Identification of Functional Groups: IR spectra can reveal the presence of specific functional groups like hydroxyl (-OH), carbonyl (C=O), alkene (C=C), etc., in a molecule.
Characterization of Compounds: IR is widely used in organic chemistry labs to confirm the synthesis or isolation of a particular compound based on its unique "fingerprint" region in the spectrum.
2. Quantitative Analysis:
The intensity of an IR absorption can be related to the concentration of the absorbing species, allowing for quantitative measurements, especially with ATR-FTIR techniques.
3. Polymer Analysis:
Characterization of polymers, determination of copolymer compositions, degree of crystallinity, and other important attributes.
4. Study of Hydrogen Bonding:
Investigate the strength and nature of hydrogen bonds in various systems, especially in solvents or complex molecular structures.
5. Gas Analysis:
Identification and quantification of gases, especially in environmental monitoring and industrial applications.
6. Pharmaceutical Industry:
Quality control, determination of drug purity, and identification of counterfeit drugs.
7. Food and Agriculture:
Determination of food adulteration, measurement of fat content, water content, and other constituents in food samples.
8. Forensic Analysis:
Examination of samples for the presence of specific substances, such as drugs, toxins, or residues.
Identification of materials from crime scenes, such as paint chips, fibers, and more.
9. Environmental Monitoring:
Detection and quantification of pollutants in air, water, and soil.
10. Biomedical Applications:
Studying protein-ligand interactions, secondary structures of proteins, lipid profiles, and tissue imaging.
