Which type of spectroscopy is commonly used to analyze molecular structures?

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy is widely used for analyzing molecular structures because it provides detailed information about the connectivity of atoms within a molecule. NMR exploits the magnetic properties of certain atomic nuclei, most commonly hydrogen and carbon, allowing researchers to gain insights into the arrangement of atoms, functional groups, and stereochemistry. By observing the chemical environment of nuclei, NMR can distinguish between different types of hydrogen atoms in a complex molecule, thus aiding in determining the overall structure.

In addition to revealing the structure, NMR can also provide dynamic information about molecular motion and interactions in various environments. This feature makes NMR particularly powerful in organic chemistry and biochemistry for elucidating complex structures, including those found in large biomolecules like proteins and nucleic acids. While infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy can provide useful information about functional groups and electronic transitions, they do not offer the same level of detail regarding the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. Mass spectrometry, on the other hand, excels in determining molecular weights and identifying chemical species but does not provide direct structural insights like NMR does.