Hertz, Hz,

Definition

In the context of organic chemistry, particularly within structure determination using mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy, hertz (Hz) is a unit of frequency that measures the number of cycles per second of a wave. It quantifies the rate at which molecules vibrate or rotate in response to energy absorption during spectroscopic analysis.

Related terms

Mass Spectrometry:

A technique used to identify the composition and chemical structures of molecules by ionizing them and measuring their mass-to-charge ratios.

Infrared Spectroscopy:

A method that involves passing infrared light through a sample to detect vibrational transitions in molecules, revealing functional group presence and molecular structure.

Vibrational Frequency: The frequency at which the atoms in a molecule move relative to each other, often measured in hertz during infrared spectroscopy to determine molecular bonds and structures