Question

Spectroscopy is an effective tool for characterizing molecules and, to date, many techniques are well established, especially UV, Mass Spec., NMR and Infrared (FTIR). These techniques are similar in that they are based on quantum mechanical properties/interactions of atoms and molecules with electromagnetic radiation. For UV, Mass Spec., NMR and FTIR please answer the following:

What elements of quantum mechanics enable spectroscopy?

Briefly describe the key underlying science for UV, IR, Mass Spec and NMR spectroscopy.

How do you interpret spectroscopic data and assess its accuracy and precision?

As a engineer with expertise in biomaterials why would you need these techniques (UV, IR, NMR, Mass Spec spectroscopy)?

If you lived in an alternative universe where all size scales of matter followed Newtonian physics, which spectroscopic technique, if any, could you still employ. You do know about the structure of atoms and molecules so atomic numbers, atomic weights, neutrons, protons and electrons are known.

Answer 1