How can you distinguish between following pairs of compounds with the help of infrared spectroscopy? Acid chlorideCH3COCL and carboxylic acid CH3COOH

1 Answer
anor277
May 10, 2018

Should acetyl choride have an #O-H# absorption?

Explanation:

The answer is no...and #OH# absorptions are very prominent in the IR spectrum. Note that IR spectroscopy is VERY MUCH a sporting technique of analysis in that an IR spectrum is open to a lot of interpretation (as opposed to non-sporting techniques of analysis such as NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography that can tell you the molecule's phone number).

From the web....

webbook.nist.gov/

There is a whacking, great hydroxyl absorption at #3000*cm^-1#.

webbook.nist.gov

And thus acetyl chloride contains NO hydroxyl absorption, while retaining the carbonyl absorption at approx. #1800*cm^-1#.

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