Stretching vibration

Molecules undergo three types of motion: translation, rotation and vibration.

Vibration involves internal movements of the atoms, e.g. due to stretching the bonds.

The energy of these vibrations corresponds to the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Stretching vibrations are generally observed in the region 1500 to 3500 cm-1 and afford the means of characterising functional groups in molecules.

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