About the lecture

In this lecture, we look at another technique of analysis, infrared spectroscopy, which is a vital tool for determining the structure of organic molecules (Topic 7B). We learn of its reliance on covalently bonded compounds absorbing light within the electromagnetic spectrum's infrared region. We define its principles, that covalent bonds between atoms of different masses vibrate at different and specific wavelengths. These vibrations manifest as stretching or bending motions in the bonds. Stretching vibrations can be symmetric or asymmetric, while bending vibrations include actions like scissoring and twisting. By measuring the amount of energy absorbed at specific wavelengths, we can deduce information about functional groups and atom arrangements in a molecule. We learn how we can then determine the presence or absence of key functional groups based on the resulting infrared spectrum.

About the lecturer

Noha graduated from the School of Pharmacy in Egypt and obtained her MSc and PhD in the field of Medicinal Chemistry. She worked in teaching and research across a number of universities in Egypt and the UK. She joined the department of Natural Sciences at Chester as a lecturer in June 2018. Noha’s main focus of research activity is the discovery and development of novel small active molecules as drug candidates to compact disease with primary interest in cancer research. Her research interests include: the selective apoptosis induction in cancer cells; protein-protein interactions as cancer drug target; and the development of kinesin inhibitors as anticancer agents. At the University of Chester she teaches Chemistry Fundamentals II and Analytical Chemistry.