NMR Spectroscopy- Definition, Principle, Steps, Parts, Uses

by

What is NMR?

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, most commonly known as NMR spectroscopy or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), is a spectroscopic technique to observe local magnetic fields around atomic nuclei. 

It is a spectroscopy technique that is based on the absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the radiofrequency region 4 to 900 MHz by nuclei of the atoms.

Over the past fifty years, NMR has become the preeminent technique for determining the structure of organic compounds.

Of all the spectroscopic methods, it is the only one for which a complete analysis and interpretation of the entire spectrum is normally expected.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

Principle of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

  1. The principle behind NMR is that many nuclei have spin and all nuclei are electrically charged. If an external magnetic field is applied, an energy transfer is possible between the base energy to a higher energy level (generally a single energy gap).
  2. The energy transfer takes place at a wavelength that corresponds to radio frequencies and when the spin returns to its base level, energy is emitted at the same frequency.
  3. The signal that matches this transfer is measured in many ways and processed in order to yield an NMR spectrum for the nucleus concerned.

Working of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

  • The sample is placed in a magnetic field and the NMR signal is produced by excitation of the nuclei sample with radio waves into nuclear magnetic resonance, which is detected with sensitive radio receivers.
  • The intramolecular magnetic field around an atom in a molecule changes the resonance frequency, thus giving access to details of the electronic structure of a molecule and its individual functional groups.
  • As the fields are unique or highly characteristic to individual compounds, NMR spectroscopy is the definitive method to identify monomolecular organic compounds.
  • Besides identification, NMR spectroscopy provides detailed information about the structure, dynamics, reaction state, and chemical environment of molecules.
  • The most common types of NMR are proton and carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy, but it is applicable to any kind of sample that contains nuclei possessing spin.

Instrumentation of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

  1. Sample holder

Glass tube with 8.5 cm long, 0.3 cm in diameter.

  1. Permanent magnet

It provides a homogeneous magnetic field at 60-100 MHZ 

  1. Magnetic coils

These coils induce a magnetic field when current flows through them

  1. Sweep generator

To produce an equal amount of magnetic field pass through the sample

  1. Radio frequency transmitter

A radio transmitter coil transmitter that produces a short powerful pulse of radio waves

  1. Radio frequency receiver

A radio receiver coil that detects radio frequencies emitted as nuclei relax to a lower energy level 

  1. Read out systems

A computer that analyses and records the data.

Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter. NMR spectroscopy is the use of the NMR phenomenon to study the physical, chemical, and biological properties of matter.

  • It is an analytical chemistry technique used in quality control.
  • It is used in research for determining the content and purity of a sample as well as its molecular structure. For example, NMR can quantitatively analyze mixtures containing known compounds.
  • NMR spectroscopy is routinely used by chemists to study chemical structure using simple one-dimensional techniques. Two-dimensional techniques are used to determine the structure of more complicated molecules.
  • These techniques are replacing x-ray crystallography for the determination of protein structure.
  • Time domain NMR spectroscopy techniques are used to probe molecular dynamics in solution.
  • Solid state NMR spectroscopy is used to determine the molecular structure of solids.
  • Other scientists have developed NMR methods-of measuring diffusion coefficients.

References

  1. http://chem.ch.huji.ac.il/nmr/whatisnmr/whatisnmr.html
  2. https://www.slideshare.net/solairajananant/nmr-spectroscopy-13887430
  3. https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/009/01/0034-0049
  4. https://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty/reusch/virttxtjml/spectrpy/nmr/nmr1.htm
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_magnetic_resonance_spectroscopy

About Author

Photo of author

Sagar Aryal, PhD

Dr. Sagar Aryal is a microbiologist, researcher, and science communicator from Nepal. He is also co-founder and Research Head of the Department of Natural Products at the Kathmandu Research Institute for Biological Sciences (KRIBS), where he leads research on natural product discovery and microbial biodiversity. Dr. Aryal earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2025, supported by a DAAD Research Grant and a University Grants Commission (UGC) Nepal Ph.D. Fellowship. His research interests include Actinomycetes, Myxobacteria, microbial taxonomy, and natural products, particularly the discovery of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications. He isolated and identified Nocardia nepalensis, a novel bacterial species from Nepal, contributing to understanding microbial diversity in the region. Dr. Aryal has published more than 16 research articles in international journals and contributed three book chapters to established academic publications. He has presented scientific research findings and developed international research collaborations through visits to more than 18 countries across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. From 2023 to 2025, he served as the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Young Ambassador to Nepal. Since December 2025, he has served as an Editorial Board Member of Scientific Reports, a Nature Portfolio journal. In recognition of his scientific contributions, Dr. Aryal received the NAST Science and Technology Youth Award 2025 from the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology. He previously received the Frs. Locke and Stiller Research Award (LSRA) for the 2017-2018 cycle from St. Xavier's College, Kathmandu, and a Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Research Grant for 2017-2018. Alongside his scientific career, Dr. Aryal has more than 15 years of experience in blogging, content writing, and search engine optimization (SEO).