• Structural identification of compounds involves several different analytical techniques including IR, 1H NMR and MS.

• In a high resolution 1H NMR spectrum, single peaks present in low resolution can split into further clusters of peaks.

• The structural technique of single crystal X-ray crystallography can be used to identify the bond lengths and bond angles of crystalline compounds.

• Explanation of the use of tetramethylsilane (TMS) as the reference standard.

• Deduction of the structure of a compound given information from a range of analytical characterization techniques (X-ray crystallography, IR, 1H NMR and MS).

• Students should be able to interpret the following from 1H NMR spectra: number of signals, area under each signal, chemical shift and splitting patterns. Treatment of spin-spin coupling constants will not be assessed but students should be familiar with singlets, doublets, triplets and quartets.

• High resolution 1H NMR should be covered.

• The precise details of single crystal X-ray crystallography need not be known in detail, but students should be aware of the existence of this structural technique in the wider context of structural identification of both inorganic and organic compounds.

• The operating principles are not required for any of these methods.