|
Interpreting the infrared spectrum of Pentane
[Author
©
Dr Phil Brown PhD:
Doc Brown's advanced level organic chemistry exam revision notes
suitable for students of UK A level chemistry courses & US K12 grade
11, grade 12 and AP honors chemistry courses:
Molecular
spectroscopy analysis of
pentane
[spectra page
updated Mar 26th 2026 *]
email doc
brown
Re-edit
infrared spectrum of
CH3(CH2)3CH3
This is a BIG chemistry website, PLEASE take time to explore it
Infrared spectroscopy - spectra index
Links associated
with pentane
* [privacy policy, cookies
and disclaimer]
See also
comparing the infrared, mass,
1H NMR and 13C NMR
spectra of the 3 alkane isomers of C5H12
Introductory note on the infrared spectrum of pentane
Students and teachers please note
my explanation of the infrared
spectrum of pentane is designed
for advanced, but pre-university, chemistry courses.
Based in
the infrared spectrum diagram for pentane, only some of the most
prominent peaks for particular bond vibrations are discussed,
particularly if pentane has a functional group with a particular
characteristic wavenumber peak.
The infrared spectrum of
pentane is
unique and the whole, or selected wavenumbers, can be used to
fingerprint its identity, sometimes analysing a mixture
containing pentane or following its change of concentration in a
reaction.
Spectra obtained from a liquid film of pentane. The right-hand part of the of the
infrared spectrum of pentane, wavenumbers
~1500 to 400
cm-1 is considered the fingerprint region for the
identification of pentane and most organic compounds. It is due to a
unique set of complex overlapping vibrations of the atoms of the molecule
of pentane.
Pentane C5H12,
 ,
,
an alkane
For more
see The molecular structure and
naming of alkanes
Interpretation of
the spectrum of pentane
The most prominent infrared absorption lines of pentane
Most of these are due to the vibrations of the C-H bonds
e.g. stretching and bending deformations at ~2900 cm-1 and ~1500 cm-1.
There is no characteristic absorption band for a
functional group, as alkanes don't have one.
The absence of a specific functional group band
will show that particular functional group is absent from the
pentane molecular structure.
|
Comparing the infrared, mass, 1H NMR and 13C NMR
spectra of the 3 alkane isomers of C5H12
NOTE: The images are linked to their
original detailed spectral analysis pages AND can be doubled in
size with touch screens to
increase the definition to the original pentane,
2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane image sizes. |
 |
 |
 |
Comparing the
infrared
spectra of pentane, 2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
Pentane,
2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
are structural isomers of molecular formula C5H12
Pentane,
2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
exemplify infrared spectra of the alkane homologous series CnH2n+2
hydrocarbon
molecules, where n = 5 |
|
INFRARED SPECTRA
(above): There are, as expected, differences in the fingerprint region at
wavenumbers 1500 to 400 cm-1, but there is no
specific infrared absorption band for a functional group. The
infrared spectra of pentane and 2-methylbutane seem very
similar, but that of 2,2-dimethylpropane seems much simpler. |
 |
 |
 |
Comparing the
mass
spectra of pentane, 2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
Pentane,
2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
are structural isomers of molecular formula C5H12
Pentane,
2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
exemplify the mass spectra of the alkane series CnH2n+2
hydrocarbon
molecules, where n = 5 |
|
MASS SPECTRA (above):
All three hydrocarbons show some similarities in their mass
spectra e.g. m/z ions 27 to 29 for [C2Hx]+
(x = 2 and 4). The molecular ion peaks will
be the same for all three isomers (m/z 72),
but it is very tiny for 2,2-dimethypropane. The pattern ratios
for m/z 39 to 43 are similar for pentane and 2-methylbutane, but
m/z 42 and 43 ions are almost absent from the
2,2-dimethylpropane spectrum. The base peak ion for pentane is
m/z 43, but for 2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane it is m/z
57. |
 |
 |
 |
Comparing the
1H proton NMR
spectra of pentane, 2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
Pentane,
2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
are structural isomers of molecular formula C5H12
Pentane,
2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane exemplify the 1H proton NMR spectra of the alkane
homologous series CnH2n+2
hydrocarbon
molecules where, n = 5 |
|
1H NMR SPECTRA (above): The 1H NMR spectra of
all three molecules give different proton ratios for the
different 1H chemical environments i.e. pentane's
proton ratio is 3:2:1 (from 6:4:2 H's in the molecule).
2-methylbutane's proton ratio is 6:1:2:3 and
2,2-dimethylpropane's doesn't have a proton ratio, all hydrogen
atoms are equivalent. This means all three isomeric C5H12
hydrocarbons can be distinguished from their 1H NMR spectra. |
 |
 |
 |
Comparing the
carbon-13 NMR
spectra of pentane, 2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
Pentane,
2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane
are structural isomers of molecular formula C5H12
Pentane,
2-methylbutane and 2,2-dimethylpropane exemplify the carbon-13 NMR spectra of
members of the alkane homologous series CnH2n+2
hydrocarbon
molecules, where n = 5 |
|
13C NMR SPECTRA
(above): The
13C NMR spectra of the three molecules show different numbers of
carbon-13 chemical environments i.e different numbers of 13C NMR
resonance lines. So, pentane gives three 13C chemical
shifts,
2-methylbutane four and 2,2-dimethylpropane two. This means all
three isomeric C5H12 hydrocarbons can be
distinguished from their 13C NMR spectra. |
Key words & phrases: image and diagram of the infrared spectrum
of pentane, complete infrared absorption spectrum of pentane, comparative spectra of
pentane, prominent peaks/troughs for identifying functional groups in the infrared spectrum of
pentane,
important wavenumber values in cm-1 for peaks/troughs in the infrared spectrum
of pentane, revision of infrared spectroscopy of pentane, fingerprint region analysis of
pentane, how to identify pentane from its infrared spectrum, identifying organic
compounds like pentane from their infrared spectrum Diagram of absorption of wavenumber
peaks in the infrared spectrum of pentane. Characteristic peak wavenumbers in the infrared
spectrum of pentane. Finger print identification pattern using the infrared
spectrum of pentane. Revision notes on the infrared spectrum of pentane. Matching
and deducing the structure of the pentane molecule from its infrared
spectrum. Infrared spectroscopy of alkane, infrared spectra of
pentane, an isomer of molecular formula C5H12 How do you interpret the infrared absorption spectrum of
pentane How
to interpret the infrared spectrum of pentane Explanatory diagram of the
infrared spectrum of the pentane molecule in terms of its molecular
structure. Listing data of the prominent main wavenumber peaks
troughs in the infrared spectrum of pentane. How to explain the infrared
spectrum of pentane. Use of the infrared spectrum of pentane, identification
of pentane from its infrared spectrum - fingerprint wavenumber pattern
to identify the pentane molecule. The uses of the infrared spectrum of
the pentane molecule. The distinctive features of the infrared spectrum
of the pentane molecule explained interpretation diagram explaining the
peaks-trough of the transmittance of the infrared spectrum of
pentane
what does the infrared spectrum tell you about the structure and
properties of the pentane molecule? How is infrared spectrum of
pentane used
to identify pentane?
Links associated
with pentane
The chemistry of ALKANES
revision notes INDEX
The mass spectrum of Pentane
The H-1 NMR spectrum of pentane
The C-13 NMR spectrum of Pentane
Infrared spectroscopy index
ALL SPECTROSCOPY INDEXES
All Advanced Organic
Chemistry Notes
Use My Google search site box
Email doc b:
chem55555@hotmail.com
Website content © Dr
Phil Brown 2000+. All copyrights reserved on revision notes, images,
quizzes, worksheets etc. Copying of Doc Brown's pre-university
advanced level chemistry website material is NOT
permitted. Exam revision summaries & references to science course specifications
are unofficial. These organic chemistry revision notes on
spectroscopy are
suitable for use of pre-university students studying AQA advanced level
chemistry, Edexcel advanced level chemistry, OCR advanced level
chemistry, IB advanced level chemistry, WJEC (Eduqas) advanced level
chemistry, CIE advanced level chemistry, CCEA advanced level chemistry, US grade 11-12 AP honors
chemistry courses and they will also prove useful to
1st year undergraduate students of chemistry. |
