Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

spin spin coupling

franniexo

in simple terms what is spin-spin coupling?

Reply 1

charco

Study Forum Helper

Original post by franniexo

in simple terms what is spin-spin coupling?

This is when (non-equivalent) hydrogen atoms (protons) create magnetic fields that influence the overall field experienced by neighbouring (adjacent) protons. It causes the signal to be split according to the spin states of the group of non-equivalent protons.

Example:

(CH₃)₂CHBr

The two methyl groups contain 6 equivalent protons. Each one of these protons can have a spin state of plus or minus 1/2, and each of these conditions creates a different local magnetic field.

The adjacent CH proton experiences 6+1 = 7 different fields and has 7 corresponding signals in the NMR (multiplet = many peaks).

The signal due to the two methyl groups (equivalent protons) experiences two different local fields due to the two spin states of the CH proton. Hence the two methyl group protons (sall equivalent) are split into a doublet (two peaks).

This influence of protons on the protons attached to neighbouring carbon atoms is called spin-spin coupling.