Topic overview

Start with the big picture

Chemical shift indicates the electronic environment of a nucleus: shielding moves a signal upfield, while deshielding moves it downfield. The number of distinct signals reflects sets of chemically equivalent nuclei and can reveal molecular symmetry. Integration compares the relative numbers of nuclei represented by signals, while spin–spin splitting provides information about nearby coupled nuclei; coupling constants quantify the interaction. Beyond these basic features, NMR methods can probe molecular motion, exchange, spatial proximity, and connectivity. Experiments such as DEPT, HSQC/HMQC, HMBC, and COSY/TOCSY offer complementary ways to distinguish carbon types or map relationships between nuclei. Together, these observations help build a richer picture of molecular structure and behavior.