UNIT-3

RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY

Lesson Structure
3.0 Objective

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Classical theory of Raman effect

3.3 Quantum theory of Raman effect

3.4 Pure Rotational Raman spectra

3.5. Vibrational Raman spectra.

3.6 Vibrational - Rotational Raman spectra

3.7 Selection Rules in Raman spectroscopy

3.8 Mutual Exclusion Principle

3.9 Complementary nature of Raman and IR spectra

310 Structure determination from Raman and Infrared

spectra.

3.11 Instrumentation and sample handling in Raman

spectra

Solved Problems

Model Questions

References
Raman Spectroscopy

3.0 OBJECTIVES
After studying this unit you will be able to
• Describe classical and quantum mechanical theories of Raman effect.
• Know about pure rotational, vibrational and vibrational-rotational Raman spectra.
• Know about selection rules in Raman spectroscopy.
• Discuss Mutual exclusion Principle with suitable examples.
• Explain complementary nature of Raman and Infrared spectra.
• Apply Raman and Infrared spectra in structure determination.
• Know about the Instrumentation and sample handling in Raman spectra.

3.1 INTRODUCTION
When a beam of light falls on a substance, it may be transmitted, absorbed on
scattered. If the substance is transparent and does not absorb in the visible region of the
electromagnetic spectrum, nearly all of this light is transmitted. A small fraction of the
incident light, however emerges in all directions as a result of scattering. If the light is
monochromatic, nearly all of the scattered light is observed to be of the frequency as the
incident light. This is called Rayleigh scattering. But on longer exposures, we find that light
of discrete frequencies above and below the incident frequency is also scattered. This
phenomenon is referred to as Raman scattering, after its discoverer C. V. Raman. A. Schematic
representation dissociation of a Raman spectrum is shown in the figure given below :



Rayleigh line
  

Fig. (3.1)
The line at the incident (or exciting) frequency  1 is called the Rayleigh line, while
the pattern of weak lines of modified frequency is called the Raman spectrum of the scattering
substance. The frequency (or wave number) difference between the Rayleigh line and a
Raman line is independent of the frequency of the incident line, but is characteristic of the
scattering substance being related to its vibrational or rotational transition. The difference is
referred to as the Raman shift can be represented as :

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Raman Spectroscopy

   I   R   mol sec 1

1 1
     mol cm 1
I  R

where the subscripts I,R and mol refer to the incident light, the Raman line and the
molecule respectively. The vertical lines indicate the absolute value of the corresponding
difference.

3.2 CLASSICAL THEORY OF RAMAN EFFECT

Some understanding of Raman scattering may be obtained from classical theory.
They basic to Raman effect is the concept of polarizability of a molecule. When a molecule
is placed in a static electric field it undergoes some deformation, the electronic cloud being
attracted to the positive pole of the field and positively charged nuclei to the negative pole.
This separation of charge gives rise to an induced dipole moment, i , and the molecule is
said to be polarized. The magnitude of i depends on the intensity of the electric field E and
on the ease of deformibility or polarizability,  of the molecule

Thus, i  E ...(3.1)

When a sample of molecules is subjected to a beam of radiation of frequency  i, each

molecule in it experiences an electric field which varies according to the equation

E  E0S in 2 i t ...(3.2)

A time dependent dipole moment is therefore induced in the molecule

i  E   Eo S in 2   i t ...(3.3)

According to electromagnetic theory an oscillating dipole emits radiation whose

frequency is the same as its oscillation frequency. Equation (3.3) thus gives the classical
explanation of Rayleigh scattering.
Moreover, if the molecule itself undergoes some motion like vibration or rotation,
which changes the polarizability periodically, then the dipole (oscillating with the frequency
of the applied field) will have superimposed on it vibrational or rotational oscillation.
For example let us consider a vibration of frequency  v , which changes the
polarizability. For small displacement from the equilibrium distance, the polarizability can
be expressed as

   0   S in 2  ot ...(3.4)

where 0 is the polarizability in the equilibrium position and  represents the change
in polarizability during he vibration. Consequently, the induced dipole moment is given by

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Raman Spectroscopy

i  E   0   S in 2 vt  E0S in 2i t

Making use of the trigonometric relation

2 sin A sin B  C os  A  B   C os  A  B 

we get

1 1 E C os 2       t
i   0 E0Sin 2 i t   E0 Cos 2    i   v  t ...(3.5)
2 2 0 i v

I II III
Thus, the induced dipole moment ( i ) has three components. The component I
changes with the same frequency, as the incident light wave  i (called the exciting frequency)
while the components II & III change with frequencies which are respectively, the difference
and the sum of the exciting frequency ( i) and the vibrational frequency ( v) of the molecule.
Therefore we expect to find three frequencies in the scattered light  i and  i ±  v. The spectral
line at the exciting frequency  i represents the Rayleigh line, while those at frequencies  i ±
 v represent the Raman lines. Thus the Raman lines appear on both sides of the Rayleigh
line. The line which appears on the low frequency side of the Rayleigh line, i.e. at  i –  v, is
known as the Stokes line, while the line on the high frequency side ( i +  v) is called on anti-
Stokes line.
From equation (3.5) it is clear that the existence of Raman lines depends on , the
change in polarizability with the vibration. The corresponding spectrum is called vibrational
Raman spectrum. Similarly, the change in polarizability during the molecular rotation also
leads to a rotational Raman spectrum, in which the shifts from the Rayleigh line are related
to rotational frequencies. Thus, we see that in order to be Raman active a molecular vibration
or rotation must cause a change in the polarizability of the molecule. In contrast to this the
condition for infrared and microwave activity, is that the molecular motion must produce a
change in the electric dipole moment of the molecule.
Although, the conclusions drawn from Eq. (3.5) are to a considerable extent in good
agreement with experimental observations of Raman spectra. However, there is a marked
disagreement as well. Eq. (3.5) predicts that the pair of Raman lines with the same absolute
value of the frequency shift would appear in the spectrum with equal intensity while, it is
found that the lines an high frequency side of the Rayleigh line are very weak compared to
those on the low frequency side. This is well explained when we consider quantum theory
of Raman effect.

3.3 QUANTUM THEORY OF RAMAN EFFECT

From quantum theory, we can consider the incident light of frequency  as a stream
of particles (called photons) each having energy h , where h is Planck constant. These
photons are imagined to undergo collisions with molecules. If the collisions are perfectly

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Raman Spectroscopy

elastic, there will be no exchange of energy between the molecule and the striking photons
and the latter will be simply detected unchanged. A detector placed at right angles to the
incident beam will thus record photons of energy h , i.e. radiation of frequency  . However,
some collisions may also result in exchange of energy between molecule and photon, and
then they are called inelastic.
Schematically, these processes can be shown in the figure given below :

v=1

v=0

Fig. (3.2)
We may imagine that for the extremely short period that a photon is near a molecule
during the collision the two form a sort of complex having an energy different from that of
any molecular energy level. After the photon has moved away, it is most likely that the
molecule will return to the level where it was before colliding with the photon [Fig. (a)]. In
such a case the photon energy is not changed by collision, and Rayleight scattering occurs.
There is also a small probability that, if the molecule was initially on the lowest vibrational
level (v = 0) after interaction with a photon it will in the next higher vibrational level (v = 1),
as shown in figure (b). The scattered photon in this case will have lost some energy equal to
the energy gained by the molecule and will consequently be if lower frequency. There is
again a very small probability that a molecule, which is initially in the v=1 level will after
interaction with a photon move to the v=0 level (fig. (c)). The energy lost by the molecule is
gained by the scattered photon, which therefore has a higher frequency. The last two situation
pertain to Raman scattering. At ordinary temperatures, only a small number of molecules
can be in the v=1 level, while majority of them exist in the v=0 level. It is therefore easy to
predict that for a pair of Raman lines having the same value of the frequency shift , the line
with frequency higher than the incident frequency will be weaker than the one with the
reduced frequency.

3.4 PURE ROTATIONAL RAMAN SPECTRA

For a complete treatment of the Raman scattering, quantum mechanical perturbation
theory must be applied. The rotational selection rule which is derived from this theory is
J  2 in contrast to the corresponding selection rule for microwave spectroscopy, J  1 .

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Raman Spectroscopy

In Raman work the rotational quantum number changes by 2 units rather than one
is related to the fact that the molecular polarizability, in contrast to the
permanent dipole moment; is not a vector quantity, and so in every complete
rotation, it returns twice to its original value. Thus the polarizability changes with a frequency
which is twice the rotational frequency of the molecule.
The expression for rotational energy levels of linear molecules has already been stated.

 J  hBJ  J  1 ...(3.6)

where J = 0, 1, 2.....

It is usual practice to define J as J in the upper state minus J in the lower state.
Now, since for a pure rotational change the upper state J must be greater than the lower
state J, by adopting the above definition we can ignore J  2 in the present case and
restrict ourselves only to J  2 . Further the transition J  0 is trivial since this represents
no change in the molecular energy and hence Rayleigh scattering only. Combining, then
J  2 , the energy changes for the allowed transition we obtained as :

 J   J´ J  2   J´ J

 hB  4 J  6  ergs ...(3.7)

J  0, 1,2...

where J is the rotational quantum number in the lower state. Since J  2 , we may
refer to the lines arising from these energy changes as S branch lines this is indicated by
putting subscript S.
If the molecule gains an amount of rotational energy as given by Eq (3.7), from a
photon during collision, we get an S-branch line on the low wave number side of the exciting
line. This is therefore a stokes line. The wave number
–1
(in cm ) of Stokes lines are consequently given by :

  hB  4 J  6 
 s  ex   ex  B  4 J  6  cm1 ...(3.8)
hc

where  ex is wave number (in cm–1) of exciting radiation. The corresponding equation
for anti Stokes lines of the S- branch is, evidently

 s   ex  B  4 J  6  cm 1 ...(3.9)

where, as before, J is the rotational quantum number in the lower state.

The allowed transitions and the Raman spectrum arising are shown in the
figure given below.

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Raman Spectroscopy

Fig. (3.3): The rotational energy level of diatomic molecule and the rotational
Raman spectrum arising from transition between them. Spectral line are numbered
according to their lower J value.
The relative intensities depend on the relative population of the rotational levels as
given below

nJ   r  J / kT
  2 J  1 e ....(3.10)
n0

Since many rotational levels are populated, downward transition are quite as likely
as upward ones, and consequently Stokes and anti - Stokes lines are comparable in intensity.
From equation (3.8) & (3.9) it is seen that the frequency separation of the first Stokes
or anti - Stokes line (which corresponds to J = o) from the exciting line is 6 B cm–1, while the
separation between successive lines on either side of the exciting line is 4 B cm–1. From
spectrum we can thus immediately obtain a value of B (i.e. B/c) and from it the moment of
inertia (I) and bond length.
Homonucelar diatomic molecules (e.g. O 2 , H 2 ) give neither infrared nor
microwave spectra since they possess no dipole moment. But such molecules do give a
rotational Raman spectra. So, now for the first time we have seen a method for obtaining

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Raman Spectroscopy

molecular parameters of homonuclear diatomic molecules. It is thus complementary

microwave to mirror wave and infrared studies, not merely confirmatory.
The alternate rotational levels of linear molecules like O2, CO2, which are composed
of nuclei with zero spin and have a centre of symmetry are completely unoccupied. This is
revealed in the Raman spectrum by the absence of alternate spectral lines. For example in
the case of O2, every level with an even value of J is empty and so the transition which are
labelled J = 0, 2, 4 ... in the figure will be missing from the spectrum of O2. This leads to a
line spacing of 8B in stead of the usual 4B discussed above. On the other hand, in the case
of molecules containing nuclei with non zero spin and having a cenre of symmetry (e.g. H2,
H—CC—H) the spectral lines show a strong weak, strong weak .. alternation in intensity.
In the case of symmetric top molecules (e.g. CHCl 3) rotation about the top axis
produces no change in polarisability but end -over-end rotations do produce such a change.
For such molecules we have the energy levels

 J ,K  hBJ  J  1  hk 2  A  B  ergs ...(3.11)

J  0,1,2,....

K  0, 1,  2....  J

where k = rotational quantum number for axial rotation.

The selection rules for Raman spectra are K = 0

and J  0,  1, 2 except for K = 0 states, where J can be only ± 2. The selection rule
K = 0 implies that rotation about the top axis are Raman inactive.
As before, we restrict ourselves to positive J. We then have he following two
expression for rotational energy transitions.

(i) J  1 (R branch lines)

 R   J 1, K   J ,k

= 2hB  J  1 ergs ...(3.12)

where J = 1, 2, 3... but not zero. J cannot be zero, since when J = 0, K can be
only zero and, as stated above when k = 0, J can be only ± 2

(ii) J  2 (S branch lines)

 s   J  2, K   J , K

 hB  4 J  6  ....(3.13)

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Raman Spectroscopy

Thus in the Raman spectrum of a symmetric top molecule, we shall have two series
of lines of frequencies.

2 hB  J  1
 R   ex    ex  2 B  J  1 cm1
hc

where J, 1, 2 ....

hB  4 J  6 
 s   ex  =  ex  B  4 J  6  cm 1
hc

J = 0, 1, 2

It follows then that the lines in the R Branch will be 4B , 6B , 8B , 10B ... cm–1 from
the exciting line, while the S branch lines will occur at 6B , 10B , 14B ... cm–1. Clearly every
alternate R-line will be overlapped by an S-line and complete spectrum will thus be expected
to show a marked alteration in intensity.
In the case of spherical top molecules (e.g. CH4, SiH4) the polarizability does not
alter with rotation. So pure rotation of spherical top molecule are Raman
inactive. Bond lengths in such molecules must therefore be obtained from the line structure
of vibration rotations spectra.
All rotations of asymmetric top molecules, on the other hand are normally
Raman active and in consequences of this their Raman spectra are quite
complicated.

3.5 VIBRATIONAL RAMAN SPECTRA

The structure of vibrational Raman spectra can be discussed easily. For every
vibrational mode we can write an expression for energy (in cm–1) as

2
 1  1
   e  v     e xe  v   ....(8.14)
 2  2

(where  = 0, 1, 2 ....)

where  e is the equilibrium vibrational frequency expressed in wave numbers and

xe is the anharmonisity constant. Such an expression is perfectly general, what ever the
shape of the molecule or the nature of vibration.
Quite general, too, is the selection rule :

  0,  1,  2 ....(3.15)

which is the same for Raman as for infrared spectroscopy the probability of

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Raman Spectroscopy

v  2,  3.... decreasing rapidly. Considering the v  0  v  1 transition only, we have in

general

 fundamental   v1   v0

= h e  1  2 xe  ergs

Corresponding to each active fundamental vibration we can then write for the Raman
lines

 fundamental   ex  h 1  2 xe  / hc

or  fundamental   ex   e 1  2 xe  ...(3.16)

Where the plus sign refers to the antistrokes lines, the minus sign refers to the Stroke
lines, and  ex is frequency (in cm–1) of the exciting radiation.

Since as we saw earlier, vary few of the molecules exists in the v=1 state at ordinary
temperatures, the anti Stokes lines will be normally expected to be much weaker than
Stokes lines.
The vibrational Raman spectrum of a molecule is then basically simple. It will show
a series of reasonably intense lines of the low frequency side of the exciting line with a much
weaker mirror image series on the high frequency side. The separation of each line from the
centre of the exciting line gives immediately the Raman active fundamental vibration
frequencies of the molecule
When the chemical formula of a given molecule is known, we can predict for each
symmetry group, to which the molecule might belong, the number of
normal vibrational modes that will be Raman active and infrared active. A comparison of
the Raman spectra and infrared spectra with the predicted pattern then reveals whether the
assumed symmetry group is the correct one.
For example, let us consider the AB3 type molecules. In general, we would expect for
them ( 3 × 4 –6 )= 6 normal modes of vibration. The two simplest possible shapes for this
type of molecules are symmetric plane (symmetry group D 3h ) or regular pyramidal
(symmetry group C3v). For both planar and pyramidal shapes, one stretching mode and
one bending mode are each double degenerate and so only four different fundamental
frequencies should be observed. Now, if the AB3 molecule is planar, it can be predicted that
of the four observable frequencies one should appear only in the Raman spectrum, one
only in the infrared spectrum and two in both Raman and infrared spectra. For a pyramidal
AB3 molecule, however, it can be predicted. That all normal modes are both Raman and
infrared active, and so all four different fundamental frequencies should appear in both
Raman & infrared spectra. Let us take the nitrate ion (NO3–) and the chlorate ion (ClO3–) as
examples. That the observed spectra are consistent with a planar structure for NO3– and a
pyramidal one for ClO3– is shown by the data given in table below :

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Table-3.1

NO3– ClO3–
Vibration Raman Infrared Raman Infrared
Sym. Stretch 1 1049 - 982 994
Sym. Deformation, - 830 610 624
2
Asy. Strech,  3 1355 1350 940 950
Asy. Deformation 690 680 450 934
4

3.6 VIBRATIONAL-ROTATIONAL RAMAN SPECTRA

We need not consider in detail the vibrational rotational structure of
Raman spectra in general because such rotational fine structure is rarely resolved, except in
the case of diatomic molecules. So, a study of only diatomic molecules will be undertaken
here. The vibration rotation energy states for diatomic
molecules are given by :

2
 1  1
 J ,v   e  v    ve xe  v    BJ  J  1 cm1 ... (3.17)
 2  2

(v= 0, 1, 2, ....; J = 0, 1, 2 ----)

J   J ; J  0, Q  0 cm1  for all J  ...(3.18)

J   J   2, J  2,  s  v0  B(4 J  6)  J  0, 1, 2.....

. ..(3.
J   J  – 2; J  2, 0  0  B  4 J  6   J  2,3,4....
Stokes lines (i.e. lines to low frequency of the exciting radiation) will occur at wave
numbers given by

Q   ex  Q   ex  0 cm1  for all J 

0   ex  0   ex  0  B  4 J  6  cm1  J  2, 3, 4,.....
 s   ex   s   ex   0 – B  4 J  6  cm –1  J  0,1, 2...
The spectrum arising is sketched in figure given below where for completeness, the
pure rotation lines in the immediate vicinity of the exciting line are also shown :

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Raman Spectroscopy

S Q O ex
ex O O
Pure rotation
Rotation-vibration

Fig. (3.4). The pure rotation and the rotation -vibrational spectrum of
diatomic molecule having a fundamental vibration frequency of  0 cm1 . Stokes
lines only are shown.
The presence of the strong Q branch in the Raman spectrum is to be noted and
compared with the P and R branches only which occur for a diatomic molecule only in the
infrared. The analysis of O and S branches in the Raman spectrum to give a value for B and
hence for the moment of inertia (I) and bond length is straight forward.
Much weaker anti-Stokes lines will occur at the same distance from, but to high
frequency of, the exciting line.
For larger molecules, we ignore the rotational line structure since it is not
resolved. Even the O and S (or O, P, R, & S) band contours are seldom observed since they
are very weak compared with Q branch. Thus while the infrared spectrum of chloroform
(CHCl3) shows distinct PR or PQR structure on some bands, the Raman spectrum, with the
possible exception of the band at 760 cm–1, shows only the strong Q branches. While some
information is denied us in Raman spectra because of this, it does represent a considerable
simplification of the overall appearance of such spectra.

Table 3.2 : Some molecular data determined by Raman spectrum

Bond length vibration

Molecule
(in nm) (cm1 )
H2 0.07413  0.00001 4395.2
N2 0.10976  0.00001 2359.6
F2 0.1418  0.0001 802.1
CS2 0.1553  0.0005 656.6 ( sym. stretch)
CH 4 0.1094  0.0001 2914.2 ( sym.stretch)

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Raman Spectroscopy

The above information on bond lengths and vibration frequencies have been obtained
from vibrational rotational Raman spectra. In the case of CS2 and CH 4 the symmetrical
stretching modes only are given since the wavenumber of the other modes are determined
from infrared techniques.

3.7 SELECTION RULES IN RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY

The pure rotational Raman lines appearing on both sides of Rayleigh line arise from
transitions of the molecule from one rotational energy state to the other, of the same
vibrational state. The selection rule for this is J  0,  2 ; which is different from the selection
rules for the far infrared spectrum. The J  0 corresponds to the Rayleigh line. The transitions
J  J  2 give strokes rotational Raman lines and the transitions J  2  J give anti-Stroke
rotational Raman lines.
A good number of Stokes and Anti-Stokes lines of comparable intensity are obtained,
because molecules with different J values are present even at room temperature.
The selection rule for the vibrational Raman spectrum of a diatomic molecule is
v  1 , because at room temperature most of the molecules are in the ground vibrational
state (v = 0), only the vibrational transition, v = 0 to v = 1 is of interest.
Thus if we consider the rotational transitions accompanied by a vibrational Raman
transition of a diatomic molecule, the selection rules now involve the change in the vibrational
as well as rotational quantum numbers. The selection rules for the diatomic molecule are

v  1 , J = 0, ± 2

The transition with J  0 , J  2 and J  2 form a Q branch, S-branch and O-

branch respectively (by analogy with P, Q and R branches of the infrared vibrational rotational
spectrum)
All the Q branch lines are superimposed giving a single line at the band cenre, because
the rotational constant B does not differ greatly for the two vibrational states. As a result, the
Q branch is always much intense than the S and O branches, which consists of lines of
spacing 4B.
It should be noted that the selection rules that govern the Raman and the
infrared absorption spectra are quite different. If the selection rule that holds for infrared
absorption spectra is given by J  1 , then the selection rule for Raman spectra is given by
J  0,  2 .

The reason for the difference in the two phenomenon is due to different
conditions that are required in the two cases. In the direct absorption effect, the presence of
a dipole moment or change in the dipole moment is necessary, while in Raman effect other
factors such as optical anisotropy, change of the polarizability or refractivity of the molecule
prevail.

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Raman Spectroscopy

Thus a rotational Raman line occurs only when the molecule involved is
optically anisotropic. The greater the anisotropy, greater is the intensity of rotational Raman
line. Thus, electrically non polar, but optically anisotropic molecules such as H2, N2, O2 etc.
give rise to pure rotational Raman lines, but they to not have corresponding far infrared
absorption lines.
A vibrational Raman line occurs when the mode of oscillation involved causes a change
in the polarisability of the molecule. Greater the polarizability of molecule, greater is the
intensity of the vibrational Raman lines. Thus the molecules such as NO2, CS2 and CO2 in
which symmetric oscillations occurs, cause no change in dipole moment but gives rise to
intense vibrational Raman lines due to large variation in then polarisability involved,. Such
lines do not correspond to any infrared a absorption lines.
The study of Raman effect in N2 and O2 has confirmed the verification of the selection
rule, J  0,  2 . Similarly, the analysis of the Raman spectra of HCl gas led to the same
conclusion as far as selection rules are involved in the origin of Raman lines.

3.8 MUTUAL EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE

In a molecule with a centre of symmetry, it has been observed that those vibrational
modes which are Raman active are infrared-inactive and infrared active modes are Raman
inactive. This is called the mutual exclusion Principle.
All homonuclear diatomic molecular (e.g. H 2 , O 2 , N 2 etc.) have a centre of
symmetry and consequently are Raman active only.
In linear symmetrical triatomic molecule such as CO2, of the three fundamental
vibrational modes only the symmetrical stretching mode  1 is Raman active. In bending
mode  2 the bond length remain constant and thus there is no change in polarizability. In
anti symmetric mode  3 an increase in polarizability of one C = O bond is neutralized by the
decrease in polarizability of the other. Thus the two modes  2 &  2 are Raman inactive but
there is a definite change in the dipole moment and consequently are infrared active. The
reverse is the case with stretching ( 1) mode of vibration.
Table 3.3. Raman and infrared activity of CO 2

Mode of vibration of CO2 Raman Infrared

1 : symmetic stretching Active Inactive
 2 : bending Inactive Active
 3 : asymmetric stretching Inactive Active

Another example is of acetylene, C 2 H 2 . This linear molecule has five

fundamental modes of vibration out of which  3 and  6 are infrared active while  1,  2 &  5
are Raman active. The strong bands of  1 and  2 coresponds to symmetrical stretching modes.
However C2HD shown an altogether different result because the molecule losses its centre
of symmetry when one hydrogen atom is replaced by a deuterium atom. It is found that all
the five fundamental modes are Raman as well as infrared active. The selection rule that
holds for C2H2 and C2D2 do not even approximately hold for C2HD.

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Raman Spectroscopy

Ethylene (C2H4) molecule has a centre of symmetry and belongs to point group D2h.
It has 12 modes of normal vibration. Six vibrations ( 1 (a g ),  2 (a g )  3 (a g )
 5(b1g ),  6( 1g),  8(b2g) are Raman active but infrared inactive while five vibrations  7 (b1u), 9
(b2u),  10(b2u),  11 (b3u),  12(b3u) are infrared active but Raman inactive, all in harmony to the
mutual exclusion principle. The remaining one mode  4 (au) involves torsional motion of
one CH2 group with respect to other CH2 group. Inspection of torsional vibration reveals
that no change in dipole moment or polarizability accompanies the motion and consequently
is neither active to Raman nor infrared spectra. Such vibrations are called silent fundamental
vibrations.
Similarly in benzene C 6 H 6 (D 6h ) out if 30 normal modes of vibration, eight
vibrations are silent fundamental vibrations.
It must not be concluded from these examples that any molecule with a centre of
symmetry will possess one or more totally inactive modes. For example, in the complex [Pt
Cl 2 Br 2]2– has a centre of symmetry and belongs to D2h point group but has no silent vibration.
Out of its nine modes of vibration six are infrared active and rest three are Raman active.
So more precise and clear rule of mutual exclusion can be stated as for a
molecule with a centre of symmetry, any given normal vibration may be active in infrared
or in Raman (or in neither) but not in both.
This is very important generalization, making an explicit possibility of
spectroscopically silent vibrations and is of immense help in structure determination of
molecules.

3.9 COMPLEMENTARY NATURE OF RAMAN AND IR SPECTRA

If the molecule has a centre of symmetry the modes active in Raman
spectra are inactive in infrared spectra and vice versa, so that Raman and infrared spectra
are completely complementary. Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy are methods
for determining the internal vibration of molecules, and their use in analysis is based on the
specificity of these vibrations.
In general, the strong bands in the infrared correspond to weak bands in the Raman
and vice versa. This complementary nature of infrared and Raman spectra is due to the
electrical characteristics of the vibration. The factor that determines whether or not a bond
is absorbed in the infrared or Raman spectrum is the electrical nature of the normal vibration.
For a band to be allowed in the infrared, the normal mode must produce a change in
dipole moment during vibration, while for a band to be allowed in the Raman spectrum
there must be a change in the polarizability of the molecule during the vibration. For
example, in the symmetrical stretching mode of benzene at 991 cm–1, the molecule suffers
no change in dipole moment but there is a change in the polarizability. Hence this vibration
is infrared inactive but Raman active.
Thus infrared and Raman selection rules are mutually exclusive, that is a band allowed
in the infrared is forbidden in the Raman and vice versa. This condition is true for all
molecules which have a centre of symmetry.

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Raman Spectroscopy

In Molecules with different elements of symmetry, certain bands may be active in

Raman, infrared, both or neither.
For a complex molecule that has no symmetry element except identity all of the
normal modes are allowed both in Raman and infrared spectra. But the infrared & Raman
spectra of a compound do not necessarily exhibit the same bands differing only in intensity.
Vibrations involving polar bonds such as C—O, N —O, O—H etc. are
comparatively weak Raman scatters because if a bond is strongly polarised there is a small
change in its length during a vibration and it will have only a small
additional effect on the polarisation. Such polarized bonds, however, carry their charges
with them during the vibrational motion, and unless neutralised by
symmetry factors, result in a large net change in dipole moment and high infrared intensity.
Relatively neural bonds such as C—C, C = C, CC, C—H etc. suffer larger changes in
polarizability during a vibration. The dipole moment is not affected and vibrations that
predominantly involve this type of bonds are strong Raman scatters but weak in infrared.

3.10. STRUCTURE DETERMINATION FROM RAMAN AND INFRARED

SPECTROSCOPY
The combined use of Raman and infrared spectroscopy helps us to determine the
shape of some simple molecules. The molecules that have been chosen to illustrate the
principles are CO2, N2O, SO2, NO3–, ClO3– and ClF3
Let us consider first the triatomic AB 2 molecules, the questions to be
decided are whether each molecule is linear or not and if linear whether it is symmetrical
(B-A-B) or asymmetrical (B-B-A). In the case of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide
(N2O), both molecules give rise to some infrared bands with PR contours; they must, therefore,
be linear. The mutual exclusion principle shows that CO2 has a centre of symmetry (O—
C—O) while N2O has not (N-N-O) since only the later has bands common to both its infrared
and Raman spectra. Thus the structure of these molecular are completely determined. The
infrared and Raman absorption of SO2 are given in the table below :

Table 3.4

Wavenumber Infrared contours Raman

519 || type band Poalrised
1151 || type band Polarised
1361  type band Depolarised

We see immediately that the molecule has no centre of symmetry, since all three
fundamentals are both Raman and infrared active. In the infrared all the three samples
show very complicated rotational fine structure and it is evident that the molecule is non
linear no band shows the simple PR structure of, say carbon dioxide. The molecular has,
then the bent shape :

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Raman Spectroscopy

S
O O

The AB3 type molecules require rather more discussion. In general we would expect
3N- 6 = 6 fundamental vibrations for these four atomic molecules. However, if the molecular
shape has some symmetic this number will be reduced by degeneracy. In particular, for the
symmetric planar and symmetric pyramidal shapes, one stretching mode and one angle
deformation mode are each doubly degenerate and so only four different fundamental
frequencies should be observed. These are given in the table below where their various
activities and band contours or polarisaion are also collected. Both molecular shapes are in
fact symmetric tops with three fold axis (C3) passing through atom A perpendicular to the
B3 plane. It is with respect to this axis that the vibrations can be described as II or  .

Table. 3.5. Activities of vibrations of planar and pyramidal AB3 molecules

Symmetric Activity Activity

Planar (R=Raman, (R = Raman,
I=infra-red) Vibration Pyramidal I = infra-red)

R : active (pol.) 1 R : active (pol.)

Strong symmetric Strong
I : inactive stretch I : active ||

2
R : inactive R : active (pol.)
I : active || out-of-plane strong
symmetric I : active ||
deformation
= upwards
= downwards

R : active (depol.)\ 3 R : active (depol.)

weak asymmetric weak
I : active stretch I : active

R : active (depol.)\  4 R : active (depol.)

weak asymmetric weak
I : active deformation I : active

The symmetric modes of vibration are parallel and Raman polarized while the
asymmetric are perpendicular and depolarized. All the vibrations of the pyramidal molecule

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Raman Spectroscopy

change both the dipole moment and the polarizability. Hence, all are both Raman and infrared
active. The symmetric stretching mode ( 1) of the planar molecule however, leaves the dipole
moment unchanged (it remains zero throughout) and so is infrared inactive while the
symmetric bending mode does not change the polarizability and so  2 is Raman inactive for
planar AB3.
The overall pattern of the spectrum then, should be as follows
Planar AB3 :
1 Vibration Raman active only ( 1)
1 Infrared active only ( 2)
2 vibrations both Raman and infrared active ( 3, 4)
Pyramidal AB3
All four vibration both Raman and infrared active.
Non symmetric AB3
Possibly more than four different fundamental frequencies
Let us consider the spectra of nitrate ion, NO 3– and chlorate ions, ClO 3 –. The
spectroscopic data for them are summarized in the table given below :

Table 3.6 : Infra read and Raman spectra of NO3– and ClO3–

– –
Nitrate ion (NO3 ) Chlorate ion (ClO3 )

Raman Infra-red Raman Infra-red

(cm–1 ) (cm–1 ) Assignment (cm–1 ) (cm–1 ) Assignment

690 680 4 450(depol.) 434 4

— 830 || 2 610 (pol.) 624 || 2
1049 — 1 940 (depol.) 950 3
1355 1350 982 (pol.) 994 ||
3 1

Thus for the nitrate ion, the band which is Raman active only is obviously  1 while
that which appears only in infrared is  2. If we wake the very reasonable assumption that
stretching frequencies are larger than bending, then the assignment of 3 and 4 is self evident.
This same assumption, coupled with polarization and band contour data, gives the
assignment shown in the table for chlorate ion.
Finally, let us consider the spectroscopic data for ClF3. This is found to have no less
than six strong (and hence fundamental) infrared absorption, some of which also occur in
the Raman. Thus, the molecule is neither symmetric planar nor pyramidal. A complete
analysis is not possible from Raman and infrared spectra alone, but the use of microwave
spectroscopy show that the molecule is T-shaped with bond angle of nearly 90º.

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Raman Spectroscopy

3.11 INSTRUMENTATION AND SAMPLE HANDLING

Raman spectroscopy is essentially emission spectroscopy and the bulk of the
instrumentation is simply a typical visible region spectrometer the distinguishing
characteristic of Raman work of course, is the exciting source.

Then invention of accessible and relatively inexpensive laser sources in last few years
has made a major revolution in Raman techniques, by largely replacing the traditional
mercury discharge lamp as an exciting source. Previously the process of obtaining a good
Raman spectrum of anything required 10-20 ml of sample and was often a very time
consuming operation. Now Raman spectra of virtually all samples can be run on a completely
routine basis using one milliliter or less of sample and taking a few minutes only.

In fact the laser is almost ideal as Raman source. It gives a very narrow, highly
monochromatic beam of radiation, which may be focused very finely into a small sample,
and which packs a relatively large power from several milliwatts to a few watts depending
on the type of laser into its small frequency spread.
We can compare the two excitation techniques the mercury discharge lamp in the
form of spiral round the sample. This forms of excitation pumps a good deal of energy into
the sample. But is spread over the many emission lines of the mercury vapor notably 435.8
and 253.6 nm. It suffers from three main disadvantages.

(i) The extended source allows a good deal of the exciting radiation to be scattered
directly into the spectrometer where it masks all the Raman lines less than
same 100 cm–1 from the exciting frequency (  e );

(ii) The sample tube needs to be about 20 -30 cm long and 1-2 cm in diametre, so
that a considerable quantity of sample is required.

(iii) The relatively high frequency of the mercury radiation often causes the sample
to fluoresce and the resulting florescence spectrum swamps the very weak
Raman spectrum.

Nonetheless the mercury lamp is often still preferred for gaseous samples, where a
large sample tube can have a very carefully mercury lamp built round it, and thus collect
the exciting radiation with maximum efficiency. The laser beam directed-through a sample
and caused to undergo multiple passes, by means of mirrors can be shown in the figure
given below.

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Raman Spectroscopy

Fig. 3.5
Only three such passes are shown in the figure but by careful alignment of the mirrors
upto 10 passes may be achieved, thus enhancing the Raman signal. The standard sample container
is a box of quartz about 2 cm long and 0.5 cm2 in cross section provided with filling parts its
capacity is thus 1 ml. The quantity of sample required can be reduced considerably, however, by
using a thin capillary tube, filled with sample and sealed at one end, with laser beam directed
along its length. Now a few microliters of liquid give a spectrum of about 60 percent of the
intensity of that from a 1 ml sample with multiple traverse. Solids, in powder or transparent
block form, are equally stable for laser excitation. Further laser typically operate at frequencies
lower than that of the mercury lamp (e.g. the He-Ne laser, at 632.8 nm and the argon laser at
514.5 and 488.0 nm) and are thus very much less likely to cause the sample to fluoresce. Also if
one particular laser does produce fluorescence, it is simple matter technically to switch to another
lesser and run a successful Raman spectrum.
Finally the Rayleigh scattering is much diminished with the very confined laser beam
and it is routine to defect Raman scattering to within some 20 cm–1 of the exciting line.
Radiation scattered from the sample is directed, via mirrors, into spectrometer operating
in the visible region. The monochromator is either a quartz prism or a grating and the radiation
is detected, in the case of laser instrument, by a photoelectric detector with its output fed an
amplifier and pen recorder.
Instruments using a mercury discharge lamp as exciting source may also use a
photomultiplier and pen recorder, but they gave, in addition, provision for the insertion of
photographic plate as detector, since the weakest of Raman lines may be observed by allowing
the exposure to continue for many hours or even several days.

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Raman Spectroscopy

Solved Problems
Ex. 3.1 For acetone a normal mode of vibration that involves the stretching of the carbonyl
band is active in both Raman infrared spectra. The Raman line associated with
this normal mode is found at 547 nm when excited by incident light show
wavelength is 500 nm. Calculate the wavelength of the centre of corresponding
infrared absorption band.
Soln. For frequency () of Raman line at wavelength 547 nm

c c
 =
 547  10 9 nm

c c
Frequency of incident light of wavelength 500 nm = =
 500  10 9 nm
change of frequency of light,

c c c  47  10 9 nm
   
500  10 9 nm 547  10 9 nm 500  10 9  547  10 9 nm
The change of frequency of light is related to the energy difference
between two vibrational levels. Hence the wavelength of centre of
corresponding infrared absorption is


c

 
500  10 9 nm 547  10 9 nm
=

500  547  10 9 nm
 5.819  10 6 nm
  9 47
47  10 nm
= 5.819 m Ans
Ex-3.2. For CO2 the following spectroscopic data are available. Predict the geometry of
CO2 molecule

Wave number(cm1 ) Infrared Raman

1330 Inactive Active
2349 Active ( PR) Inactive
667.3 Active ( PQR) Inactive

Soln. Analysis of the given data is as follows

(a) Since transition at 2349 cm –1 includes PR contour, we may conclude that

the molecule CO2 is linear.

(b) The infrared and Raman spectra do not include any common line and hence
the molecule of CO2 contains the cenre of symmetry.

Hence structure of CO2 is : O = C = O

Ex.3.3. For N2O the following spectroscopic data are available. Predict the
geometry of N2O molecule

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Raman Spectroscopy

Wave number(cm1 ) Infrared Raman

589 Active ( PQR) Inactive
1285 Active ( PR) Active ( Polarised)
2224 Active ( PR) Active (depolarised)

Soln: Analysis of the data is given below

(a) Since the transition at 1285 cm –1 includes PR contours we may conclude the
molecule of N2O to be linear
(b) The infrared and Raman spectra contain some common lines. Thus we may
conclude the absence of cenre of symmetry in N2O molecule. Hence the structure

of N2O is : :N 
  N = O:

Ex.3.4. What is the essential condition for Raman shift in scattering ?

Soln. There should be change in polarisability associated with the vibrational mode of
molecule rather than a change in dipole moment as in infrared absorption.
Ex.3.5. In CO2 no vibration is simultaneously active in both Raman and IR, while in H2O
molecule the vibrations are active both in Raman and IR spectra. Explain it.
Soln. CO2 is a linear molecule (O = C = O) with a centre of symmetry, while H2O is a
non - linear molecule. This is basis of rule of mutual exclusion principle, which
states that if a molecule has centre of symmetry, the Ramnan active vibration are
IR inactive and vice versa.
Ex.3.6. Compare Raman and Infrared spectra.
Soln. An infrared absorption arises when infrared light (interacts with a fluctuating
dipole with the molecule. The Raman effect is not an absorption effect like infrared,
but depends upon the polarizability of a vibrating group and on its ability to
interact and couple with an exiciting radiation whose frequency does not match
that of the vibration itself. A given vibrational mode within a molecule may lead
to fluctuating changes in the dipole (an infrared active vibration) but may not
necessarily lead to changes in the polarisability (a Raman active vibration) the
converse also being true. Many absorption that are weak in infrared (for example,
the stretching vibrations of symmerically substituted C = C and CC)give strong
absorptions in Raman spectra.
The change in polarisability which is necessary for a Raman signal to be seen is , to a close
approxmation, the ease of imposition of dipole; but the dipole involved in the Raman signal
may not be the same dipole involved in an associated infrared absorption signal.
Indeed in molecules with high symmetry (for example benzene) the infrared active
vibrations that lead to dipole changes and those that lead to changes in the polarisability are
mutually exclusive. The two techniques are therefore complementary.
The main advantages of laser Raman spectroscopy over infrared are its increased
sensitivity (sample sizes as well as several nanograms) the ease of sample preparation
(powders or solutions may be used), and the fact that water makes an ideal sovlent (since its
Raman spectrum consists, essentially of only one broad weak band at 3654 cm–1 ). The
application to aqueous biological samples is extensive and includes drug analyses in body

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Raman Spectroscopy

fluids of studies of aqueous solutions of amino acids. Organometallic complexes can also be
easily stud ied in aqueous solution.
Raman scattering to within same 20 cm–1 of the exciting line.
Radiation scattered from the sample is directed, via mirrors, into a spectrometer
operating in the visible region. The monochromator is either a quartz prism or a grating,
and the radiation is detected , in the case of laser instrument, by a photoelectric detector
with its output lead to an amplifier and pen recorder.
Instruments using a mercury discharge lamp as exciting source may also use a
photomultiplier and pen recorder, but they gave, in addition, provision for the insertion of
photographic state as detector, since the weakest of Raman lines may be observed by allowing
the exposure to continue for many hours or even several days.

Model Questions
Ex-3.1. Write classical and quintan mechanical theories of Raman effect.
Ex-3.2. Discuss (a) Pure vibrational Raman spectra
(b) Vibrational Rotational Raman spectra.
Ex-3.3. (a) Explain mutual exclusion principle with suitable example.
(b) What is Stokes and Anti - Stokes line in Raman spectra ?
Ex-3.4 (a) Discuss complementary nature of Raman & IR spectroscopy
(b) With which types of spectroscopy would one observe the pure rotation
spectrum of H2. If the bond length of H2 is 0.0741 nm, what would be the
spacing of the lines in the spectrum ?
Ex-3.5. (a) For SO2, the following spectroscopic data are available. Predict the geometry
to SO2 molecule.

Wave number (cm1 ) Infrared Raman

519 Active ( PQR) Active( Polarised)
1151 Active ( PQR) Active ( Polarised)
1361 Active ( PQR) Active (depolarised)

(b) Why mercury are is suitable for study of Raman effect ?

Ex-3.6 (a) Why vibrations involving neutral bonds such as C -C, C-H, C= C, C  C are
strong Raman scattering but weak in infrared absorption ?
(b) Write selection rules for vibrational rotational Raman spectra.

References
1. Fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy; C.N. Banwell, (Tata McGraw Hills)
2. Molecular Spectroscopy; P. S. Sindhu (Tata McGraw Hills)
3. Spectroscopy; B. K. Sharma Goel Publishing House Meerut, U.P.
4. Organic spectroscopy, William Kemp; ELBS/Macmillan.

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