Raman spectroscopy is a vibrational spectroscopy technique that can provide information about the chemical composition, crystal structure, and vibrational modes of a sample. It is related to other vibrational spectroscopy techniques such as infrared (IR) spectroscopy and Raman optical activity (ROA).
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is another vibrational spectroscopy technique that is based on the absorption of infrared light by a sample. It can provide information about the functional groups and chemical bonds present in a sample, but it requires the sample to be in a solid, liquid, or gaseous state. IR spectroscopy is generally more sensitive than Raman spectroscopy, but it is also more destructive, and requires sample preparation.
Raman optical activity (ROA) is a variation of Raman spectroscopy that can provide information about the chirality of a sample. Chirality refers to the property of a molecule that makes it non-superimposable on its mirror image. ROA can be used to study the chirality of a sample, which is important in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmaceuticals.
While each of these vibrational spectroscopies can provide unique information about a sample, they also complement each other. IR spectroscopy provides information about the functional groups and chemical bonds present in a sample, while Raman spectroscopy provides information about the chemical composition, crystal structure, and vibrational modes of a sample. ROA provides information about the chirality of a sample. Combining information from these spectroscopy techniques can provide a more complete picture of the chemical and structural properties of a sample.
In conclusion, Raman spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and ROA are all vibrational spectroscopy techniques that can provide information about the chemical and structural properties of a sample. Each technique has its own unique advantages and limitations, but they complement each other to provide a more complete picture of the sample.