Final answer:
Different functional groups have different characteristic absorption frequencies in infrared spectroscopy, which can be used to identify the functional groups present in a molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The power of infrared spectroscopy arises from the observation that different functional groups have different characteristic absorption frequencies.
For example, the carbonyl bond in a ketone typically absorbs in the range of 5.11 - 5.18 x 10^13 Hz, while the carbon-carbon triple bond of an alkyne absorbs in the range of 6.30 - 6.80 x 10^13 Hz.
This technique is useful for identifying which functional groups are present in a molecule.
By analyzing the absorption frequencies in an IR spectrum, we can infer the presence of specific functional groups in a molecule.