What is structural elucidation?

Structural elucidation is the process of determining the chemical structure of a molecule, often using analytical techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Scientists use these tools to identify the arrangement of atoms and the chemical bonds within a compound. This process is crucial in fields like chemistry, pharmacology, and materials science for characterizing new substances and verifying the purity and identity of synthesized compounds.