The following techniques are discussed in this course.

Chromatography involves the separation of materials by having two immiscible (or partially miscible) phases move with respect to one another such that dissolved material is in contact with both phases. In the design of the experiment, one phase is called the stationery phase, and the other the mobile phase.

Spectrometry involves the absorption or emission of electromagnetic radiation, and the measurement of some change in the amount of radiation. There are many kinds of spectrometry.

In visible absorption spectrometry, visible light of a narrow range of wavelengths is passed through a sample, and the amount of energy absorbed is measured.

In nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a sample is placed between the poles of a strong magnet. Radio-frequency energy in the range needed to cause active nuclei (such as H-1, C-13, and F-19) to change their energy states is passed through the sample. The strength of the magnetic field is varied slightly, and the magnetic field strength at the point where energy absorption takes place is measured.