Making Sense of Peaks and Patterns

Spectroscopy can feel like a cruel joke: hours of lab work, followed by a graph full of peaks and squiggles. But behind those patterns lies a powerful story – if you know how to read it.

At Deconvolution, we help students move from confusion to clarity. Here’s how:

What Is Spectroscopy?

It’s the study of how matter interacts with light. Different molecules absorb or emit light at specific wavelengths, and those interactions create measurable patterns.

Peaks = Clues

Each peak tells you something: a bond stretching, a vibration, an electron jumping. The shape and position of those peaks reveal structure and function.

Don’t Memorise — Interpret

Ask:

• What functional groups are likely here?
• Does this match my expected structure?
• Are there surprises — and what might they mean?

If spectroscopy still feels like a foreign language, Deconvolution offers tutoring and walkthroughs to help you connect the dots – and the peaks.

Pop over to Gwenin for a selection of frameworks, or pop over to Spiralmore’s collections. You’re also welcome to explore our more relaxed corner: the informal blog.