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Topic: Downfield isnt low field ... or is it?  (Read 4173 times)

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Offline Miffymycat

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Downfield isnt low field ... or is it?
« on: April 16, 2016, 08:21:26 AM »
In CW or FT pmr, as chemical shift increases, why do we say "downfield" implying a lower magnetic field strength, when deshielded protons need a higher flip energy requiring a higher magnetic field strength and / or higher radio frequency radiation?  Am I having a senior moment - apologies if so ...

Offline Irlanur

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Re: Downfield isnt low field ... or is it?
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2016, 04:00:14 AM »
The term doesn't make sense for FT nmr, so it doesn't make sense in the vast majority of modern nmr experiments, because the static B0 field is the same for all. In CW NMR (or EPR), the rf-frequency is constant and the B0 field is swept. In this case the "deshielded" nuclei need a slightly lower magnetic field to be on resonance.

Offline Miffymycat

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Re: Downfield isnt low field ... or is it?
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2016, 11:17:50 AM »
Thank you Irlanur. I am still unclear as to why a deshielded nucleus needs a weaker magnetic field in CW.  Surely a deshielded proton experiences a greater effective  field and a larger flip energy is therefore created and hence a stronger field needed for resonance?!!

Offline Irlanur

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Re: Downfield isnt low field ... or is it?
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2016, 03:35:21 PM »
as I said. In CW, the rf frequency is held constant. let's say we irradiate with about 45 MHz an we'll sweep the B-field. Let's say the proton resonates when we set the B-field to exactly 1 Tesla. For a shielded nucleus, the B-field is slightly lower (because it's shielded), so it will not resonate at 1 Tesla, but at a slightly higher external field. -> the shielded nucleus resonates upfield.

Offline Miffymycat

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Re: Downfield isnt low field ... or is it?
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2016, 06:55:53 PM »
Thanks again.  Your comment: "For a shielded nucleus, the B-field is slightly lower (because it's shielded) ..." still implies to me that this lower B-field should createa smaller energy gap for resonance!

PS by B0-field and B-field, do you mean applied and effective field strengths?

Offline Irlanur

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Re: Downfield isnt low field ... or is it?
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2016, 05:06:32 PM »
Quote
still implies to me that this lower B-field should createa smaller energy gap for resonance!

yes!!! that's why you need a higher field to get it on resonance with a CONSTANT frequency!

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