The Infra-Red Absorption Spectrum of Propane

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Abstract
Of the twenty‐seven internal degrees of freedom of propane, all nondegenerate, twenty‐two may appear as fundamental absorption bands. These bands fall into three symmetry classes, designated A1, B1 and B2, and distinguishable by their characteristic contours. Because of overlapping, however, it is impossible in many cases to determine their positions precisely. This is especially true in the regions of the C–H valence and deformation frequencies. Some ten or twelve fundamental bands may be identified with confidence as well as a number of combinations. An A1 band at 870 cm—1 and a B2 band at 748 cm—1 have been partially resolved, the line spacing being about 1.47 cm—1 in agreement with predictions based upon electron diffraction measurements. The fine structure of the B1 bands has not been observed (the predicted spacing is 0.5 cm—1) but the interval between maxima of the P and R branches is approximately 26 cm—1 as expected. With 24 cm‐atmospheres of gas no bands were observed between 15μ and 35μ, although the symmetrical C–C deformation might be expected to produce a band of appreciable intensity within these limits. This frequency has apparently been observed in Raman spectra at 375 cm—1.