Chemical shift

Chemical shift is a term used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to describe how the environment around a nucleus, like hydrogen or carbon, affects its signal. It indicates the precise position of that signal on the NMR spectrum, reflecting how nearby atoms and chemical bonds influence the nucleus's magnetic properties. Think of it as the nucleus's fingerprint, shaped by its electronic surroundings, which helps scientists identify and understand the structure of molecules. Essentially, chemical shift provides detailed information about the chemical environment of specific atoms within a molecule.