Measurement and Analysis of 4-trifluoromethyl phenylacetylene (4-TFMPA) via Microwave Spectroscopy

Over the 2022 fall semester, we used microwave spectroscopy to analyze 4-Trifluoromethyl Phenylacetylene. Microwave spectroscopy is used to find the shape of different molecules. By finding patterns in the shapes of molecules, we can gain a better understanding of how the universe works at a molecular level. Our microwave spectrometer works by shooting out microwaves, which are then absorbed by our gas-phase molecule. The molecule then rotates and emits the absorbed microwaves, and the machine measures the intensity. For our experiment, we measured from 8000 MHz to 18000 MHz. The machine took 10,000 averages for every 1000 MHz to ensure accurate results. We then put our measured spectrum into the Gaussian 03W software to analyze our results and find patterns. The patterns found can then be used to find the shape of our molecule. Analysis and discussion of our results will be presented