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electron spin resonance

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: electron spin resonance
 

Technique of spectroscopic analysis (see spectroscopy) used to identify paramagnetic substances (see paramagnetism) and investigate the nature of the bonding within molecules by identifying unpaired electrons and their interaction with their immediate surroundings. Unpaired electrons, because of their spin, behave like tiny magnets and can be lined up in an applied magnetic field; energy applied by alternating microwave radiation is absorbed when its frequency coincides with that of precession of the electron magnets in the sample. The graph or spectrum of radiation absorbed as the field changes gives information valuable in chemistry, biology, and medicine.

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n.

(Abbr. ESR) A spectrometric method, based on measurement of the spins of unpaired electrons in a magnetic field, for detecting and estimating free radicals in organic reactions.

 
WordNet: electron spin resonance
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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: microwave spectroscopy in which there is resonant absorption of radiation by a paramagnet
  Synonyms: ESR, electron paramagnetic resonance


 
 

 

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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more

 

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