Chapter 16, Problem 16.54P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

How many protons give rise to each given signal for a compound with the formula ${\text{C}}_{\text{11}}{\text{H}}_{\text{14}}$ is to be calculated.

Concept introduction:

The greater the height of integral stair step, greater is the number of protons that contribute to that signal. The area under an absorption peak is proportional to the number of protons that generate that peak. Division of the each stair case height by the smallest values gives the respective number of H.

It is convenient to convert the output from integration to the smallest set of whole-number ratios because the number of hydrogen atoms each signal represents must be a whole number. The actual number of hydrogen atoms each signal represents is either the same as that in the ratio or a multiple of it.