In Analytical Chemistry, many methods are used to analysis components in a

sample. The most common of analytical method is either to identify, to

compare, or to quantify which will lead to more exciting methods. One of the
methods is by using Fourier Transform Infra red spectroscopy (FTIR). FTIR has
become one of the most favourite equipment in analytical method. It is
because the least tedious method but easy to conduct. In IR region,
absorption of radiation give information about the identification of
compounds, the presence or absence of functional groups and structure of
the molecules. It is one of premier techniques in qualitative analysis and it is
not widely used in quantitative analysis. The range of wavenumber is
divided into three parts which are near, middle, and far; each part shows the
presence of different functional groups.

The main objectives of this experiment are to conduct sample containing, to

compare the samples peaks in the IR spectrum and to identify impurities
from the peaks. In this experiment, the samples used are toothpaste (sample
1) and mouthwash/listerine (sample 2).

The readings for sample 1 and sample 2 which are toothpaste (Darlie) and
mouthwash (Listerine),were obtained in a form of two spectrums. The
transmittance against wave number spectral graph was achieved after the
detections of both samples using the ATD Sampling Compartment.

Based on the spectrum achieved from the FT-IR, it is shown that sample 1
toothpaste, has a total of 7 wave numbers in which were used in the
determination of compound in the sample. In the toothpaste sample, the
functional groups detected were hydroxyl, carboxylic acids, alkenes, alkane,
alcohol, ether, and ester.

For the mouthwash (Listerine) sample, the functional groups are alcohol,
phenols, carboxylic acids, alkenes, alkane, amines , ester, and ether were
present. For this sample, the type of vibration the functional groups went
through was only stretching.

The functional groups of each sample can be determined by referring to

the Correlation Chart (Shown in Appendices) in order to interpret the spectral
graph obtained. A comparison of the samples peaks with the standard
ingredients was made, to confirm of the actual functional groups present in
the sample. During the experiment, some errors might occur. The errors that might
occur are labelled in a variety of fashion, in which one of the causes is the lack of
focus in cleaning the ATD Sampling compartment for the detection of the next
sample. This error may lead to misreading and may also lead to obtaining a
disrupted result. In conjunction to that, another error that may occur while
experimenting is the sample chosen. If the sample is contaminated, in which means
an impure substance was selected to scan through the FTIR, then the results
obtained will be less precise and less accurate and the flow of the experiment will
be less efficien t.