Deuterated Solvent
Definition
A solvent with most or all of its protons replaced by deuterium (CDCl3, DMSO-d6, D2O), used so the solvent itself is invisible in the 1H spectrum and provides a deuterium lock signal for field stability.
- Field
- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- Examples
- CDCl3, DMSO-d6, D2O
- Function 1
- Keeps the solvent invisible in the 1H spectrum
- Function 2
- Provides the deuterium lock signal for field stability
Common questions
What would go wrong in an NMR spectrum without a deuterated solvent?+
An ordinary protonated solvent would contribute its own large proton signals that could overlap and obscure the analyte's peaks, and the instrument would also lose the deuterium lock it uses to compensate for drift in the magnetic field during acquisition, degrading resolution over the course of a run.
Does the choice among CDCl3, DMSO-d6, or D2O matter for a forensic sample?+
Yes, solubility and chemical compatibility drive the choice: CDCl3 suits non-polar organics, DMSO-d6 dissolves many polar or salt-form compounds including some drug seizures, and D2O is used for water-soluble materials, and picking the wrong one can leave the analyte poorly dissolved or reacting with the solvent.
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