ESCA

Abstract

Electron spectroscopy is based on the analysis of the kinetic energies of electrons that are expelled from a sample by means of X-rays, UV-light or electron impact. When X-rays are used for the excitation one can measure the electron binding energies of both core and valence electrons. In particular the spectra from inner shell electrons, i.e. those which have usually been considered “inert” from the chemical point of view, have proved useful for the investigation of certain types of structural problems in organic chemistry. The intensities of the core electron lines from atoms in a molecule are proportional to the relative number of atoms of each element, and the electron binding energies are subject to shifts depending on the chemical environment of the atom. This paper deals with some aspects of the theory of core electron binding energy shifts and their application to problems of bonding and structure with emphasis on the use of ESCA (Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis) in organic chemistry.