quadrupole splitting

chemistry

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July 13, 2026

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Quadrupole splitting is a phenomenon observed in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It arises from the interaction between a nucleus's electric quadrupole moment and the electric field gradient at the nucleus's site. This interaction can cause the splitting of NMR spectral lines, providing information about the local electric field and the distribution of electric charge around the nucleus.12

Quadrupole splitting is particularly relevant for nuclei with a spin quantum number greater than or equal to 1, as these nuclei possess a quadrupole moment. The magnitude of the splitting depends on the strength of the interaction, which is influenced by the chemical environment of the nucleus. While not directly related to quadrupole splitting, a quadrupole spectrometer is a type of mass spectrometer that uses electric fields to separate ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio.1

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Mössbauer effect
Applications
…on the isomer shift and quadrupole splitting. The former measures the s-electron charge density at the nucleus and gives information on the character of chemical bonds; e.g., valence and covalence. The latter is sensitive both to the symmetry of the structural environment and to the wave function of the outer…
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…on the isomer shift and quadrupole splitting. The former measures the s-electron charge density at the nucleus and gives information on the character of chemical bonds; e.g., valence and covalence. The latter is sensitive both to the symmetry of the structural environment and to the wave function of the outer…
Read More