Carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy provides detailed structural information about molecules. It works by applying a magnetic field to carbon-13 isotopes, which have spin, and measuring the energy required to excite these nuclei. The number of signals indicates the number of different carbon atom environments, while chemical shifts reveal functional groups. Coupling patterns show neighboring protons. This technique is useful when hydrogen NMR cannot be used, and for tracing metabolism and determining drug purity.