Infrared spectroscopy involves the interaction of infrared radiation with matter. It is based on absorption spectroscopy and deals with the absorption of infrared radiation which causes vibrational transitions in molecules. There are two main types of molecular vibrations observed in infrared spectroscopy - stretching vibrations which involve changes in bond lengths, and bending vibrations which involve changes in bond angles. Infrared spectroscopy can be used to determine the structure of organic compounds and identify functional groups and impurities in pharmaceutical applications.