[1] Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy uses radio waves to alter the spin of atomic nuclei within molecules, providing information about molecular structure.
[2] When placed in a strong magnetic field, atomic nuclei such as hydrogen protons align with or against the field. Absorbing radio wave energy can excite the nuclei to a higher energy state.
[3] The energy emitted when the nuclei relax back to the lower energy state is measured by NMR. The chemical environment of each type of nucleus affects the energy level and provides details about molecular bonding and structure.