Abstract

In 1998 the American Chemical Society and the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata (India) designated the discovery of the Raman effect as an International Historic Chemical Landmark. Today it is well-known that Raman spectroscopy and Infrared spectroscopy are supplementary so far the chemical-structure analysis based on vibration of the atoms and molecules is concerned. In the present communication a short history of the discovery of the two techniques as well as their applications by the chemists until 1940 are given.

Keywords: C.V. Raman, history of chemistry, Infrared spectroscopy, light scattering, Raman effect, Raman spectroscopy, Infrared, carbon-hydrogen vibration, molecular structure, spectrum, photgraphic plate, monochroamtic light, radiation, geographical ditribution, nonlinear configuration, intermolecular coupling