What does δ (ppm) mean?

δ is the chemical shift in parts per million relative to TMS (tetramethylsilane), the standard reference at 0 ppm. Higher δ means the proton is more deshielded.

Why are the values given as ranges?

Chemical shifts vary with solvent, concentration, temperature, and electronic effects of neighboring substituents. Ranges capture typical variation; your exact peak may fall anywhere within the range.

What solvent do these values assume?

Values are approximate averages, most commonly reported in CDCl₃. Shifts in DMSO-d₆, D₂O, or other solvents can differ by 0.5–2 ppm.

Are exchangeable protons (OH, NH) included?

Yes. Alcohol O-H, carboxylic acid O-H, and amine N-H protons are listed. These signals are often broad, solvent-dependent, and may disappear on D₂O shake.

Can I use this for 13C NMR?

No — this table covers 1H (proton) NMR only. Carbon-13 chemical shifts follow a different scale and are not included here.

NMR Chemical Shift Reference

Name: NMR Chemical Shift Reference
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Browse and search a reference table of typical proton (1H) NMR chemical shift values grouped by functional group type.

Showing – entries

Group ↕	Proton Environment ↕	δ min (ppm) ↕	δ max (ppm) ↕	Typical δ

Values are approximate ranges in CDCl₃ relative to TMS (0 ppm). Actual shifts vary with solvent, concentration, and substituent effects. Exchangeable protons (O-H, N-H) marked with *.

Summary

Browse and search a reference table of typical proton (1H) NMR chemical shift values grouped by functional group type.

How it works

Select a functional group category from the filter tabs or choose "All".
Use the search box to filter by proton environment name or keyword.
The table updates instantly to show matching proton environments and their typical δ (ppm) ranges.
Click any row to highlight it for easy reading.
Use the typical δ values as a starting point — actual shifts vary with solvent, concentration, and neighboring groups.

Use cases

Assign peaks in a 1H NMR spectrum to specific proton environments.
Verify expected chemical shifts before running an NMR experiment.
Study for organic chemistry exams using the grouped shift ranges.
Quickly distinguish aldehyde (≈9–10 ppm) from carboxylic acid (≈10–12 ppm) signals.
Compare aromatic vs. vinyl proton ranges when interpreting unknowns.
Reference during retrosynthesis planning to predict NMR signatures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-18 · Reviewed by Nham Vu