IR and NMR are two topics that, at first, seem pretty difficult. These definitely take a little bit of practice before they make any sense. But once you start to get the hang of them, they are fairly straightforward, and some people compare solving NMR problems to solving puzzles.
Essentially, the point of IR and NMR are using chart readings to determine the structure of an atom. IR, or Infrared Spectroscopy, uses a wave-like figure and points of interest on a diagram to determine functional groups. NMR, or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, uses peaks on a diagram based on equivalent Hydrogen atoms, to determine what a molecule is comprised of. Keep in mind that a NMR that uses Hydrogen atoms is technically known as an h-NMR. A NMR that uses equivalent Carbon atoms is known as a c-NMR.
