What does Raman scattering provide information about?

Raman scattering is a spectroscopic technique that provides valuable insights into molecular vibrations and energy levels. When light interacts with molecules, most photons scatter elastically (Rayleigh scattering), but a small fraction undergoes inelastic scattering due to interactions with molecular vibrations, resulting in a shift in energy. This energy shift gives rise to the Raman effect, which can reveal information about vibrational modes of the molecules.

By analyzing the resulting Raman spectrum, one can determine specific molecular characteristics such as bond lengths, types of functional groups, and other molecular interactions. This makes Raman scattering particularly useful in fields like chemistry and materials science for characterizing substances and studying their molecular structures.

In contrast, the other options relate to fundamental optical properties rather than molecular information. Refraction and dispersion involve how light bends and separates based on wavelength, while the speed and frequency of light waves are foundational concepts in optics that do not provide any molecular-specific information. Reflection angles pertain to the angles at which light reflects off surfaces and similarly do not delve into the molecular details that Raman scattering reveals.