Practice question

NMR relies on Zeeman splitting of nuclear spin levels, creating energy gaps in radiofrequency range, typically tens to hundreds of megahertz for common magnets. Irradiating sample with radio waves at Larmor frequency induces transitions between spin states when resonance condition matches. Unlike X-rays that ionize molecules or infrared that excites vibrations, radiofrequency is low-energy, non-ionizing, non-destructive, allowing repeated measurements of living cells and proteins. This gentle nature enables dynamic studies of protein folding, ligand binding, and metabolic flux without damaging fragile biological macromolecular assemblies.