H and C are not the only nuclei susceptible to NMR experiments. A number of different nuclei can also be detected, although the use of such techniques is generally rare due to small relative sensitivities in NMR experiments (compared to H) of the nuclei in question, the other factor for rare use being their slender representation in nature and organic compounds.
H, C, N, F and P are the five nuclei that have the greatest importance in NMR experiments:
* H because of high sensitivity and vast occurrence in organic compounds
* C because of being the key component of all organic compounds despite occurring at a low abundance (1.1%) compared to the major isotope of carbon C, which has a spin of 0 and therefore is NMR-inactive.
* N because of being a key component of important biomolecules such as proteins and DNA
* F because of high relative sensitivity
* P because of frequent occurrence in organic compounds and moderate relative sensitivity