The
integration indicates the
relative number of hydrogen atoms contributing to that peak. It is
often displayed as a horizontal line above the spectrum that rises over
each peak. The height that it rises is proportional to the number of
hydrogens producing that peak. Note that it is the relative
number of hydrogens and not the absolute number of
hydrogens. This means you cannot tell (without more
information) whether two peaks are from 1 and 2 hydrogens respectively,
2 and 4 hydrogens, 3 and 6, or even 850 and 1700. Of course
they are usually low numbers!
OFTEN (but not always) the smallest integration
is 1 hydrogen.
OFTEN (but not always) peaks around 0.7-1.1d are methyl
groups (3 hydrogens).
If you know the molecular formula, the integral
per
hydrogen equals the total integration of all peaks divided by the total
number of hydrogens.
Integration is frequently only good to about 5-10% (it can be
done more accurately, but it takes more time. Most people are too
impatient). So if your ratio is 1 : 1.1 : 0.9, it is almost
certainly 1 : 1 : 1. But if it is 1 : 1.5, it is probably really
2 : 3.