How can you identify water from FTIR?
This page summarizes the recurring FTIR evidence reported for water, including the most frequent peaks, supporting functional groups, and literature-backed interpretation patterns. It is a structured evidence page, not a claim of automatic single-spectrum certainty.
Backed by 26 cited sources
Quick answer
water is usually reported with a recurring pattern of peaks and functional-group evidence. The most useful approach is to cross-check at least two characteristic peaks before treating it as a match, then verify whether the full spectrum still fits the same material family.
Peak interpretation
Possible materials / groups
| Functional group | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 41 |
| Water (H2O) | 33 |
| Methacrylate | 16 |
| Acetate | 16 |
| Alkyl C-H | 15 |
| C-O single bond | 14 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 13 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 13 |
Spectrum logic
The logic here is evidence aggregation: repeated literature mentions of water, repeated peak positions, and repeated functional-group associations. A strong material hypothesis should still be supported by multiple peaks that agree with each other, not by one headline band alone.
Real-world usage
This page is designed for polymer identification, incoming-material QC, unknown plastic analysis, recycled-content review, and literature-backed interpretation of reference spectra.
Common mistakes
- Calling a material match too early because one famous peak is present.
- Ignoring sample prep, fillers, oxidation, water, or additives that can change the apparent pattern.
- Using literature evidence without checking whether your own sampling mode and spectrum quality are comparable.
Verification advice
Use DSC, GC-MS, or TGA to validate the material hypothesis when the peak pattern is ambiguous or mixed.
Literature behind this page
-
confidence 1.0
water
Measurement of entrainer effects of water and ethanol on solubility of caffeine in supercritical carbon dioxide by FT-IR spectroscopy DOI: 10.1016/j.supflu.2005.12.005 -
confidence 0.95
water
Photocatalytic oxidation of aromatic alcohols to aldehydes in aqueous suspension of home prepared titanium dioxide DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2008.07.038 -
confidence 0.9
water
ATR-FTIR spectroscopic studies on aqueous LiClO4, NaClO4, and Mg(ClO4)2 solutions DOI: 10.1039/B311768E -
confidence 0.9
water
On-line <i>in situ</i> determination of deuterium content in water <i>via</i> FTIR spectroscopy DOI: 10.1039/c8ra03312a -
confidence 0.9
water
Trace of the Interesting “V”-Shaped Dynamic Mechanism of Interactions between Water and Ionic Liquids DOI: 10.1021/jp806805r -
confidence 0.9
water
FTIR–ATR spectroscopy applied to quality control of grape-derived spirits DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.02.128 -
confidence 0.9
water
In-Line Monitoring of Carbon Dioxide Capture with Sodium Hydroxide in a Customized 3D-Printed Reactor without Forced Mixing DOI: 10.3390/su141710795 -
confidence 0.9
water
Pnia-Salazar 等 - 2018 - Water-selective adsorption sites on detonation nan DOI: 10.1039/b710189a. -
confidence 0.9
water
Provis-Evans 等 - 2020 - Highly Sensitive Real-Time Isotopic Quantification DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05635 -
confidence 0.8
water
Munoz 等 - 2007 - FTIR study of water clusters in water-triethylamin DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2007.03.015
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