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 25 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) | 38 |
| Water (H2O) | 22 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 8 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 8 |
| Methacrylate | 8 |
| C-O single bond | 8 |
| Acetate | 8 |
| Alkyl C-H | 7 |
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
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confidence 0.9
water
Iwai 等 - 2006 - Measurement of entrainer effects of water and etha DOI: 10.1016/j.supflu.2005.12.005 -
confidence 0.9
water
The investigation of adsorption and dissociation of H2O on Li2O (111) by ab initio theory DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.02.133 -
confidence 0.9
water
On-line in situ determination of deuterium content in water via FTIR spectroscopy DOI: 10.1039/c8ra03312a -
confidence 0.9
water
In Situ Determination of Nitrate in Water Using Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared Attenuated Total Reflectance Spectroscopy Coupled with Deconvolution Algorithm DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245838 -
confidence 0.9
water
Gruenbaum 和 Skinner - 2011 - Vibrational spectroscopy of water in hydrated lipi DOI: 10.1063/1.3615717 -
confidence 0.9
water
Infrared Spectroscopy as Molecular Probe of the Macroscopic Metal-Liquid Interface DOI: 10.3390/app7121229 -
confidence 0.9
water
Pnia-Salazar 等 - 2018 - Water-selective adsorption sites on detonation nan DOI: 10.1039/b710189a. -
confidence 0.9
water
Procaccini 等 - 2011 - Development and thermal evolution of silver cluste DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2011.06.018 -
confidence 0.9
water
Provis-Evans 等 - 2020 - Highly Sensitive Real-Time Isotopic Quantification DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05635 -
confidence 0.9
water
Comprehensive Studies on the Role of Small Aliphatic Alcohols in the Direct Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide with a Combination of Solvent Step and In Situ FTIR-ATR Experiments DOI: 10.3390/catal13040753
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