What absorbs at 1015 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1015 cm⁻¹ can point to several functional groups. Below are the most likely assignments, ranked by how much published evidence supports each — every one traceable to literature (DOI) and cross-validated against our 130,000+ reference spectra and knowledge graph.
Backed by 8 cited sources
Quick answer
A band near 1015 cm⁻¹ is usually interpreted by checking which functional groups repeatedly co-occur there in the literature, then confirming at least one or two additional peaks in the same sample. This page ranks those assignments by accumulated evidence rather than by a single fixed textbook rule.
Possible functional-group assignments
| Functional group | Supporting facts | Cited sources | Top confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-O single bond | 17 | 16 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 15 | 15 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 15 | 15 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 13 | 13 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 5 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon fluorine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| S eq o | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
Ranking reflects accumulated literature evidence, not a single fixed rule. Always confirm against your sample context.
Possible materials
| Material | Supporting peaks | Overlapping groups | Cited sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| starch | 1015, 1650, 1540 | Methacrylate, Acetate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| citric acid | 1015, 1725, 1732 | Methacrylate, Acetate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| silica | 1015, 1100, 1080 | Methacrylate, Acetate | 1 |
Materials are shown only when the same literature pool supports this band and at least one additional characteristic peak.
Spectrum logic
This band becomes meaningful only when read with its neighboring peaks. In practice, analysts first look at the assignments above, then check whether the same sample also shows other peaks expected for the same structural motif. A lone band near 1015 cm⁻¹ is usually not enough for material identification by itself.
Real-world usage
This type of query is common in polymer identification, unknown plastic screening, QC troubleshooting, recycled-material verification, and literature-backed peak assignment review.
Common mistakes
- Treating one isolated band as proof of a material without checking at least one or two supporting peaks.
- Ignoring overlap: multiple functional groups can contribute near the same wavenumber.
- Skipping validation when additives, blends, oxidation, or contamination may distort the spectrum.
Verification advice
When ambiguity remains, validate the hypothesis with DSC, GC-MS, or TGA, especially for blends, degraded samples, and filled polymers.
Literature behind these assignments
-
Water (H2O) confidence 1.0
“The changes in the cm-1 peak amplitude located near 1015 were associated to the formation of semi crystalline junctions in the film matrix, as affected by the plasticizer and moisture content in the films.”
Bergo 等 - 2010 - Semi Crystalline Behaviour of Cassava Starch Films DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.636-637.745 -
Metal oxygen confidence 1.0
“Table 2 The Particle Size by XRD of Chemically Synthesized C-O C-O 942 stretching 1015 stretching CuO-NPs Cu-O-H Cu-O-H 874 bending 929 bending”
El Bialy 等 - 2020 - Comparative Toxicological Effects of Biologically DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S241922 -
C-O single bond confidence 1.0
“On the other hand, the principal band was observed at 1015 which is assigned to the C-OH bend vibration in NNMB.”
Biochemical and Structural Characterization of Ferulated Arabinoxylans Extracted from Nixtamalized and Non-Nixtamalized Maize Bran DOI: 10.3390/foods11213374 -
confidence 1.0
“Vector borne Pd@AgNPs showed prominent absorption peaks at 1015, 1047, 1243, 1634, 2347, 2373, 2697 and cm(cid:1)1 which are corresponding to following compounds polysaccharides, carboxylic acids, water, 3840 alcohols, esters, ethers, amine”
Fabrication and characterization of noble crystalline silver nanoparticles from Pimenta dioica leave extract and analysis of chemical constituents for larvicidal applications DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.09.052 -
Water (H2O) confidence 1.0
“On the other cm-1 hand, intensity of the band 1015 is related to forming amorphous structures with decreasing crystallinity, probably generated for high temperature, low moisture content, and shear stress of the screw during ECP [2, 26, 35-”
Optimization of an extrusion cooking process to increase formation of resistant starch from corn starch with addition of citric acid DOI: 10.1002/star.201900150. -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“cm-1 cm-1 cm-1 (starch-water interaction), 1150 and 1078 (C-O in C-O-H stretching), 1015 cm-1 cm-1 (C-O in C-O-C stretching), and 1419 (C-O in carbonate stretching).”
Prapruddivongs 和 Wongpreedee - 2020 - Use of eggshell powder as a potential hydrolytic r DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.05.076 -
Carbohydrate confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Effect of acid and oxidative degradation on the structural, rheological, and physiological properties of oat β-glucan DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.106284 -
Silicon (Si) confidence 1.0
“[26] and the bands at 1160, 796, 775 and assigned ν The wavenumber of the main peak of asSi-O-Si band, attributed to toquartzphase[27]duetothepresenceofcrystallizedsilicasand.HowQ2 1015cm-1”
Physico-chemistry of silica / Na silicate interactions during consolidation. Part 2: Effect of pH DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2011.11.005
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