What absorbs at 1023 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1023 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 1023 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 6 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Phosphorus | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon carbon | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N h | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 1 | 1 | 0.7 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| chitosan | 1023, 1650, 1655 | Acetate, Methacrylate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| cells | 1023, 970, 1741 | Methacrylate, Acetate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| PVA | 1023, 1660, 2930 | Acetate, Methacrylate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| chitin | 1023, 1650, 1655 | Methacrylate, Acetate, C-O single bond | 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 1023 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
-
Carbohydrate confidence 1.0
“In general, repetition of alkali and bleaching Page 4 of 14 J Polym Res 115 (2020) 27:115 peakataround1023cm-1whichrepresentstheC-Ostretching of cellulose backbone.”
Cellulose-based polymer electrolyte derived from waste coconut husk: residual lignin as a natural plasticizer DOI: 10.1007/s10965-020-02110-8 -
Carbohydrate confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Erukhimovitch 等 - 2011 - Infrared spectral changes identified during differ DOI: 10.1039/c1an15319f -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“cm-1 cm-1 1256 (C-H bending and CH symmetrical deformation), 1069 (asymmetric 3 cm-1 in-phase ring-stretching mode), 1023 (C-O-C asymmetric in-phase ring-stretching), 1159cm-1 1114cm-1”
Antimicrobial Activity of Chemically and Biologically Treated Chitosan Prepared from Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Pupal Shell Waste DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122417 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The new absorption band at 1023 of residual solvent trapped in the pores during the cm-1 may be from the C-O stretching vibration (primary”
Lestari 等 - 2022 - Zirconium(IV)-BTC-Based MOF Modified with Nickel a DOI: 10.17576/jsm-2022-5109-16 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“A cm-1 stretching modes of the C-H bonds of methyl groups (-CH 3), the broad band at 3400 results from the presence of -OH groups, and three major peaks reveals at around 1603, 1413 and 1023 cm-1.”
Rafe 和 Razavi - 2015 - Effect of Thermal Treatment on Chemical Structure DOI: 10.1080/10942912.2014.999864 -
Phosphate (PO4) confidence 1.0
“DHOA purpose, all the FTIR spectra obtained with TBP/n-dodecane DHOA-Acid 0.4 extract are normalized with P-O-C vibration position at 1023 Th-DHOA by cm-1, U-DHOA which do not shift by metal or acid complexation with 0.3”
Verma 等 - 2018 - Structural investigations on uranium(VI) and thori DOI: 10.1039/C7NJ04460G. -
Amide confidence 1.0
“The total and C-N amine shows the strongest peak at amount of chemical compounds is 100% with loss on ignition 1023.47cm-1.”
Abdullah 等 - 2018 - Nanocomposites FeActivated CarbonPVA for Microwa DOI: 10.1155/2018/9823263 -
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“signal at 1748 cm-1 can also be seen, assigned to the stretching vibration of the carbonyl can also be seen, assigned to the stretching vibration of the carbonyl bound, while the bound, while the signal at 1023 cm-1 is due to the stretching”
Bertoli 等 - 2022 - Complexing the Marine Sesquiterpene Euplotin C by DOI: 10.3390/md20110682
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