What absorbs at 1026 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1026 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 1026 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) | 25 | 24 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 25 | 24 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 25 | 24 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 25 | 24 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 8 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| N h | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Protein alpha helix | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| S eq o | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Lignin | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Borate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silanol (Si-OH) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Amine primary | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 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 | 1026, 1650, 1540 | Methacrylate, Acetate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| AuNPs | 1026, 1646, 1721 | Methacrylate, Acetate | 1 |
| Polysaccharide | 1026, 1637, 1320 | 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 1026 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
-
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“at 1026.13 shows C-H single bond stretching.”
Bawazeer 等 - 2021 - Synthesis, Characterization and Bioactivity Profil DOI: 10.22207/JPAM.15.2.11 -
Carbohydrate confidence 1.0
“Some cm-1 cm-1 specific peaks are shown in Figure 2(a) with 3333 found corresponding to O-H group, 2889 cm-1 to C-H stretching vibration while the sharp peak at 1026 was corresponding to -C-Obonding in the cellulose structure.”
Burhan 等 - 2020 - Preparation of Cyperus diffusus Vahl cellulose-pol DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/833/1/012063 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The peak at 1265 cm-1 indicates C-O stretch lignin ring in guaiacyl units and 1026 C-O vibration in cellulose and hemicelluloses [33,34].”
n-Heptadecane-Impregnated Wood as a Potential Material for Energy-Saving Buildings DOI: 10.3390/f13122137 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The peak at 1265 indicated C-O stretching of the lignin ring in guaiacyl cm-1 units, and the peak at 1026 denoted a C-O vibration of cellulose and hemicellulose.”
Can 等 - 2023 - Choline Chloride-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent-Treat DOI: 10.3390/f14030569 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“(a-1,4-glycosidic C-O-C linkage), and the peak of the of 1026.11cm(cid:1)1.”
Characterization of nanoscale retrograded starch prepared by a sonochemical method DOI: 10.1002/star.201500313 -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“cm-1 C-O-C The ratio of the integrated intensity of the polysaccharide The stretch occurs at 1025 in the spectrum of cm-1 cm-1 band at 1024 glucose, and similar bands appear at 1026 and 1024 in to the asymmetric carboxylate stretching cm-1”
Gaffney 等 - 2015 - Characterization of Fine Mode Atmospheric Aerosols DOI: 10.1021/jp510361s -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“1304.9 1307.79 υ -CH stretching 1026.13 1023.28 1038.71”
Handayani 等 - 2018 - Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-p-t-But DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/333/1/012011 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“cm-1 The peak at 1026 is due to the stretching vibration of the C-O alcohol groups [51-53].”
Kazachenko 等 - 2021 - Food Xanthan Polysaccharide Sulfation Process with DOI: 10.3390/foods10112571
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