What absorbs at 1051 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1051 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 1051 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 | 18 | 18 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 16 | 16 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 15 | 15 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 15 | 15 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Phosphorus | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Nucleic acid | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N h | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| calcium phosphate | 1051, 1070, 1149 | C-O single bond, Methoxy (OCH3), Methacrylate | 1 |
| DNA | 1051, 1712, 1660 | 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 1051 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
-
Phosphate (PO4) confidence 1.0
“The phosphate groups also appeared at 611 bands that appeared in the spectrum of SHG in the region at 1098 cm-1 and 1051 cm-1 refers to the”
Development of Composite Scaffolds Based on Cerium Doped-Hydroxyapatite and Natural Gums—Biological and Mechanical Properties DOI: 10.3390/ma12152389 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The peaks at 1055 and cm-1 (Fe-OH) while C-O-C shifted to 1053 in MNP-PCP and the mixtures 1033 and 1051 cm-1 1020, 1021 and 1026 for PCP, MNP and the mixtures.”
Enhanced arsenic (iii) adsorption from aqueous solution by magnetic pine cone biomass DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2018.09.067 -
Phosphate (PO4) confidence 1.0
“is expected to decrease the vibrational frequencies of P-O bonds and terminal W=O bonds which are red-shifted g cm-1) (bands at 1051 and 957 in the IR spectra (Fig.”
Rao 和 Rajkumar - 2008 - Investigation of 12-tungstophosphoric acid support DOI: 10.1007/s10562-007-9279-2 -
Silicon (Si) confidence 1.0
“cm-1 581 The peak at about 1051 was attributed to 3+ (2) RNH combined with the bridging O between Si and Si-O the stretching vibration of groups, that at about -OH Al atoms by the formation of and H-bond, and cm-1 Si(Al)-O 1010 was attribut”
Effects of BaCl2 on K-feldspar flotation using dodecyl amine chloride under natural pH DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(18)64878-2 -
C c single bond confidence 1.0
“The strength of the peaks at 1051, 3 cm-1 285 1341, and 1384 are stronger after deposition and corresponded to the vibration absorption of C-C and”
Study on ozonolysis of asymmetric alkenes with matrix isolation and FT-IR spectroscopy DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126413 -
Nucleic acid confidence 1.0
“conformation dominates the spectral profile, indicated by the blue shift to 1234 The band cm-1 cm-1 1051 shows a decrease in intensity and a red shift towards 1060 for all the drugs compared to the control DNA where there is no effect on th”
The Application of ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy and the Reversible DNA Conformation as a Sensor to Test the Effectiveness of Platinum(II) Anticancer Drugs DOI: 10.3390/s18124297 -
confidence 1.0
“All spectra are dominated by the cm-1 cm-1 (ν strong absorptions of Si-O-Si exhibiting bands around 1051 asSi-O-Si) and 786 (ν Si-O-Si).”
Amino Surface Modification and Fluorescent Labelling of Porous Hollow Organosilica Particles: Optimization and Characterization DOI: 10.3390/ma15072696 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“cm-1 (CH2 carboxylic groups), 1322 (absorption of CH2) cm-1 e 1051 (stretching of C-O), consistent with previous 2.9 In vivo disintegration time reported[22].”
Barrozo Heinemann 等 - 2017 - Characterization of low cost orally disintegrating DOI: 10.1590/0104-1428.2409
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