What absorbs at 1087 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1087 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 1087 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 | 12 | 11 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 11 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 11 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 11 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| N h | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Sulfate (SO4) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Oxygen heterocycle | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Nucleic acid | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
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 | 1087, 1650, 1655 | Acetate, Methacrylate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| graphene oxide | 1087, 1150, 3400 | Methacrylate, Acetate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| silica nanoparticles | 1087, 1718, 2925 | Methacrylate | 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 1087 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
-
confidence 1.0
“Typical C-O-C-ether absorbance”
Handayani 等 - 2018 - Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-p-t-But DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/333/1/012011 -
C-O single bond confidence 1.0
“Other bands related to nucleic acids, originated by C-O polysaccm-1), cm-1) C-OH stretching (1087 from DNA sugar and other compounds, charides stretching (1039 cm-1) were also detected [13,16].”
Mostaco-Guidolin 等 - 2010 - Molecular and chemical characterization by Fourier DOI: 10.3233/SPE-2010-0466 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“05 cm-1 stretching), a band at 1600 (bending amine groups (- NH 2) and also confirms the presence of water), cm-1 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 1480-1380 (asymmetric C-H bending and C-H Braggangle (2 ) cm-1 stretch of CH group) and 1087 (skeletal vi”
Development of chitosan based optimized edible coating for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and its characterization DOI: 10.1007/s13197-018-3162-6 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“(C-H stretching reported that the frequencies of allicin in FTIR spectra were 3083 cm-1 2), 2978 cm-1 (C-H stretching symmetric of =CH 2),1634 cm-1 (a medium asymmetric of =CH intensity band originating from stretching of terminal C=C bond”
Tasci 等 - 2016 - Determination of alliin and allicin in the plant o DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1143.19 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“1045-1125 3 asymmetric stretching 1087 1090 [46] O-H 1620-1640 4 bending 1631 1643 [47] O-H”
Uda 等 - 2021 - Production and characterization of silica nanopart DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2020.1793174 -
Sulfate (SO4) confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Al-Sallami 等 - 2019 - Reactivity of oil-soluble IL with silicon surface DOI: 10.1002/ls.1456 -
confidence 1.0
“Text: 'intense doublet at 1087-1020 cm-1 pertinent to asymmetric stretching (ν3)'”
Structural Characterization of Low-Sr-Doped Hydroxyapatite Obtained by Solid-State Synthesis DOI: 10.3390/cryst13010117 -
Siloxane (Si-O-Si) confidence 1.0
“In the FTIR spectrum of pure silica aerogels, the cm1, cm1, cm1 hydrolysis and condensation reactions between siloxane peak centred at 1087 807 and 473 are chains were inhibited and gelation time retarded.”
Synthesis of sodium silicate-based silica aerogels with graphene oxide by ambient pressure drying DOI: 10.1007/s10934-021-01103-2
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