What absorbs at 1167 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1167 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 1167 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) | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Fluorine (C-F) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ammonium | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| polypropylene | 1167, 1030, 1600 | Methacrylate, Acetate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| rGO | 1167, 2358, 2930 | Methacrylate, Acetate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| hydrogels | 1167, 3281, 1700 | Methacrylate, Acetate | 1 |
| lignin | 1167, 1035, 1510 | 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 1167 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
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Chhokkar 等 - 2020 - Electrical and Structural Characterization of 100 DOI: 10.1063/5.0023335 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“FTIR spectra revealed significant peaks at 1167 for C-O-C peak and at 1449 for O-H bending for WPI and rGO, respectively.”
Owonubi 等 - 2018 - Characterization and in vitro release kinetics of DOI: 10.1007/s40090-018-0139-2 -
Ammonium confidence 1.0
“peaks observed after the introduction of NH at 1248, 1425, cm-1, Mn/TiO 2, the peak at 1167 which corresponds to s(NH 3) (cid:228) 3 cm-1 1605, and 1669 correspond to the species that were coordinated to Lewis acid sites, immediately disapp”
Pena 等 - 2004 - Identification of surface species on titania-suppo DOI: 10.1021/jp0313122 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“Comparing the three infrared spectra in Figure 2A, the newly generated peak at 1397 is the cm-1 stretching vibration peak of the C-N-C bond and the peak at 1167 is the stretching vibration peak of the C-N in the amide bond (curve c in Figur”
Inhibition of Poly(ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-diethanolamine) on Deposition of Calcium Sulfate Crystal in Simulated Industrial Water DOI: 10.3390/cryst10060544 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The peak cm-1 at 1167 in the FTIR spectrum of polypropylene is attributed to the swing vibrations of the C-H bonds in the CH and CH groups [63].”
Thermal and Mechanical Characterization of Coir Fibre–Reinforced Polypropylene Biocomposites DOI: 10.3390/cryst12091249 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The bands appearing at ~1167, ~1125 and ~1045 are associated with the C-O-C bending vibration in the propylene oxide group [21,22], while the bands at ~916, ~838 cm-1 are the characteristic bands of the stretching vibrations of the C-S-C bo”
Jamal 等 - 2014 - Solid-State Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity DOI: 10.3390/ma7053786 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“cm-1 cm-1 C=O stretching), 1167 and 1104 (both C-O-C stretching), peaks related to 199 cm-1”
Jardine 等 - 2019 - Ginkgo leaf cuticle chemistry across changing pCO( DOI: 10.1007/s12542-017-0384-2. -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“Aromatic skeletal vibrations 1265 C-O stretching of guaiacyl ring 1167 C-O-C symmetrical stretching vibration Thermal Stability Analysis”
Li 等 - 2020 - Structural Elucidation of Lignins from Corncob Aci DOI: 10.1080/02773819408003085
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