What absorbs at 1408 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1408 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 320,000+ reference spectra and knowledge graph.
Backed by 7 cited sources
Quick answer
A band near 1408 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkyl C-H | 11 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 8 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 7 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| N h | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 4 | 3 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Amino acid | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Lipid | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| S eq o | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Sulfonyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Acetyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Protein beta sheet | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Fluorine (C-F) | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Boron nitrogen | 1 | 0 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PET | 1408, 800, 1205 | Methacrylate, Acetate, Alkyl C-H | 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 1408 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
-
Amide
- Reported band
- 1408 cm-1
- Assignment
- Amide
- Material / context
- anti-nutrient profiling; extracellular polymer of Calothrix desertica (EPsC)
-
Alkyl C-H
- Reported band
- 1408 cm-1
- Assignment
- Alkyl C-H
- Material / context
- PET; poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) membrane
-
Carbonyl (C=O)
- Reported band
- 1408 cm-1
- Assignment
- Carbonyl (C=O)
- Material / context
- TiO 2 -Al; TiO 2 -Al 2 O 3; TiO2–Al2O3 composite powder
-
Acetate
- Reported band
- 1408 cm-1
- Assignment
- Acetate
- Material / context
- bagasse pith chemically modified with EDTA dianhydride (EDTAD)
-
Carbonyl (C=O)
- Reported band
- 1408 cm-1
- Assignment
- Carbonyl (C=O)
- Material / context
- Polymer Membranes Impregnated; polymer membrane impregnated with carbon nanotubes
-
Amide
- Reported band
- 1408 cm-1
- Assignment
- Amide
- Material / context
- phthalocyanine
-
Amino acid
- Reported band
- 1408 cm-1
- Assignment
- Amino acid
- Material / context
- grass pollen
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