What absorbs at 1422 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1422 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 1422 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 | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Lignin | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N h | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 1 | 1 | 0.7 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVA | 1422, 1660, 2930 | Alkyl C-H, Hydroxyl (O-H), Methacrylate | 1 |
| starch | 1422, 1650, 1540 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Methacrylate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| CuO | 1422, 453, 1000 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Methacrylate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| hydroxyapatite | 1422, 1620, 1639 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Alkyl C-H, 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 1422 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
-
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“The stretching vibrations of COO- (symmetric), COO- (asymmetric), cm-1 C-H (aliphatic), and O-H are attributed to the bands at 1422, 1608, 2931, and 3420 [26].”
Aziz 等 - 2022 - The Study of Ion Transport Parameters in MC-Based DOI: 10.3390/membranes12020139 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“TC-DO at 1412 and 779 W-DM had characteristic peaks at 1723 (C=O vibration), 1514, cm-1 corresponding to the characteristic peaks of TC-DM at 1643, 1465, 1413, 1456, 1422 and 775 cm-1.”
Discrimination and similarity evaluation of tissue-cultured and wild Dendrobium species using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2015.01.027 -
Carbonate confidence 1.0
“The bands at 1422 and are transmits to HA crystal after 5.5h, which can be derived from carbonate ions, which indicate that 43(cid:1) seen from the emerging of peak of plane (211) and PO sites in FB50-HA are replaced partially by”
Kong 等 - 2004 - Silk fibroin regulated mineralization of hydroxyap DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2004.06.007 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The characteristic peaks at 3287.49 (-OH stretching), cm-1 cm-1 cm-1 2917.48 (-CH stretching vibration), 1080.55 (-C-O stretching vibration), 1421.57 cm-1 (symmetrical -CH deformation mode).”
Sprayed in-situ synthesis of Polyvinyl alcohol/Chitosan loaded Silver nanocomposite hydrogel for improved antibacterial effects DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.09.186 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“lowest concentration of compound whose absorbance was cm-1 cm-1 and 1422 (C-O stretch), 1630 (C=O stretch comparable with the negative control wells (broth only or cm-1 cm-1 and N-H bending), 1734 (CH 3CO group), 2990”
Padil 和 Cernik - 2013 - Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles usin DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S40599 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“cm-1 1335.34-1 2825.66 Additionally, two weak absorption bands at 1422.34 and cm were due to O-H in plane bending coupled with C-H wagging vibrations.”
Singh 和 Sharanagat - 2020 - Physico-functional and structural characterization DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.07.185 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The increase at the intensity of cm-1 in beech samples were considerably less than changes in 1422 peak showed C-H deformation in lignin and Scots pine samples due to beech having greater density carbohydrates after aging treatments for age”
Tomak - 2014 - Changes in chemical composition of decayed Scots p DOI: 10.1515/secm-2013-0180 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“cm-1 cm-1 vibration of the aliphatic C-H bonds, which occurs at 1470 in PTF and 1422 cm-1, in chitosan, appeared in xerogels at intermediate values, at ~1466 due to their overlapping.”
TEGylated Phenothiazine-Imine-Chitosan Materials as a Promising Framework for Mercury Recovery DOI: 10.3390/gels8110692
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