What absorbs at 1461 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1461 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 1461 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 | 15 | 13 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Chlorine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Borate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| S eq o | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Styrene | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| LDPE | 1461, 1720, 1737 | Alkyl C-H, Aromatic ring | 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 1461 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
-
C-O single bond confidence 1.0
“cm-1 The strong, characteristic IR bands at 1461, 1088, and 839 were assigned to δ(OCH, CH , 2 CCH), ν(CO, CC) and δ (CCH, CH), as well as ν(CC,CO) vibrations, respectively[8].”
Liao 等 - 2011 - Synthesis and Characterization of an Aminated D-gl DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.197-198.65 -
C c single bond confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Raubbin 等 - 2020 - HPLC, FTIR AND GC-MS ANALYSIS OF ETHYL ACETATE EXT DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.11(8).3953-59 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The peak at 1461 is attributed to C-H bending frequency of cm-1 hemicellulose.”
Salem 等 - 2017 - Study of the effect of surface treatment of kenaf DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/908/1/012001 -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“For the regenerative or redox mechasurface of the catalyst: (i) molecular adsorption (infrared [IR] bands nism,12-14 CO adsorbs onto the noble metal, which then inthe2500-3600cm(cid:2)1rangeandat1640cm(cid:2)1),and(ii)dissociative diffuses”
Tang 和 Chuang - 2014 - In Situ Pulse Diffuse Reflection Infrared Fourier DOI: 10.1366/13-07042 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“stretching vibration bands of imidazolium ring appeared at 2357 The active C-O stretching cm-1 vibration band appears at 1461 and corresponding C-O bending vibration peak is observed cm-1.”
Ionic liquid mediated morphologically improved lanthanum oxide nanoparticles by Andrographis paniculata leaves extract and its biomedical applications DOI: 10.1016/j.jre.2019.06.006 -
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“The cm1 cm1 peak at 1460.76 and 1073.75 indicates the C = C stretching of multiple aromatic bonds.”
Agrawal 等 - 2023 - Biotreatment of azo dye containing textile industr DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1876766/v2 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Structural Changes of Polyethylene by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Analysis stretching (1461 cm-1), C-H stretching symmetrically (2847 cm-1), and C-H stretching symWhen comparing treated LDPE to control samples, FTIR revealed both the”
Isolation and Characterization of Brucella spp., Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Plastic Degrading Bacteria in Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia DOI: 10.3390/app13074629 -
Carbonate confidence 1.0
“cm-1 ν Azurite was identified in sample K-4 by the carbonate stretch at 1461 and 1402”
New Insights into the Medieval Hispano-Muslim Panel Painting: The Alfarje Found in a Balearic Casal (Spain) DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031235
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