What absorbs at 1470 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1470 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 1470 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 | 38 | 33 | 1.0 |
| N h | 6 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 3 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ammonium | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C=n | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C#c | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Lipid | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Carbon dioxide | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Phosphorus | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
Ranking reflects accumulated literature evidence, not a single fixed rule. Always confirm against your sample context.
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 1470 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
“In the NaOl spectrum, the peak at 1470 is attributed to -CH”
Adsorption mechanisms of fatty acids on fluorite unraveled by infrared spectroscopy and first-principles calculations DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.062 -
Alkene (C=C) confidence 1.0
“The peaks at ~ 1470 for C=C stretching modes followed by two cm-1.”
Gupta 和 Rahini - 2017 - Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.10.079 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The 1470 absorption band shows the C-O stretching vibration with small transmittance.”
Effect of addition octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS) on morphology ZSM-5-TiO2 composite DOI: 10.1063/5.0001723 -
C#c confidence 1.0
“cm-1 and 2611.01 >3000 (Medium) Alkane (C-H Stretching) 2715.39 2879.43cm-1 and2868.32cm-1 ±2860cm-1 Alkane(C-HStretching) (Medium) 2210.28cm-1 ±2200cm-1 Alkyne(C≡CStretching) (Medium) cm-1 cm-1 2935.05 ±2935 (Medium) Alkane (C-H Stretching”
Validation of the Developed Zero-Order Infrared Spectrophotometry Method for Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Tranexamic Acid in Marketed Tablets DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226985 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“C-H bending vibration at 1470 These new bands”
Abd Ghani 等 - 2020 - Modification of PTFE Flat Sheet Film via Radiation DOI: 10.17576/jsm-2020-4901-21 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“Peaks seemingly due to O-H stretch appeared at 3460 cm-1, cm-1, C-H stretch (aromatic) at 2915 C=O stretch due to vinyl acetate at 1730 C=O at 1727 cm-1, 1610 cm-1, 778 cm-1, 1517 cm-1, and 756 cm-1 corresponds to crystalline form cm-1, cm-”
How to Improve Solubility and Dissolution of Irbesartan by Fabricating Ternary Solid Dispersions: Optimization and In-Vitro Characterization DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112264 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
New Insight on Photoisomerization Kinetics of Photo-Switchable Thin Films Based on Azobenzene/Graphene Hybrid Additives in Polyethylene Oxide DOI: 10.3390/polym12122954 -
Ketone confidence 1.0
“were used to calculate a number of indices with respect to the PE band absorbance at 1470 First, the carbonyl index was estimated as the ratio of the carbonyl group, namely the ketone stretching band, and that of the PE band thus:”
Al-Salem 等 - 2019 - Study of the degradation profile for virgin linear DOI: 10.1007/s10163-019-00868-8
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