What absorbs at 1472 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1472 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 1472 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 | 14 | 12 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 4 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N h | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N-O bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Chlorine | 1 | 1 | 0.6 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| polyamide | 1472, 1663, 1541 | Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| microplastics | 1472, 1643, 1614 | Alkyl C-H, Alkene (C=C) | 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 1472 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 particular, for PE at 710 and 719 cm-1 (-CH2 rocking deformation), 2847 and 2915 cm-1 (- symmetric and asymmetric stretching), 1462 and 1472 cm-1 (-CH=CHstretching) CH2 [36].”
Campanale 等 - 2023 - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess DOI: 10.3390/polym15040911 -
N-O bond confidence 1.0
“The loading factor (PCs) responsible for separating No-HPV from highcm-1 risk shows 1472, 1562, and 1657 bands, suggested differences in lipids and proteins (Fig.”
PCR-RFLP and FTIR-based detection of high-risk human papilloma virus for cervical cancer screening and prevention DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.100993 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The first band at 1472 cm-1 147 corresponds to the shear vibrations of -CH2 and -CH3.”
Optimization of the Pentachlorophenol Adsorption by Organo-Clays Based on Response Surface Methodology DOI: 10.3390/ma15207169 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“cm-1, 2912 cm-1 and 2849 cm-1, corresponding to the alkyl C-H to the paraffin: at 2954 cm-1, cm-1 cm-1, belonging to the paraffin: at 2954 2912 and 2849 corresponding to the bonding vibrations, and at 1472 cm-1 and 716 cm-1 the deformation”
Study of Melamine-Formaldehyde/Phase Change Material Microcapsules for the Preparation of Polymer Films by Extrusion DOI: 10.3390/membranes12030266 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“As shown in Table 1, in the spectral region (B1) corresponding to α-tocopherol the prominent absorption peak 1472 is due to the CH asymmetrical scissoring (peptides and 2”
Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Artificial Neural Networks Applied to Investigate Quantitative Changes of Selected Soluble Biomarkers, Correlated with H. pylori Infection in Children and Presumable Consequent Delayed Growth DOI: 10.3390/jcm9123852 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“In contrast, and as previously reported, the difference spectra from arm skin showed a double of cm-1 CH peaks at ~1472 and 1464 corresponding to orthorhombic lipid packing within arm SC.”
Gorcea 等 - 2022 - Exploratory in vivo biophysical studies of stratum DOI: 10.1111/1523- -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Further, the band correInterestingly, the low-frequency band attributed to fatty acids centered at 1419 cm-1 was band and amide I band were centered around ~1571 cm-1 and ~1684 cm-1, respectively, for sponding to CH3 and CH2 deformations as”
Comprehensive Evaluation of PAXgene Fixation on Oral Cancer Tissues Using Routine Histology, Immunohistochemistry, and FTIR Microspectroscopy DOI: 10.3390/biom11060889 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“peaks that appeared at 1472 and 719 were representative of C-H bending;”
A Mechanism for the Adsorption of 2-(Hexadecanoylamino)Acetic Acid by Smithsonite: Surface Spectroscopy and Microflotation Experiments DOI: 10.3390/min9010015
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