What absorbs at 1475 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1475 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 1475 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 | 5 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| chitosan | 1475, 1650, 1655 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate | 1 |
| TiO2 | 1475, 1700, 1093 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate | 1 |
| gold nanoparticles | 1475, 1638, 3252 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate | 1 |
| hydrogel | 1475, 1632, 1062 | Methacrylate, Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| calcite | 1475, 2850, 2864 | Methacrylate, 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 1475 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
-
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The major peaks observed were at cm-1 cm-1 Characterizations 1714 for C=O stretching and 1475 for aromatic”
Ibrahim 等 - 2011 - A study of poly vinyl chloridepoly(butylene adipa DOI: 10.1007/s10965-010-9486-1 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“However, peaks at 1475.00 2 (C-N cm-1 by AuNP-based diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy scissoring vibration) and 965.96 stretching vibration) were also found as characteristic peaks for CTAB.”
Citrate-capped gold nanoparticles as a sensing probe for determination of cetyltrimethylammonium surfactant using FTIR spectroscopy and colorimetry DOI: 10.1007/s00216-019-02067-8 -
Carbonate confidence 1.0
“A weak band at 1475 neutral density (metal net) filter and an IR-cut filter were also used to 32-) ions44 may be assigned to carbonate (CO at the TiO surface.”
Nakamura 等 - 2003 - In situ FTIR studies of primary intermediates of p DOI: 10.1021/ja029503q -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“The 1400cm-1 COO-1 correspond to the bands observed at 1475 and asymmetricandsymmetricstretchingvibrations,respectively.The bands for C-O and sulphonate group are also present at 1225 and”
Micelle based synthesis of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles and its characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared Transmission Spectrometry and Thermogravimetry DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2010.06.029 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“It spectra of the unheated samples present the typical vibrational 32modes of the C-O band of carbonate ion (CO ) for aragoshould be made clear that our goal with these repetitions was 3asymmetricstretchat1475cm-1,theν nite:theν not to exac”
Aldeias 等 - 2019 - Shell we cook it An experimental approach to the DOI: 10.1007/s12520-016-0413-1) -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Spectrum of the PE film before irradiation show the 05 characteristic absorption peaks of long alkyl chain in the 2919cm-1, 2857cm-1, 1475cm-1, 715cm-1.”
Asghar 等 - 2011 - Comparative Solid Phase Photocatalytic Degradation DOI: 10.1155/2011/461930 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“cm-1 observed at 2827 and 2525 The bands observed at 1475 and 1456 in FT-IR spectra are attributed to the scissoring symmetric and asymmetric vibrations δ(C-H), respectively.”
Growth, crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface and vibrational properties of a new supramolecular hybrid material: (C4H7N2)2TeBr6 DOI: 10.1007/s00289-021-04053-6 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“Before conditioning in water, in the FTIR spectra of the CH/LA/UMP and the CH/HCL/UMP systems, characteristic peaks are detected at wavenumbers: around cm-1 cm-1 1690 (C(2)=O stretching mode), near 1475 (in plane deformation mode of cm-1 cm”
Physico-Chemical Properties and Biocompatibility of Thermosensitive Chitosan Lactate and Chitosan Chloride Hydrogels Developed for Tissue Engineering Application DOI: 10.3390/jfb12020037
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