What absorbs at 1480 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1480 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 1480 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 | 16 | 13 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 9 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 7 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| N h | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Nitrogen heterocycle | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbon dioxide | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Nucleic acid | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ammonium | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Quaternary ammonium | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Chitosan | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Amine primary | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| C=n | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
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 | 1480, 1650, 1655 | Alkyl C-H, Amide, Methacrylate | 1 |
| collagen | 1480, 1408, 1660 | Amide, Methacrylate, Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| polyaniline | 1480, 1565, 1570 | Aromatic ring, Amide, 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 1480 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
“A relatively strong cm-1-1300 cm-1 1030cm-1 absorption at 1480 is due to the C-H bending mode.”
Chen 等 - 2019 - Baltic amber or Burmese amber FTIR studies on amb DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2019.117270 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“FT-IR stretching vibration of cm-1 (νC=O) 1600-1690 (νNH) Amide-A at 3300 Amide-I stretching stretching and bending between 1480 and were used as marker peaks.”
Elgamouz 等 - 2019 - The Effects of Storage on Quality and Nutritional DOI: 10.3390/biom9090442 -
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“C=C aromatic bond present”
Handayani 等 - 2018 - Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-p-t-But DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/333/1/012011 -
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“The characteristic absorption peak of 1480 MANUSCRIPT cm-1 corresponds to the vibration of skeleton of benzene ring.”
Jin 等 - 2018 - Polymer anode used in hydrometallurgy Anodic beha DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2018.01.020 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“The absence of adsorption at 2 1480 cm-1 (C=O of COCH 3) and the significant peak in the amide II region revealed elevated deacetylation of the chitosan used in the experiment.”
Chitosan-Coated Collagen Membranes Promote Chondrocyte Adhesion, Growth, and Interleukin-6 Secretion DOI: 10.3390/ma8115413 -
Water (H2O) confidence 1.0
“The headgroup vibrations (e.g., peaks at 1430 and 1480 cm-1) For gold nanospheres, TGA plot and its derivative are due to their close proximity to the water molecules compared with gold NRs and are shown in Figure 7.”
Nikoobakht 和 El-Sayed - 2001 - Evidence for bilayer assembly of cationic surfacta DOI: 10.1021/la010530o -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“All hydrocarbon peak at waves number 1650 cm-1 as the streaching frequency of C-H, and at 1480cm-1 as compounds always give peaks at wave number 2950 the bending frequency of C-H.”
Synthesis of PIB-amine from polyisobutylene and diamine with its performance test as deposit control additive in one cylinder gasoline engine DOI: 10.1063/5.0021655 -
Carbon dioxide confidence 1.0
“cm-1 cm-1 Although peak centered at 1480 and 1430 are attributed to the above CO2-”
Wang 和 Jiang - 2011 - Synthesis and Characterization of LiNbO3 Powders b DOI: 10.1080/00150193.2011.554260
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