What absorbs at 1486 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1486 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 1486 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 | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| N h | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N-O bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ammonium | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| S eq o | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
Ranking reflects accumulated literature evidence, not a single authoritative rule. Always confirm against your sample context.
Possible materials
| Material | Supporting peaks | Overlapping groups | Cited sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZnO | 1486, 1400, 3430 | Alkyl C-H, Amide | 1 |
| graphene oxide | 1486, 1150, 3400 | Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| Polysulfone | 1486, 1700, 2941 | Alkyl C-H, Amide | 1 |
| polyaniline | 1486, 1565, 1570 | Aromatic ring, Amide, Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| ZnO nanoparticles | 1486, 1219, 1726 | Alkyl C-H, Amide | 1 |
| MCM-41 | 1486, 2170, 1655 | Alkyl C-H, N 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 1486 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
-
Amide confidence 1.0
“Paper Journal of Materials Chemistry A PANI.Thepeakat1578cm(cid:1)1isforquinonoidringdeformation, band of the PT-conjugated backbone is not observed and cm(cid:1)1 p*-polaron probably it becomes merged with the band of whereas that at 1486”
Das 等 - 2014 - Supramolecular assembly of polythiophene-g-polymet DOI: 10.1039/c4ta01521e -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The peak at 1486 cm-1 of ODA belongs to the C-H bend, and it moves to 1464 cm-1 in cm-1 cm-1 The bands at 1717 and 1060 corresponding to carboxyl and epoxide were weakened functionalized GO.”
Daud 等 - 2017 - Functionalizing Graphene Oxide with Alkylamine by DOI: 10.3390/nano7060135 -
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“include much informawith between 800 and 900 the latter band disappeared, and the same behavior tion about deformation of benzenoid rings, which cm(cid:2)1 attributed was observed for the band at 1486 also becomes more salient in all of the”
Enhanced conductivity and fluorescence of polyaniline doped with Eu3+, Tb3+, and Y3+ ions DOI: 10.1002/app.36516 -
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“266 cm-1 The spectra also exhibited a low-intensity band at 1502 associated with C=C 267 cm-1, vibrations of aromatic rings, bands at 1486 and 1469 associated with CH and CH”
Franca 等 - 2020 - Monitoring diclofenac adsorption by organophilic a DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.04.012 -
confidence 1.0
“cm-1 cm-1 Furthermore, the bands at 1486 and 1630 corresponded to N-H bending modes, cm-1 and the band at 3416 can be attributed to free NH stretching vibrations.”
Hassan 等 - 2021 - Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Loaded with ZnO Nanopartic DOI: 10.3390/ma13020363 -
N-O bond confidence 1.0
“Remarkably, the spectra of short exposed wild-type and mutant proteins P A cm-1, both exhibit a positive band at 1486 which was not observed in the long illumination, A cm-1 u whereas the mutant showed no positive band at 1396 (Figure 4).”
Iwata 等 - 2010 - Key Dynamics of Conserved Asparagine in a Cryptoch DOI: 10.1021/bi1009979. -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Absorbance peaks at 1585, 1504, 1486 and 1107 cm-1 are attributed to the vibrations of δ(-CH 1486 is assigned to the (CH 3) 3) [41].”
One-Step Preparation of Antifouling Polysulfone Ultrafiltration Membranes via Modification by a Cationic Polyelectrolyte Based on Polyacrylamide DOI: 10.3390/polym12051017 -
confidence 0.9
“assigned to surfactant”
Romina Serrano 等 - 2018 - Synthesis of ordered mesoporous silica determinat DOI: 10.1590/S1517-707620180002.0465
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