What absorbs at 1588 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1588 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 1588 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| N h | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Amine primary | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ammonium | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N n bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N-O bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Amino acid | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Nitrogen heterocycle | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C=n | 1 | 1 | 0.7 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 0.7 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyaniline | 1588, 1565, 1570 | Ring structure | 1 |
| plasma | 1588, 1656, 1650 | Carboxyl (COOH) | 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 1588 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
-
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“Another striking difference in the spectra of the starch samples was the intense band at around 1588 to cm-1 1608 OriginPro 2016 software (OriginLab Corporation for CMS samples attributed to carbonyl functional Northampton, MA 01060 USA) wa”
Physicochemical and disintegrant properties of sodium Carboxymethyl starch derived from Borassus aethiopum (Arecaceae) shoot DOI: 10.1007/s10965-018-1565-8 -
Ring structure confidence 1.0
“The 1588 band C4=C5, C5-C6 (A1) is a pyrimidine ring mode consisting mostly of the out-of-phase stretch.”
Peng 等 - 2011 - Anharmonic Vibrational Modes of Nucleic Acid Bases DOI: 10.1021/ja205636h -
Nitrogen heterocycle confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Quintas 等 - 2003 - An infrared method, with reduced solvent consumpti DOI: 10.1081/SL-120026637 -
confidence 1.0
“On the other hand, the valley between the cm-1 some peaks from the OP patient's samples are rather discrimipeaks is supported by a new hidden peak at 1588 which nated from those from the normal sample in the statistical is clearly attribute”
Singh 等 - 2010 - Spectroscopic techniques as a diagnostic tool for DOI: 10.1007/s12206-010-0524-z -
C c single bond confidence 1.0
“cm-1 At 1588 C-C stretching mode band in characteristic absorption for acesulfame-K is S-N-C, benzene ring appears [15], but the Amide II band is cm-1, which appears at 943 and out-of-plane”
Tosa 等 - 2012 - Simultaneous Determination Of Some Artificial Swee DOI: 10.1063/1.3681976 -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“Upon carboxymethylation, a significant absorption band appeared at 1588 cm-1, which is cm-1, Upon carboxymethylation, a significant absorption band appeared at 1588 which is assigned to the carboxyl group, thus verifying the transformation”
Transformation of Oil Palm Waste-Derived Cellulose into Solid Polymer Electrolytes: Investigating the Crucial Role of Plasticizers DOI: 10.3390/polym13213685 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“-CH 2900 2900 2900 stretching -CO 1588 stretching C-O--C 1030 1030 1030 vibration -OH similar in both spectra, showing stretching and bending Figure 3.”
Akhlaq 和 Uroos - 2023 - Evaluating the Impact of Cellulose Extraction via DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c08118 -
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“Explicitly assigned as quinoid absorption.”
Investigation of the binding of dioxin selective pentapeptides to a polyaniline matrix DOI: 10.1016/j.synthmet.2012.04.012.
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