What absorbs at 1657 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1657 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 1657 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amide | 36 | 31 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 16 | 14 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 10 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 4 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 4 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| N h | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Protein alpha helix | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Protein random coil | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Protein beta sheet | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Nitrogen heterocycle | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Nitrile | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C=n | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Quinone | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Triglyceride | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
Ranking reflects accumulated literature evidence, not a single fixed rule. Always confirm against your sample context.
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 1657 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
-
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“cm-1 In contrast, the broad peaks at 3405 for SiO was attributed to -OH stretching vibrations whereas 2 cm-1 were assigned to -OH bending vibrations, both of which originated the less prominent peaks at 1657 cm-1 from the silanol (Si-OH) gr”
Nanocellulose-silica polyethersulfone hybrid composite stabilized lipase for esterification DOI: 10.1063/1.5125521 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“Bacillus and Micrococcus can be differfrequency value of the Amide I band was lower (1657.27±1.85) entiated from each other since there were several significant for Bacillus species when compared to Micrococcus species differences between t”
Use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for rapid comparative analysis of Bacillus and Micrococcus isolates DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.08.063 -
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“4) comes from the 3-formyl carbonyl stretchingandskeletalC-C/C-Nvibrationalbands.Thedeconvolution of the band showed the presence of the two components at 1657cm-1.”
Morishita 和 Tamiaki - 2009 - Specific coupling between the 13-keto carbonyl and DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2008.09.016 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“The peaks at 1657 and 1547 (CdO cm-1 are due to the amide I stretch) and amide II”
Noguchi 和 Sugiura - 2002 - Flash-induced FTIR difference spectra of the water DOI: 10.1021/bi011954k -
Amide confidence 1.0
“% and 20 mM Tricin 3 cm-1, amide I and amide II bands at 1657 and 1548 were dissolved without bubbling of CO 2-enriched air.”
Noguchi 和 Sugiura - 2003 - Analysis of flash-induced FTIR difference spectra DOI: 10.1021/bi0341612 -
Ester confidence 1.0
“In the amide I region, a large negative peak around Q peak with weak negative side peaks (Figure 3), suggests that CdO cm-1, appeared at 1674 and the peaks at 1699, 1685, 1664, the effect of Q A/Q reduction on the 10a-ester vibration B cm-1”
Suzuki 等 - 2005 - Fourier transform infrared spectrum of the seconda DOI: 10.1021/bi051237g -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The spectrum of acesulfame-K (Figure 1) reveals a cm-1, strong band at 1657 corresponding to the C=O Sodium saccharine spectrum (Figure 2) show stretching vibration of the amide group (Amide I”
Tosa 等 - 2012 - Simultaneous Determination Of Some Artificial Swee DOI: 10.1063/1.3681976 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“For Collagen 1654 (2000) 4, the amide I signal is centered around the synthetic peptide LAH Elastin 1655 1657cm-1,andthesignalfortheamideIIispresentat1546cm-1, Humanheartvalve Jastrzebskaetal.”
Vidal 和 Mello - 2011 - Collagen type I amide I band infrared spectroscopy DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2010.09.010
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