What absorbs at 1685 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1685 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 1685 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 12 | 12 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 9 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 8 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 7 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 7 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 7 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Protein beta sheet | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Aldehyde (CHO) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Urea | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N-O bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Protein random coil | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| polyurethane | 1685, 2270, 1700 | Carbonyl (C=O), Amide | 1 |
| starch | 1685, 1650, 1540 | Amide | 1 |
| nanotubes | 1685, 1735, 1630 | Carboxyl (COOH), Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 |
| PLA | 1685, 1650, 1073 | Carbonyl (C=O), Carboxyl (COOH) | 1 |
| Gypsum | 1685, 2850, 1080 | Amide | 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 1685 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
“carbonyl groups of phthaloyl starch which originally appears at 1715 The stretching cm-1 frequency of 1685 can be attributed to hydrogen bonded carbonyl groups while 1720 cm-1 corresponds to choline ion coordinated carbonyl groups.”
Ternary Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) Infused Phthaloyl Starch as Cost Efficient Quasi-Solid Gel Polymer Electrolyte DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.03.023 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“MACF CACF malic acid crosslinked films, citric acid crosslinked cm-1 bands in Amide I region at 1685, 1650 and 1615 in SACF films, succinic acid crosslinked films 123 J Food Sci Technol (February 2018) 55(2):532-539”
Edible films developed from carboxylic acid cross-linked sesame protein isolate: barrier, mechanical, thermal, crystalline and morphological properties DOI: 10.1007/s13197-017-2962-4 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“The peak at corresponded to stretching (1685, 1620), (1620, U vibration (amide I band) in helical structure, and those at 1685 1520) and (1520, 1440) demonstrated that the intensities of C@O 1620cm(cid:3)1 1440cm(cid:3)1 and these bands at”
Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopic study on the thermally induced structural changes of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked collagen DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2015.01.003 -
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“Carbonyl region of the FTIR spectra for homologous model ester cmK1 and a shoulder at peak with a maximum at 1685 (PPDIE), urethane (PPDIU) and urea (PPDIUr) compounds based on 1,4cmK1.”
Yilgor 等 - 2006 - FTIR investigation of the influence of diisocyanat DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2006.02.027 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“Two bands at 1685 and H samples, The analysis shows that the granules size of cm-1 in the H-O-H bending region were enregistred.”
Mineralogical Analysis of Sand Roses and Sand Dunes Samples from Two Regions of South Algeria DOI: 10.1007/s12633-018-9974-1 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“Fermented ethyl acetate extract (Figure 2b) shows a significant increase in the intensity of the band at 1735 cm-1 for C=O stretching of carboxylic acid and the band at 1685”
HPTLC and FTIR Fingerprinting of Olive Leaves Extracts and ATR-FTIR Characterisation of Major Flavonoids and Polyphenolics DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226892 -
Alkene (C=C) confidence 1.0
“A sharp peak at 1685 cm-1 might be attributed to C=C and the same results were reported by Minakshi et al.”
Basheer 等 - 2020 - Synthesis, Characterization, and Analysis of Hybri DOI: 10.3390/polym12061305 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“Other CH deformation vibrations occur at 1389 and 1463 There is a peak associated with the 3 bond at 1685 cm-1 and a sharp, strong C=O peak at 1784 cm-1.”
Impact of the Fused Deposition (FDM) Printing Process on Polylactic Acid (PLA) Chemistry and Structure DOI: 10.3390/app7060579
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