What absorbs at 1725 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1725 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 1725 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) | 58 | 51 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 35 | 33 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 33 | 30 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 27 | 25 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 26 | 24 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 24 | 22 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 24 | 22 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 5 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Aldehyde (CHO) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| N-O bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Fatty acid | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Lipid | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Urethane | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Acetyl | 1 | 1 | 0.7 |
| Imide | 1 | 1 | 0.7 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| N h | 1 | 0 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMMA | 1725, 1722, 1383 | Acetate, Carbonyl (C=O), Carboxyl (COOH) | 1 |
| epoxy | 1725, 1660, 1735 | Acetate, Carbonyl (C=O) | 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 1725 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
-
Acetate confidence 1.0
“All spectra are cm-1, characterized by a major band centred at 1725 ascribed to the cm-1, free C O urethane groups, and another peak at about 1700”
Hydrogen bonding and thermomechanical properties of model polydimethylsiloxane based poly(urethane-urea) copolymers: Effect of hard segment content DOI: 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2015.06.015 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“cm-1 to the C=O stretching mode of the PMMA changed into a doublet of 1725 and 1640 cm-1 Li+ confirming the formation of ion-dipolar coordination between the and C=O in”
Effects of different inorganic nanoparticles on the structural, dielectric and ion transportation properties of polymers blend based nanocomposite solid polymer electrolytes DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.07.051 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“Three peaks were of particular interest: the peak at (Figure 2B), which can be assigned to the C=O stretching in aliphatic and aromatic ester 1725 cm-1 (Figure 2B), which can be assigned to the C=O stretching in aliphatic and”
Cutinase-Catalyzed Polyester-Polyurethane Degradation: Elucidation of the Hydrolysis Mechanism DOI: 10.3390/polym14030411 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“EWA-CH2 Group Symmetric Stretching ~2871 C=O Vibration Stretching ~1725 Polymers 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 21”
Degradation Performance Investigation of Hydrothermally Stressed Epoxy Micro and Nanocomposites for High Voltage Insulation DOI: 10.3390/polym14061094 -
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Goswami 等 - 2003 - A selective reaction of polyhydroxy fullerene with DOI: 10.1016/S0032-3861(03)00241-6 -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“peaks appeared at 1725, 1654, 1538, and 1409 of the -OH of the -COOH group bending at 1409”
Studies on the photodegradation of polarized UV-exposed PMDA-ODA polyimide films DOI: 10.1002/app.11315 -
N-O bond confidence 1.0
“C@O cm(cid:2)1, IOM exhibits no stretching at 1725 but does”
Compositional diversity in insoluble organic matter in type 1, 2 and 3 chondrites as detected by infrared spectroscopy DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2011.03.037 -
Ester confidence 1.0
“A strong auto-peak at 1725 showed in the 2D spectra of the Top Liquor, which indicated that the liquor might contain some ester compounds.”
Li 等 - 2008 - Rapid identification of Chinese Sauce liquor from DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2007.12.012
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