What absorbs at 1748 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1748 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 1748 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) | 16 | 13 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 11 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 9 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 8 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 8 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 7 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 7 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Fatty acid | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Aldehyde (CHO) | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| silica | 1748, 1100, 1080 | Methacrylate | 1 |
| pectin | 1748, 1746, 1150 | Methacrylate, Carboxyl (COOH), Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 |
| calcium phosphate | 1748, 1070, 1149 | Methacrylate | 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 1748 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
“Two distinct peaks were obtained on the 1748cm(cid:1)1 1650cm(cid:1)1 and ratioed sample spectra of regular mayonnaise: C¼O for stretching of oil and H-O-H bending of water, respectively.”
Chippie 等 - 2002 - Quantitative analysis of fat and moisture in mayon DOI: 10.1081/JFP-120015499 -
Water (H2O) confidence 1.0
“This indicates that a water molecule (+) (-) cm-1 bands due to a bilobe with 1748 and 1741 L¢ cm-1 returned in close to Asp85 shifted in L below 3525”
Maeda 等 - 1999 - Chromophore-protein-water interactions in the L in DOI: 10.1021/bi9907072 -
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“For the purpose of simple interpretations, the ulation transfer (1748!1715 time constant was detercm(cid:2)1 high-frequency peak at 1748 mined to be 3.2 ps, and the uphill population transfer (1715! is assigned to the carbonyl cm(cid:2)1) t”
Ultrafast Vibrational Population Transfer Dynamics in 2Acetylcyclopentanone Studied by 2D IR Spectroscopy DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201000794 -
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“the second most intense 2000-1225cm-1 range increases the LOD values ob1748cm-1 band, at is due to the carbonyl ester.”
Quintas 等 - 2003 - Simultaneous determination of Folpet and Metalaxyl DOI: 10.1016/S0003-2670(02)01596-9 -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“(43) have noted multiple carboxylic acid features in the redox FTIR difference spectrum of bovine cm-1 oxidase with two bands at 1748 and 1736 that decrease cm-1 band in on reduction.”
Rich 和 Breton - 2001 - FTIR studies of the CO and cyanide adducts of full DOI: 10.1021/bi0027332 -
Fatty acid confidence 1.0
“IR spectrum of glycerol-laurate and glycerol-coconut oil fatty acid cm-1 ester shows there is an absorption peak at the wave number 1748 which is characteristic for C=O ester group.”
Enzymatic synthesis of glycerol ester hydrolyzed coconut oil fatty acid and lauric acid as emulsifier and antimicrobial compound DOI: 10.1063/1.5064108 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“1748 characteristic of C=O stretch, corresponding to”
Characteristics of normal and waxy corn: physicochemical, protein secondary structure, dough rheology and chapatti making properties DOI: 10.1007/s13197-017-2775-5) -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“Characterization respectively.26 H bonds of the pyranoid ring, A FT-IR spectroscopy cm-1 vibration at 1748 corresponds to the Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) of the stretching vibration of carboxyl groups, and the materials were”
Abouzeid 等 - 2022 - PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL BIOCOMPATIBLE DOI: 10.1615/CritRevBiomedEng.v40.i5.10
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