What absorbs at 1778 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1778 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 1778 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) | 5 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Imide | 5 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Protein beta sheet | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| polyimide | 1778, 1720, 1700 | Amide, Carbonyl (C=O), Imide | 2 |
| cellulose acetate | 1778, 1650, 1741 | Alkyl C-H, Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 |
| polyamide | 1778, 1663, 1541 | Amide, Carbonyl (C=O), Alkyl C-H | 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 1778 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
-
Imide confidence 1.0
“1H FT-IR spectrum of this aromatic copolyanalyzing the NMR spectrum of imide (Figure 5) presents imide carbonyl PAA-A, the conclusion is drawn that a cm(cid:2)1, peaks at around 1778 and 1723 singlet at 6.63 ppm is assigned to the and -NHCO”
Preparation of Poly(amic acid) and Polyimide via Microwave-Assisted Polycondensation of Aromatic Dianhydrides and Diamines DOI: 10.1002/masy.200850120 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“2919cm-1 teristic peaks were at 1778 and amide A), (C-H asymmetric and symmetric 1654cm-1 2851cm-1 In this case, the peak at about stretching vibration), was the imine (C-H asymmetric and sym1652cm-1 bond (C=N), which could be ascribed as t”
Sukprasert 等 - 2020 - Synchrotron FTIR Light Reveals Signal Changes of B DOI: 10.1155/2020/6149713 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“FTIR (KBr, (C=O 3413 (OH stretching), 1778, 1717 (imide I), 1397 (imide II, CN stretching), 722 bending).”
Corrosion Resistance of Mild Steel Coated with Phthalimide-Functionalized Polybenzoxazines DOI: 10.3390/coatings10111114 -
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“Assigned to carbonyl groups”
Culica 等 - 2019 - Recyclable Polymer-Supported N-Hydroxyphthalimide DOI: 10.3390/ma12213585 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR, Nicolet iZ10, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Madison, cm-1): WI, USA) (KBr, 1778 (asymmetrical C=O stretch vibration) and 1720 (symmetrical C=O stretch 13C vibration), 1357 (C-N stretch vibration), 695 (C=”
Feng 等 - 2019 - Flame Inhibition and Charring Effect of Aromatic P DOI: 10.3390/polym11010074 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“stretching modes of the symmetric (C-O-C) bond of the cellulosic cm-1 Nanocellulose diacetate preparation was confirmed by the appearance of the band at 1778 of the C=O”
Improved anti-biofouling resistances using novel nanocelluloses/cellulose acetate extracted from rice straw based membranes for water desalination DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08324-8 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“Starting from the top (Figure 5A, spectrum a), the broad C=O stretching band in the 1745-1730 cm-1 The broad shoulders at about 1650-1660 and 1550 may be attributed to amide I and amide II, cm-1 region with a shoulder at 1778 cm-1 and the C”
“Argento Deaurato” or “Argento Biancheggiato”? A Rare and Interesting Case of Silver Background in Italian Painting of the XIII Century DOI: 10.3390/app10072404 -
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 0.9
“Explicit assignment: 'carbonyl absorption peak centered at 1778'”
Locas 和 Yaylayan - 2008 - Further insight into thermally and pH-induced gene DOI: 10.1021/jf073055u
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