What absorbs at 2022 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 2022 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 2022 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkyl C-H | 7 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 4 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| N h | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphorus | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Adsorbed carbon monoxide | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Lignin | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N-O bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Lipid | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene | 2022, 1030, 1600 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| Al2O3 | 2022, 1722, 1383 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Methacrylate, Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| CuO | 2022, 453, 1000 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| lipids | 2022, 1735, 810 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| copper oxide | 2022, 624, 1686 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Alkyl C-H, 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 2022 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
-
Metal oxygen confidence 1.0
“536 538 536 Cu-O bond vibration Nanomaterials2022,12,3589 8of19”
Effect of Calcination Temperature on Structural, Morphological and Optical Properties of Copper Oxide Nanostructures Derived from Garcinia mangostana L. Leaf Extract DOI: 10.3390/nano12203589 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The current results spectrum reported that the NMB FAXs cm-1 spectra band at 3281 resembles the stretching of the OH groups and the band at cm-1 2922 the CH2 groups, while ferulated arabinoxylans of NNMB showed the band at Foods2022,11,3374”
Biochemical and Structural Characterization of Ferulated Arabinoxylans Extracted from Nixtamalized and Non-Nixtamalized Maize Bran DOI: 10.3390/foods11213374 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“g Creative cm(cid:1)1 (cid:4)1350 C-N group.48 CuO, CS/CuO, (2, 4%) Ta-doped CS/CuO was 3.4, 4.5, 3.32 and revealed stretching mode of amide 2022.”
Novel Ta/chitosan-doped CuO nanorods for catalytic purification of industrial wastewater and antimicrobial applications DOI: 10.1039/d2ra03006c -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The DA adduct (C-O-C, Scheme 1c), however, is only present in FG1, as shown from the shoulder around the absorption band Polymers 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 7 of 16 Polymers2022,14,1176 7of16”
Muljana 等 - 2022 - Cross-Linking of Polypropylene via the Diels-Alder DOI: 10.3390/polym14061176 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Additionally, the band at 3014.44 corresponded to C-H stretch in (a) i and ii, respectively, whereas in (b) iv and v, the C-H band is at Nanomaterials2022,12,2184 7of13 cm-1.”
Green Synthesis of Crystalline Silica from Sugarcane Bagasse Ash: Physico-Chemical Properties DOI: 10.3390/nano12132184 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Wernle 和 Gilbert - 2005 - Micromechanics of shelf-aged and retrieved UHMWPE DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.30285 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“deformation in carbohydrate-related compounds [5]) and 670 cm-1 (OH bending and outJ.Fungi2022,8,1299 6of12 of-plane stretching of hemicellulose-related compounds [1]) disappeared for the wood treated with 0.1% of Al2O3 exposed to the T.”
Acosta 等 - 2022 - Alumina as an Antifungal Agent for Pinus elliottii DOI: 10.3390/jof8121299 -
Lipid confidence 1.0
“A clean ATR crystal was assessed by recording a spectrum of dichloromethane without performing a new background and observing peaks Sensors2022,22,1744 6of15 cm-1 around 2900 corresponding to the lipid components with a peak height less tha”
Prediction of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Biomarker Concentration by Application of Machine Learning to Mid-Infrared Spectra DOI: 10.3390/s22051744
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