What absorbs at 2855 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 2855 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 2855 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 | 51 | 45 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 9 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 9 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 8 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 8 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 5 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Lipid | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| N h | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon carbon | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-S single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Silanol (Si-OH) | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TiO2 | 2855, 1700, 1093 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Acetate | 1 |
| oil shale | 2855, 1625, 1053 | Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| chitosan | 2855, 1650, 1655 | Alkyl C-H, Acetate, Methacrylate | 1 |
| chitin | 2855, 1650, 1655 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Acetate | 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 2855 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
-
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“For PC2 loadings, the positive influence and negcm-1 cm-1 ric CH stretching), 2928 (asymmetric CH stretching), and 2855 (symmetric 3”
Specific Mycoparasite-Fusarium Graminearum Molecular Signatures in Germinating Seeds Disabled Fusarium Head Blight Pathogen’s Infection DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052461 -
Lipid confidence 1.0
“The peak at 2927 and area and the shift in the frequency value of this band were 3 cm-1 2855 can be assigned to asymmetric and symmetric because of alterations in lipid metabolism induced by tanstretching mode of CH modes [18].”
Spectral profile index changes as biomarker of toxicity in Catla catla (Hamilton, 1822) edible fish studied using FTIR and principle component analysis DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-3001-z -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“The The first first region, region, between between 4000 4000 and and 1 I 800 800 cm1, cm1, presents presents a a strong strong broad broad band band centered centered at at about about 3390 3390 cm1, cm1, 14,24 The 14,24 The two bands at a”
Liu 等 - 2006 - Characterization of the basidiomycetes Thelephora DOI: 10.1117/12.710905 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The peaks assigned at 2855 and 2948 are noticed to be the C-H symmetric stretching and anti-symmetric stretching, respectively.”
Thermal degradation and crystallization kinetics studies on synthesized calcium mercaptosuccinate end-capped poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocomposite DOI: 10.1007/s00289-018-2614-5 -
Alkene (C=C) confidence 1.0
“the strong absorppair of peaks observed at 2855 and 2927 the peak at www.hanser-elibrary.com cm-1 3012 is due the presence of the =C-H group;”
Synthesis and Characterization of Acrylated Epoxidized Flaxseed Oil for Biopolymeric Applications DOI: 10.1007/s11746-003-0673-5 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Aliphatic CH stretching was observed at 2855 in both”
Sudatta 等 - 2020 - Extraction, characterization and antimicrobial act DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.06.291 -
Methoxy (OCH3) confidence 1.0
“The peaks at 2855 and 2968 cm-1 arise from molecular methanol, and the other two peaks are attributed to methoxy chemisorbed to the TiO 2 film surface.”
Wang 等 - 2003 - Molecular species on nanoparticulate anatase TiO2 DOI: 10.1021/la0345542 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Zhao 等 - 2015 - Evaluation of Oil Yield of Oil Shale by Infrared S DOI: 10.1007/s40242-015-4364-3
Have a spectrum with this band?
Upload your FTIR spectrum and get a full interpretation report — peak assignments with literature citations, library matches, and a literature-backed analysis — in seconds.