What absorbs at 2904 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 2904 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 2904 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 | 8 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| cellulose | 2904, 1735, 1650 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| hemicellulose | 2904, 1730, 897 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| lignin | 2904, 1035, 1510 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| biomass | 2904, 1082, 1282 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 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 2904 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
“It can be seen from Figure 1b cm-1, that a peak at around 2904 as a result of C-H stretching, is broadened as the concentration of cm-1 NH 4SCN salt increases and almost disappears at 40 wt%.”
Structural, Impedance, and EDLC Characteristics of Proton Conducting Chitosan-Based Polymer Blend Electrolytes with High Electrochemical Stability DOI: 10.3390/molecules24193508 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“FTIR spectra for PbS_3 washing steps: the peaks at 2921 2917 2904 cm-1 and 2853 are assigned to antisymmetric and symmetric methylene stretch modes (ν (as)CH 2, ν (s)CH 2).”
Piliego 等 - 2013 - 5.2% efficient PbS nanocrystal Schottky solar cell DOI: 10.1039/c3ee41479e -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“The FTIR spectra present ininsnowandicesamples,respectively.NoPEorPPMPs tense absorption at 3363 (OH stretching), 2904 (CH”
Assessment of microplastic pollution: occurrence and characterisation in Vesijärvi lake and Pikku Vesijärvi pond, Finland DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7843-z -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“To sum up the discussion about the origin of the bands appearing in the region cm-1, cm-1 To sum up the discussion about the origin of the bands appearing in the region 30003000-2850 it has been established that the two bands at 2981 and 29”
Activation of Ethanol Transformation on Copper-Containing SBA-15 and MnSBA-15 Catalysts by the Presence of Oxygen in the Reaction Mixture DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032252 -
Silicon (Si) confidence 1.0
“cm-1 cm-1 is assigned to groups CH3, band from 1089-1015 are bandwith from the 2904 cm-1 are assigned to stretching groups of Si-O-Si and those of approx.”
Sonmez 等 - 2018 - IDENTIFYING THE OPTIMUM METHOD FOR MODIFYING THE Z DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2012.03.037. -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“The bands found at 2904 cm-1 and 2842 cm-1 corresponded to asymmetric and symmetric Cand 1046 cm-1 belonged to C-O and H stretching vibrations.”
The Interactions and Release Kinetics of Sodium Hyaluronate Implemented in Nonionic and Anionic Polymeric Hydrogels, Studied by Immunoenzymatic ELISA Test DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010058 -
Phosphate (PO4) confidence 1.0
“cm-1, Hydrochloric acid showed H-Cl stretching at 2942 while phosphoric acid had a P-OH bond cm-1, P=O and stretching at 2904 and 1161 respectively [34,47,48].”
Zhuang 等 - 2020 - Observation of Potential Contaminants in Processed DOI: 10.3390/app10124345 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 0.9
“Text: '2904cm-1 C-H Diffraction was due to stretching of CH or CH2 groups.'”
Almahamid 等 - 2022 - Application of Factorial Design and Response Surfa DOI: 10.1155/2022/1967606
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