What absorbs at 2920 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 2920 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 2920 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 | 211 | 185 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 19 | 18 | 1.0 |
| Lipid | 12 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 11 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| N h | 9 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 7 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 6 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 6 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Fatty acid | 4 | 3 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| N-O bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Aldehyde (CHO) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Lignin | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C#c | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ammonium | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| chitosan | 2920, 1650, 1655 | Alkyl C-H, Amide, Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 |
| calcium phosphate | 2920, 1070, 1149 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| lignin | 2920, 1035, 1510 | Alkyl C-H, Hydroxyl (O-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 2920 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
“N-heterocyclic compounds such cm-1 group), 2920 (C H stretching of methyl and methylene), as N-[4-(5-Methyl-benzothiazol-2-yl)-phenyl]-acetamide made of cm-1”
A strategic laccase mediated lignin degradation of lignocellulosic feedstocks for ethanol production DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.08.009 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“cm-1 compounds remained The peaks at 2920 and 2840 correspond to C-H stretching of methyl and methylene62.”
Physicochemical characterisation of barley straw treated with sodium hydroxide or urea and its digestibility and in vitro fermentability in ruminants DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24738-w -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“In the CG spectrum, the band at 3300 cm-1 attributing to the stretching of OH groups was cm-1 A band at 2920 refers to the stretching of C-H groups from the carbonic chains of the monomers observed.”
Development of Composite Scaffolds Based on Cerium Doped-Hydroxyapatite and Natural Gums—Biological and Mechanical Properties DOI: 10.3390/ma12152389 -
N h confidence 1.0
“In the Component loadings show that the LF loses absorbance cm-1 Lamberton samples the diff erence between decalcifi ed and unduring incubation at the 3400 OH/NH band, the 2920 cm-1”
Calderon 等 - 2011 - Chemical Differences in Soil Organic Matter Fracti DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2009.0375 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“It was reported several peaks in the spectra in the region 2920 cm-1 and 2850 cm-1 assigned to symmetric and asymmetric C-H stretching of oleic acid.”
The Effect of High-Intensity Ultrasound and Natural Oils on the Extraction and Antioxidant Activity of Lycopene from Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Waste DOI: 10.3390/antiox11071404 -
Carbohydrate confidence 1.0
“A sharp peak at 2920 and 2850 was attributed to the presence of polysaccharides, lipids, and carbohydrates (C-H stretch).”
Classification and identification of Rhodobryum roseum Limpr. and its adulterants based on fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and chemometrics DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172359 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The absorption bond between 2920 and 2873 is due through flank incisions for 20 min using a non-traumatic microvasto C-H stretch;”
Chen 等 - 2011 - Structural features and bioactivities of the chito DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2011.06.009 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“the diluted hydrogen content low methane Not similar to the substrate, the deposited films y1 exhibit two broad peaks centered at 2920, 2960 cm , Table 1 3 which are corresponding to asymmetric sp CH and”
Cuong 等 - 2003 - Diamond-like carbon films deposited on polymers by DOI: 10.1016/S0257-8972
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