What absorbs at 2930 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 2930 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 2930 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 | 115 | 109 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 16 | 15 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 16 | 15 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 13 | 12 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 13 | 11 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 10 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 9 | 9 | 1.0 |
| N h | 8 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 8 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 8 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 8 | 8 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Lipid | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Oxygen heterocycle | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Acetyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Aldehyde (CHO) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbon dioxide | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-S single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Bromine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbon bromine | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium Dioxide | 2930, 1716, 1724 | 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 2930 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
“Th e CH bands at 2930 and 2850 cm-1.”
Calderon 等 - 2011 - Chemical Differences in Soil Organic Matter Fracti DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2009.0375 -
Carbon bromine confidence 1.0
“FT-IR characterization showed character at 2930.43 cm-1, and the disappearance of C-Br peak at 687.37 indicates the presence of long chain alkyl group and the replacement of Br with triphenylphosphonium.”
Furoida 和 Ulfa - 2019 - Synthesis of 3-(7-triphenylphosphonioheptyl)-2,6-d DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/546/6/062008 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“3095 C-H stretching 2930 ± 10/2853 ± 10 2924-2860 2925-2852 2926-2852 2926-2858 2927-2860 C-H stretching 2362 ± 5 C-O stretching (of succinate) 1735 - 1700”
Differentiation between copal and amber by their structure and thermal behaviour DOI: 10.1007/s10973-023-12333-8 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Fabrication and characterization of cuminaldehyde-loaded electrospun gliadin fiber mats DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111373 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Changes were predominantly observed in the 1080 s cm-1 c and 1224 peak absorbance, commonly associated with nucleic acids, as well as in the band at r ip cm-1 2930 associated with the C-H stretching of proteins in the cytoplasmic compartmen”
Holton 等 - 2011 - Subcellular localization of early biochemical tran DOI: 10.1039/c1an15112f. -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“3430cm(cid:1)1 for Polyurethane from PPG-3000 shows peak at 2930cm(cid:1)1 for aliphatic C-H stretch, at N-H stretch, at 1730cm(cid:1)1 (cid:5)1531cm(cid:1)1 C¼O 3.3.”
Bromo-substituted blocked hexamethylene diisocyanate adduct: synthesis, characterization and applica DOI: 10.1080/10601325.2020.1845569 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“bands at 2930 and due to asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of C-H in (CH 2) and (CH 3) groups and these are affirmed also by the weak absorption band JOURNAL OF ADHESION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 7 Figure 1.”
Alkali and epoxy-silane surface modified pine cone flour reinforced polypropylene/poly (lactic acid) DOI: 10.1080/01694243.2021.1952677 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The bands at 2930, 2860 and are due to the C-H bands of the 34 35”
Latha 和 Lalithamba - 2018 - Synthesis and Characterization of Titanium Dioxide DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/aab695
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.