What absorbs at 2935 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 2935 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 2935 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 | 39 | 35 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N h | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMMA | 2935, 1722, 1383 | Methacrylate, Alkyl C-H, 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 2935 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
“The peak at 2935 (Figure 3) can be ascribed to -CH stretching and 3 and 4 are due to the bending of C-H [24].”
Aziz 等 - 2017 - From Insulating PMMA Polymer to Conjugated Double DOI: 10.3390/polym9110626 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Vibrational bands at 2935 cm-1 cm-1 and 2880 referred to a C-H stretching, 1478 to the CH bending of an alkyl”
Can 等 - 2023 - Choline Chloride-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent-Treat DOI: 10.3390/f14030569 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The growth of used as the background during IR scans of CO or cm)1 CH stretching bands region at 2935 and 2860 benzene adsorption on Pt/SiO 2.”
Chen 等 - 2005 - Infrared study of benzene hydrogenation on PtSiO2 DOI: 10.1007/s10562-005-8684-7 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Figures 6-8 show the characteristic peaks at 2935, 2855, cm-1 2270, 1695 and 1097 in the FTIR spectra correConclusions sponding to the asymmetric C-H stretching of the methy-”
Curing reaction kinetics of HTPE polymer studied by simultaneous rheometry and FTIR measurements DOI: 10.1007/s10973-016-5485-8 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“4(a) show almost the identical bands with N-H vibrational 3 cm-1, rence of 720 nm-PL band indicates the formation of PbI at stage e, and stretching modes at 3225 and 1586 C-H vibrational and 2 stretchingmodesat2935and1485cm-1,andC-Nstretchi”
Hydration of mixed halide perovskites investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy DOI: 10.1063/1.5087914 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Wavenumber 3399 3399 O-H stretching vibration of carbohydrate C-OH (cm-1) Band Assignment 2935 2934 C-H asymmetric stretching in alkanes (methyl or methylene)”
Jin 等 - 2022 - Rapid Identification for the Pterocarpus Bracelet DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154793 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“26 cm-1 cm-1 band at 2935 and 2873 which is associated to the (O - CH 3) stretch from CS 261 27 28”
Misenan 等 - 2018 - Electrical and structural studies of polymer elect DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/aac25b -
Amide confidence 1.0
“2715.39cm-1 and2611.01cm-1 >3000cm-1 Alkane(C-HStretching) (Medium) cm-1 cm-1 1030.64 1090-1020 (Medium) -NH2 (C-N Stretching) 2935.05cm-1 ±2935cm-1 Alkane(C-HStretching) (Medium)”
Validation of the Developed Zero-Order Infrared Spectrophotometry Method for Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Tranexamic Acid in Marketed Tablets DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226985
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