What absorbs at 2976 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 2976 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 2976 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 | 11 | 11 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Silicon carbon | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TiO2 | 2976, 1700, 1093 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| rGO | 2976, 2358, 2930 | Methacrylate, Alkyl C-H, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| PLA | 2976, 1650, 1073 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| silver nanoparticles | 2976, 1636, 1631 | 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 2976 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
“Moreover, the observed narrow bands at 26 27 cm-1 cm-1 2976.32 and 2876.39 corresponds to the C-H stretching vibrations and are probably”
Ntozakhe 等 - 2019 - Influence of nitrogen doping on TiO2 nanoparticles DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/ab2260 -
Silicon (Si) confidence 1.0
“The bands at 802 bonds, including (a) out-ofvibrational modes of Si-CH 3 cm-1 ± are assigned to the bond-bending and bondstretching vibration at 2976 and 459 phase or asymmetric CH 3”
Rios 等 - 2011 - Characterisation of hybrid xerogels synthesised in DOI: 10.1007/s10450-011-9331-9 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“𝑅 - 2 1 Alcohol Modes of vibration Wave number (cm ) C - H Ethanol stretching 2976 0.9527 C - H bending”
Assessment of quality of commercial hand sanitizers using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102274 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“CP presented a characteristic peak at 2976 cm-1 cm-1 cm-1 2976 (C-H stretching vibration), the peak at 1622 was due to the C=O stretching (C-H stretching vibration), the peak at 1622 cm-1 was due to the C=O stretching and 1277 cm-1 cm-1 and”
Almotairi 等 - 2022 - Design and Optimization of Lornoxicam Dispersible DOI: 10.3390/ph15121463 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“It is also observed that the relative intensity of the two bands near 2976 and 2820 cm-1 (anti-symmetrical and symmetrical C-H stretching modes) increased with the content of 1,12-dodecanedioate (DD) in the (co)polyester backbone, as eviden”
Isosorbide and 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid Based (Co)Polyesters: Synthesis, Characterization, and Environmental Degradation DOI: 10.3390/polym14183868 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The characteristic band at 2991 cm-1 to 2976 cm-1 cm-1 cm-1 (C=C 2976 corresponds to C-H stretching vibrations, 1652 skeletal vibration), 1521”
Complex Permittivity and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Effectiveness of OPEFB Fiber-Polylactic Acid Filled with Reduced Graphene Oxide DOI: 10.3390/ma13204602 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“(cm-1) (cm-1) O-H 3229 3027 4 3294 3030 5 3272 3022 3 3170 3017 5 3111 2964 7 stretch =C-H 3094 3090 stretch -C-H 2976 2952 5 2942 2947 5 2971 2953 5 2953 5 2969 stretch 1738 1738”
Loarueng 等 - 2019 - Theoretical and experimental investigation of NMR, DOI: 10.24820/ark.5550190.p010.982 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“3A) at 3299 (OH stretching) 2976, 2897 (asymmetric and symmetric C H cm-1 and 1602 (C O stretching of the carbonyl group, stretching) typical of saccharide absorption) (Juby et al., 2012).”
Raghavendra 等 - 2013 - Cellulose-polymer-Ag nanocomposite fibers for anti DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.12.035
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