What absorbs at 3350 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 3350 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 3350 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 54 | 51 | 1.0 |
| N h | 24 | 22 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 8 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 8 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 8 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Amine primary | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Urethane | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Lignin | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C#c | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silanol (Si-OH) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Silicon nitrogen | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| silica | 3350, 1100, 1080 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| TiO2 | 3350, 1700, 1093 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| SiO2 | 3350, 1739, 699 | Alkyl C-H, Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 |
| lignin | 3350, 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 3350 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
-
confidence 1.0
“201 Insert Table 1 AC cm-1 202 The peaks shown at 3350 and 3212 are assigned to N-H stretching and the peak at cm-1 203 3032 confirms the C-H stretching vibrations on benzenoid ring.”
Effect of polyaniline (PANI) on Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexaflouro propylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) polymer electrolyte membrane prepared by breath figure method DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2017.03.012 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“So the higher surface cm-1, a strong C-H peak at 2933 peak around 3350 area of MMA grafted lignin is due to the combined cm-1, and an additional typical band of methyl groups effect of grafted chains and reduction of particle size.”
Jacob 等 - 2013 - Green Synthesis for Lignin Plasticization Aqueous DOI: 10.7569/JRM.2012.634107 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Mathews 等 - 2018 - Characterization of Panandhro Lignite Deposits (Ka DOI: 10.1007/s12594-018-851-8 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“1500 1500-1185 and 1185-900 According to the results obtained, all the J spectra have a normal appearance compared to the spectrum of pure saffron [23,48] cm-1 The absorption band at 3350 corresponds to the stretching vibration of the O-H h”
Naim 等 - 2022 - ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with DNA barcoding DOI: 10.1016/j.vibspec.2022.103446 -
Hydrogen bond confidence 1.0
“A broad band peaked at 3350 and a interfacial water which is free from a hydrogen bond with bulk cm-1 relatively sharp band at 1647 can be assigned to the OH”
Nakamura 等 - 2003 - In situ FTIR studies of primary intermediates of p DOI: 10.1021/ja029503q -
Silanol (Si-OH) confidence 1.0
“Text: '3350-3390cm-1 ... represent Si-OH bond'”
High purity and amorphous silica (SiO2) prepared from oil palm frond (OPF) through sol⠍gel method DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2020.05.299 -
N h confidence 1.0
“coordinated to Lewis assigned to symmetric stretching of NH 3 cm-1 acid sites ((cid:238) s(NH 3)), while the peak at 3350 can be assigned to asymmetric stretching of NH coordinated to Lewis 3 3)).20,33 acid sites ((cid:238) as(NH”
Pena 等 - 2004 - Identification of surface species on titania-suppo DOI: 10.1021/jp0313122 -
confidence 1.0
“And 2950 x M cm-1 finally, a mode at 3350 is designated as N-H stretching.”
Peter 等 - 2013 - FTIR analysis of a-SiCNH films deposited by PECVD DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2013.04.014
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