What absorbs at 3383 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 3383 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 3383 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) | 7 | 7 | 1.0 |
| N h | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Amine primary | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| polysaccharide | 3383, 1637, 1320 | Hydroxyl (O-H), N h, Amide | 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 3383 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
-
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“2 were Fig.4hadpeaksat1608cm-1and1522cm-1whichwerefrom showninFig.3.Flourfromthelargerparticlesizefractionhad cm-1 firmly packed starch granules coated with matrix protein, aromatic C=C bending and a broad peak at 3383 which while the starc”
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Sorghum Grain Composition Including Protein and Tannins Using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy DOI: 10.1007/s12161-020-01874-5 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“The drug loaded AVA has a strong stretching peak at 3383 which can Np4 be assigned as overlapping stretching peaks of O-H (AV), NH and phenolic O-H (drug).”
Synthesis of Aloevera/Acrylonitrile based Nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery of 5-Aminosalicylic acid DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.08.085 -
confidence 1.0
“The two peaks at 3383 and Conclusion cm-1 3277 are assigned to the N-H symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations [62].”
Heterogeneous kinetics of thiourea electro‐catalytic oxidation reactions on palladium surface in the aqueous medium DOI: 10.1002/asia.202001016 -
confidence 1.0
“2b, it cm-1 -OH surface of titanium, Si element was attributed to APTES, approved that was observably that the vibration peak of around 3383 films thepreparation ofTisubstrates for silane deposition.”
Preparation and characterization of APTES films on modification titanium by SAMs DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2011.01.068 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Afolabi 等 - 2021 - Evaluation of Lead (II) Removal from Wastewater Us DOI: 10.15244/pjoes/122449 -
N h confidence 1.0
“3309.42cm-1 P2 shows two broad peaks around 3382.97 and (a) Commercial PVC attributed to the stretching vibration of NH primary amines, (b) PolymerP2 ] at 1617, 1513, some bands of stretching vibration C=C(arom) 1437cm-1 ]”
Ammari 等 - 2015 - Structure and Electrical Study of New Chemically M DOI: 10.1155/2015/280325 -
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“dpa172d1_B DPA is characterized by bands with maxima at ~691-744 cm-1, 876 cm-1, 1173 cm-1, 1242 dpa173d1_B vibrational modes: the out-of-plane deformation of the benzene ring, deformation of the dpa174d1_B cm-1, 1317 cm-1, 1415 cm-1, 1456-”
The Photoluminescence and Vibrational Properties of Black Phosphorous Sheets Chemically/Electrochemically Functionalized in the Presence of Diphenylamine DOI: 10.3390/polym14214479 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“cm-1, C=C, C-C, and C-N vibrations centered at 3383, 1600, 1423, and 1297 respectively, can be seen”
Purification and Glutaraldehyde Activation Study on HCl-Doped PVA–PANI Copolymers with Different Aniline Concentrations DOI: 10.3390/molecules24010063
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