What absorbs at 3453 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?

Quick answer

A band near 3453 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

Ranking reflects accumulated literature evidence, not a single fixed rule. Always confirm against your sample context.

Possible materials

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 3453 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

  “in chitosan became sharper and the N-H peak shifted to the left to 3453 This proved that the quantity of O-H stretched decreased as nitro group substituted on one of three”

  Synthesis and characterizations of o-nitrochitosan based biopolymer electrolyte for electrochemical devices DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212066
• Aromatic ring confidence 1.0

  “cm-1 electrons in aromatic ring, 1298 corresponds to C - N stretching vibration, 1490 due cm-1 cm-1 to the benzenoid ring stretching vibration, 1562 for quinoid ring vibration and 3453 for Al2+:Nd O - H stretching vibration of water molecul”

  Antistatic and Dielectric properties of one-dimensional Al2+:Nd2O3 nanowire doped polyaniline nanocomposites for electronic application DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2018.07.018
• Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0

  “LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”

  Sakthisharmila 等 - 2017 - A characteristic study on generation and interacti DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2017.01.106
• Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0

  “LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”

  Ionic liquid mediated morphologically improved lanthanum oxide nanoparticles by Andrographis paniculata leaves extract and its biomedical applications DOI: 10.1016/j.jre.2019.06.006
• Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0

  “LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”

  Ashrafi 等 - 2017 - DIRECT ACETYLATION OF SUNFLOWER OIL IN THE PRESENC DOI: 10.4314/bcse.v31i1.4
• Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0

  “centered at 3453 This band is due to -OH stretching groups in the carbohydrate Aloe vera monomers from (e.g.”

  High-Content Aloe vera Based Hydrogels: Physicochemical and Pharmaceutical Properties DOI: 10.3390/polym15051312
• Lignin confidence 1.0

  “cm-1 When methacrylated lignin, in which most of the phenolic groups are substituted by vinyl groups, The broad absorption band with a maximum at 3453 in all the spectra indicated the presence of -OH was used as a component of the system, U”

  Preparation, Thermal, and Mechanical Characterization of UV-Cured Polymer Biocomposites with Lignin DOI: 10.3390/polym12051159
• Silanol (Si-OH) confidence 1.0

  “LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”

  Nguyen 等 - 2021 - High CO Adsorption Performance of CuCl-Modified Di DOI: 10.1155/2021/9762578