What absorbs at 3458 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 3458 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 3458 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) | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Chitosan | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| chitosan | 3458, 1650, 1655 | Methacrylate, Hydroxyl (O-H), C-O single bond | 1 |
| rGO | 3458, 2358, 2930 | Methacrylate, Hydroxyl (O-H), C-O single bond | 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 3458 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
-
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“C-H (aliphatic), and O-H are attributed to the bands at 1422, 1608, 2931, and 3420 cm-1 cm-1 cm-1 O-H stretching at 3458 and C-H stretching at 2902 are both absorption bands [26].”
Aziz 等 - 2022 - The Study of Ion Transport Parameters in MC-Based DOI: 10.3390/membranes12020139 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“The broad spectrum of -OH vibration at 3458 almost all the vibration of oxygen-functional group, such as, C=O carbonyl and C-O epoxy is”
Sugianto 等 - 2019 - Facile Synthesis of Lycopene Reduced Graphene Oxid DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/546/4/042044 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“The hydroxyl band observed for the pure MC can be ascribed to the wavenumber region 3447-3458 cm-1, though the ether band needs to be at 1066 cm-1 and 1110 cm-1 [56].”
Synthesis of Polymer Nanocomposites Based on [Methyl Cellulose](1-x):(CuS)x (0.02 M x 0.08 M) with Desired Optical Band Gaps DOI: 10.3390/polym9060194 -
C c single bond confidence 1.0
“CH=CH, C=O, S=O (gliben- ---------- 2683 cm-1 The absorption peaks observed at 2412 and 793 are associated clamide) with C-C, CH, C-O, and OH bending vibrations, while the absorption NH asym stretching and OH 3458, 3295 ---------- cm-1 band”
Delgadillo-Armendariz 等 - 2014 - INTERACTIONS OF CHITOSANGENIPIN HYDROGELS DURING DOI: 10.5935/0100-4042.20140243 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“[cm-1] Wave number Assignment a b 3458 3557 OH stretching”
Heidarieh 等 - 2014 - Preparation and anatomical distribution study of G DOI: 10.2478/nuka-2014-0019 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“2 pump.Theformedelectrosprayedsamplesweredriedovernight 3 broad band at 3458 was attributed to O-H stretching due to the at room temperature and then separated from the surface of presence of water.”
Jahangiri 等 - 2022 - Dissolution improvement of binary solid dispersion DOI: 10.1093/biomethods/bpac001 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“(O-H bond) was found at 3457.7 stretching vibration for alcoholic C-O bond was found at 1120”
Liquid fuel oil produced from plastic based medical wastes by thermal cracking DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96424-2 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Sun 等 - 2020 - Electrosprayed Polymeric Nanospheres for Enhanced DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S235146
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