What absorbs at 3459 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 3459 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 3459 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) | 9 | 8 | 1.0 |
| N h | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiO2 | 3459, 1739, 699 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Metal oxygen | 1 |
| MgO | 3459, 699, 874 | Hydroxyl (O-H), N h | 1 |
| SiO | 3459, 800, 1745 | Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 |
| PVC | 3459, 834, 1195 | 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 3459 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
“Nd 2O NPs had a vibration spectrum at 3459 which 3 cm-1 indicates the presence of -OH group, 2850 the presence of C-H group from the capping agent as stabilizer of”
A facile method for green synthesis of Nd2O3 nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Terminalia catappa leaf DOI: 10.1063/1.5064090 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“broad absorption band cm-1 in FESEM, we can assume that the grains agglomerate to form observed at 3459 as a result of -OH stretching vibration larger ones in all the prepared samples.”
Mohammed 等 - 2018 - Enhanced dielectric and optical properties of nano DOI: 10.1088/1674-1056/27/12/128104 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“Broad peak at 3459 for all membranes is attributed to the presence of OH functional group that might result from the water used during membrane preparation.”
Nor 等 - 2013 - Gas Permeability of ENRPVC Membrane with the Addi DOI: 10.1063/1.4858770 -
confidence 1.0
“suggested a strong characteristic amino peak at 3459 sules was 220℃.”
Dai 等 - 2020 - Characterization and Oxidative Stability of Cold-p DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess19323 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“The MC spectrum region that is relevant is between 3799 and 3001 cm-1, and the spectrum was inferred in terms of hydroxyl stretching at 3459 cm-1 [28].”
Impedance, Electrical Equivalent Circuit (EEC) Modeling, Structural (FTIR and XRD), Dielectric, and Electric Modulus Study of MC-Based Ion-Conducting Solid Polymer Electrolytes DOI: 10.3390/ma15010170 -
confidence 1.0
“bands at 3459 and 3363 cm-1, assigned to stretching vibrations of amine and hydroxyl groups of The formation of hydrogen bonding can also be confirmed by consecutive changes in the”
Garbacz 等 - 2020 - Structural Characterization of Co-Crystals of Chlo DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12070648 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“According with the previous reports, it is believed that the respective absorption bands at 3459 cm-1 and 500 of ZnO nanoparticle's spectrum are attributed to the hydroxyl (-OH) and Zn-O stretching vibrations[22, 23].”
Haniffa 等 - 2019 - Synergistic effect of (3-Aminopropyl)Trimethoxysil DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2018.11.009 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Rangelova 等 - 2011 - MethylcelluloseSiO2 hybrids sol-gel preparation DOI: 10.2478/s11532-010-0123-y
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