What absorbs at 718 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 718 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 718 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkyl C-H | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N-O bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Chlorine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Carbonate | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene | 718, 1737, 1720 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate | 1 |
| polypropylene | 718, 1030, 1600 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Amide | 1 |
| PLA | 718, 1650, 1073 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate | 1 |
| LDPE | 718, 1720, 1737 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate | 1 |
| PHB | 718, 3440, 1724 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Ester | 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 718 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
-
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“The peak at cm-1 1,748 is related to amorphous carbonyl C=O vibrations ofPLLA.ThecrystallinecarbonylbandofPHBat1,718cm-1 appearedveryweakinthePLLAblend,presumablyduetothe low concentration of PHB (15 %).”
El-Hadi 等 - 2014 - Enhancing the crystallization and orientation of e DOI: 10.1007/s10965-014-0605-2 -
Metal oxygen confidence 1.0
“cm-1, greater concentration of active sites which will assist the at high wave number of 717.6 and the stretching vibraof the W-O-W bending oxyadsorption of the pollutant molecules to decompose;”
Synthesis and characterization of tungsten trioxide (WO3) as photocatalyst against wastewater pollutants DOI: 10.1007/s13201-023-01938-x -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“But unlike Le Gray's patent, supplementary twin bands are visible at 1463cm-1 718cm-1, and 727 and and are assigned to -CH and C-H bending vibrations, and 1470 and 3 CH 2rocking vibrations of aliphatic chains, respectively [22, 23, 24].”
Daher 等 - 2019 - Spectroscopic characterization of selected French DOI: 10.1080/03087298.2003.10441266. -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The graft co-polymer of PE-g-MAH is confirmed with distinct peaks for: (1) saturated hydrocarbon (C-H) of high density polyethylene at 2915 cm-1 and 2848 cm-1, (2) MAH by C=O group at 1705 cm-1 and 718 cm-1 [12,32].”
Partial Polymer Blend for Fused Filament Fabrication with High Thermal Stability DOI: 10.3390/polym13193353 -
confidence 1.0
“~1472 and 1461 (C-H bending vibrations), ~718 (C-Cl stretching ~2915 and 2847 ~1094 and 1075 (C-O vibrations of 10 (vibrations of the C-H oxygen groups in”
Markowicz 和 Szymanska-Pulikowska - 2021 - Assessment of the Decomposition of Oxoand Biodeg DOI: 10.3390/ma14216449 -
confidence 1.0
“A band at 718 respectively, due to the vibration of zinc-oxygen may be attributed to the 468”
Nabipour 和 Sadr - 2015 - Layered zinc hydroxide-ibuprofen nanohybrids synt DOI: 10.1080/17458080.2014.998301 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“A peak at 1462 was cm-1 attributed to C-H bending of CH 2, and a peak at 718 was attributed to = C-H bending cm-1 vibration (Samanta et al.”
Perera 等 - 2021 - Decaying Hardwood Associated Fungi Showing Signatu DOI: 10.1007/s13205-017-0699-4. -
Amide confidence 1.0
“The amide the band centered at 718 cm-1 [56-58] slightly decreased III peaks corresponds to a combination of the C-N stretch i.e.”
Radev 等 - 2009 - OrganicInorganic bioactive materials Part II in DOI: 10.2478/s11532-009-0076-1
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