What absorbs at 780 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 780 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 780 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 12 | 11 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 10 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Silicon carbon | 5 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Boron nitrogen | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Water (H2O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metalloid oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphorus | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Urethane | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N h | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silanol (Si-OH) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Sulfur | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiC | 780, 791, 805 | Silicon carbon, Silicon-oxygen (Si-O), Siloxane (Si-O-Si) | 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 780 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
-
Boron nitrogen confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Bejarano 等 - 2006 - Deposition of B4CBCNc-BN multilayered thin films DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2005.08.192 -
C-O single bond confidence 1.0
“(cm-1) Component Spectral band Associated vibration C-C/C-O COM 780 single bond stretching C-C/C-O 1318 single bond stretching C-O 1630 double bond stretching C-O COD 1680 double bond stretching”
High precision mapping of kidney stones using mu;IR spectroscopy to determine urinary lithogenesis DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201300201 -
Silicon carbon confidence 1.0
“cm-1 bond with n=1,2,3 at ~640 [13], Si-C stretching bond cm-1 cm-1 at ~780 [12], SiH bending at ~900 [12] and C-H Table 1 Fluxes of H and B 2H used.”
Si and SiC nanocrystals in an amorphous SiC matrix: Formation and electrical properties DOI: 10.1002/pssc.201000176 -
Siloxane (Si-O-Si) confidence 1.0
“cm-1 cm-1 for Si-C symmetric stretching, at 708 for Si-O-Si symmetric at 780 cm-1 for Si-O-C stretching should be observed after stretching, and at 1,203 reaction between hydrolyzed silane and cellulose of natural fibers (Sawpan et al.”
Hajiha 等 - 2014 - Modification and Characterization of Hemp and Sisa DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2013.861779 -
Silanol (Si-OH) confidence 1.0
“Other wavenumbers that the presence of cm-1 sol-gel coating on the surface of shiv are 940 correcm-1 Si-OH sponding to vibration of bonds and 780 a Fig.”
Modification of hemp shiv properties using water-repellent sol–gel coatings DOI: 10.1007/s10971-018-4621-2 -
Silicon carbon confidence 1.0
“al.[18] et Bianconi have was detected at 601 should be noted that the pore size of the SiC that we cm(cid:2)1, whereas observed characteristic SiC peak at 780 have synthesized is bigger than commercial high-purity Foley[23] reported that th”
The Synthesis of Silicon Carbide in Rhombohedral Form with Different Chemicals DOI: 10.1007/s11661-017-4050-9 -
Ring structure confidence 1.0
“The vibrational mode 780 belongs to striazine ring (C 3N 3) bending mode.”
Karuppannan 和 Prashantha - 2010 - Nano structured carbon nitrides prepared by chemic DOI: 10.1117/12.861609 -
confidence 1.0
“Mg (2p), on the other hand, exhibited a The Co (2p) peak observed at 780.3eV is due to cobalt peak at 50.3eV before calcination, and at 49.9eV after calbound to oxygen (CoO), and possessed characteristics of cination, confirming the presenc”
Kgosiemang 等 - 2020 - Green synthesis of magnesium and cobalt oxide nano DOI: 10.1080/24701556.2020.1735422
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