What absorbs at 897 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?

Quick answer

A band near 897 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 897 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

• Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0

  “The peaks at 1369 and 897 cm-1 indicate the peaks of C-H deformation found in carbohydrates.”

  n-Heptadecane-Impregnated Wood as a Potential Material for Energy-Saving Buildings DOI: 10.3390/f13122137
• Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0

  “The band at 897 cor3.3 Fourier transformed infrared responds to C-H bending vibration which corresponds to cm-1 spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis of ZnOGW alkene groups.”

  Dhayalan 等 - 2021 - Eco friendly synthesis and characterization of zin DOI: 10.1515/nanofab-2020-0104
• Carbohydrate confidence 1.0

  “cm-1, The peak at 897 corresponding to the sugar ring tension, seemed to decrease with increasing severity of the treatment which is consistent with ring opening (Figures 2 to 5).”

  Esteves 等 - 2013 - CHEMICAL CHANGES OF HEAT TREATED PINE AND EUCALYPT DOI: 10.4067/S0718-221X2013005000020
• Acetate confidence 1.0

  “An absorption band at 897 to C-O-C stretching at the β-(1, 4)-glycosidic linkage in cellulose [14].”

  Hassan 和 Badri - 2014 - Lignin Recovery from Alkaline Hydrolysis and Glyce DOI: 10.1063/1.4895236
• C-O single bond confidence 1.0

  “The presence of hemicelluloses can be observed by the cm-1 appearance of a peak at a wavenumber of 896.90 that indicates C-OH functional group 3 The 7th AIC-ICMR on Sciences and Engineering 2017”

  Ikramullah 等 - 2018 - Hemicellulose and lignin removal on typha fiber by DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/352/1/012019
• Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0

  “The peak at 897 is assigned react primarily with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose.”

  Jahi 等 - 2020 - Empty Fruit Bunch Cellulose based Sorbent for Oil DOI: 10.17576/jsm-2020-4909-29
• Acetate confidence 1.0

  “1370 1373 C-H deformation, CH3 symmetric deformation in holocellulose 1034 1034 C-O stretching vibration 897 898 C1-H deformation in cellulose”

  Jin 等 - 2022 - Rapid Identification for the Pterocarpus Bracelet DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154793
• confidence 1.0

  “cm-1 cm-1, cm-1 stretching), peaks corresponding to Ca-Halogen, 767 (Ca-O-bond 809 897 cm-1 (stretching-vibration peaks corresponding to C-H-, C-C-, and Ca-O-Ca bonding), 954 cm-1 cm-1, (representing the OH of alcohol), 1195 (for the amine”

  Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity of Ficus carica-Mediated Calcium Oxide (CaONPs) Phyto-Nanoparticles DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145553