What absorbs at 914 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 914 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 914 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) | 7 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Oxygen heterocycle | 5 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Metal hydroxyl | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Nitrogen heterocycle | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Silanol (Si-OH) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Nucleic acid | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicate | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| polypropylene | 914, 1030, 1600 | Alkyl C-H, Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 |
| quartz | 914, 800, 3053 | Hydroxyl (O-H), Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| polymer | 914, 1718, 1722 | Alkyl C-H, Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 |
| chitosan | 914, 1650, 1655 | Alkyl C-H, Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 |
| epoxy | 914, 1660, 1735 | Oxygen heterocycle, Alkyl C-H | 1 |
| hematite | 914, 1030, 469 | 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 914 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
-
Oxygen heterocycle confidence 1.0
“wileyonlinelibrary.com] 12 A A In order to model cure kinetics (discussed below), variation 2 y5 1A (4) (cid:4) (cid:5)p 2 cm21 x in the area of oxirane ring peak corresponding to 914 was 11”
Mechanism and Kinetics of Curing of Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol A (DGEBA) Resin by Chitosan DOI: 10.1002/pen.24463 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“goethite OH bending bands 3133 459 goethite goethite OH stretching bands 914 1384 1636”
Spectroscopic characterization of iron ores formed in different geological environments using FTIR, XPS, Mössbauer spectroscopy and thermoanalyses DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2014.10.090 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“cm21 cm21 stretching, 2958 and 2860 due to methylene CH stretchwhereas the peaks observed at 914 and 3616 CACH ASiAOH ing, 1599-1946 due to out of plane deformation corresponds to groups and free -OH groups, CAH cm21 bending of aromatic rin”
Shimpi 等 - 2014 - Preparation, Characterization, and Biodegradation DOI: 10.1002/pc.22658 -
C-O single bond confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Yongvanich 和 Visuttipitukul - 2013 - Isolation of Nanocellulose from Pomelo Fruit Fiber DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.747.363 -
Nucleic acid confidence 1.0
“The spectral bands centered at ~993 cm-1 and ~914 cm-1 36 are present only in the spectra of RNA extracted from B16 37 asynchronous cell, diagnostic of the vibrational modes in38 ribose25.”
Zucchiatti 等 - 2016 - Contribution of Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) to the Four DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b02744 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“745 797 and 3550cm-1 3750cm-1 914cm-1 four decreasing absorption peaks between and are attributed to the bending vibration of the hydroxyl”
Cao 和 Gu - 2023 - Mineralogical and spectral characteristics of Chan DOI: 10.3389/feart.2023.1183522 -
Phosphate (PO4) confidence 1.0
“As for PP4, bands around 914 cm-1, cm-1, cm-1, cm-1 1004 1569 1288 and 1635 were attributed to P-O-P, P-O-C, the triazine ring,”
The Effects of a Macromolecular Charring Agent with Gas Phase and Condense Phase Synergistic Flame Retardant Capability on the Properties of PP/IFR Composites DOI: 10.3390/ma11010111 -
Metal oxygen confidence 1.0
“Sci.2021,11,10049 6of19 at 3696 and 3621 cm-1 (outer and inner hydroxyl ion bands), 1028 cm-1 (Si-O-Si band), and 914 cm-1 (Al-O-H band).”
Investigation of Ancient Wall Painting Fragments Discovered in the Roman Baths from Alburnus Maior by Complementary Non-Destructive Techniques DOI: 10.3390/app112110049
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