What absorbs at 952 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 952 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 952 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Silicon carbon | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicon-oxygen (Si-O) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silicate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Silanol (Si-OH) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 1 | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| starch | 952, 1650, 1540 | Methacrylate, Acetate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| TiO2 | 952, 1700, 1093 | Methacrylate, Acetate, C-O single bond | 1 |
| silicate | 952, 1000, 1037 | Methacrylate, Acetate | 1 |
| montmorillonite | 952, 1637, 523 | Methacrylate, Acetate | 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 952 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
-
Acetate confidence 1.0
“After treatment of wood samples with DES2, new peaks were formed at 1039 cm-1, 952 cm-1, 943 cm-1, and 864 cm-1, which were C-O vibrations in hemicellulose and cellulose, a C-H deformation in cellulose, and out-of-plane C-H out-of-plane aro”
Can 等 - 2023 - Choline Chloride-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent-Treat DOI: 10.3390/f14030569 -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“Formic acid+montmorillonite The reactions as observed are partly irreversible: peaks are much ∼952, smaller and broader in recovered samples, which suggest that only At 3.7GPa on decompression, we observe peaks at 969, 996 cm-1 small amount”
Reactions between organic acids and montmorillonite clay under Earth-forming conditions DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2010.12.023 -
C c single bond confidence 1.0
“An additional peak at 952 is attributed to the C-C-O stretching of the”
Ternary Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) Infused Phthaloyl Starch as Cost Efficient Quasi-Solid Gel Polymer Electrolyte DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.03.023 -
Ring structure confidence 1.0
“The weak band at 952 cm(cid:2)1 cm(cid:2)1 can be attributed to the ring breathing.”
Synthesis, crystal structure, and characterization of cyclohexylammonium tetraisothiocyanatocobaltate(II): A single-source precursor for cobalt sulfide and oxide nanostructures DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019. -
Silanol (Si-OH) confidence 1.0
“952 cm-1, and attributed it to a change from tridentate to bidentate to monodentate bonding of the surface silanol group.”
Effects of Potassium Loading over Iron–Silica Interaction, Phase Evolution and Catalytic Behavior of Precipitated Iron-Based Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis DOI: 10.3390/catal12080916 -
Alkene (C=C) confidence 1.0
“The band at 952 can be assigned to the stretching vibration of the intermediate trans-olefinic product coming only from the ene-reaction”
Eugenol-based thermally stable thermosets by Alder-ene reaction: From synthesis to thermal degradation DOI: 10.1002/app.39269. -
Silicate confidence 1.0
“For silicate adsorption without As, the IR bands of the cm-1 were attributed to monomeric silicate surface complexes 952 cm-1,”
Polymerization of silicate on TiO2 and its influence on arsenate adsorption: An ATR-FTIR study DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2015.01.021 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“1458 cm-1 and 1384 cm-1 (CH2, CH3 bending vibrations), along with weaker ones at 1171, 1539 2659 1002 848 2553 1124, 1073, 1040, 952 cm-1 (generally, C-O stretch), and 744 cm-1 (C=C-H bend) [25-27].”
Identification of Colourants and Varnishes in a 14th Century Decorated Wood-Carved Door of the Dionysiou Monastery in Mount Athos DOI: 10.3390/coatings11091087
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