What absorbs at 994 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?

Quick answer

A band near 994 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 authoritative 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 994 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

• Alkene (C=C) confidence 1.0

  “The pure V 2O shows single high intense 5 cm(cid:1)1, peak at 994 which is ascribed to the A symmetric g VMO vibrations of the double bond [26].”

  Vijayakumar 等 - 2004 - Li-7 MAS-NMR and vibrational spectroscopic investi DOI: 10.1016/j.ssi.2003.12.008
• confidence 1.0

  “ν(CS)δ(CNS) vibrational mode in complex 1”

  Ni-thiosaccharinate complexes: synthesis, characterization and DFT studies. Biological properties as superoxide dismutase mimetics and as anti-carcinogenic agents DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2019.04.040
• Acetate confidence 1.0

  “Peaks at 994 and 1319 are attributed to C-O stretching and CH 2”

  Classification of Amazonian fast-growing tree species and wood chemical determination by FTIR and multivariate analysis (PLS-DA, PLS) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35107-6
• Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0

  “cm-1 1680 Further, the peak at 994 may indicate the existence of CH bending vibration, which suggests products31.”

  Kasar 和 Ahmaruzzaman - 2022 - Characterization of liquid products obtained from DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15371-8
• Acetate confidence 1.0

  “stretching 1456 1450 C-H bending vibration 1078 1030 C-O stretching vibration C=C PO2C-N stretching vibration, asymmetric 994 961 bending vibration 1224”

  Microbial Mediated Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Lactobacillus plantarum TA4 and Its Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity DOI: 10.3390/app10196973
• Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0

  “cm-1, departed.38XRDanalysisof5-FUloadedLMWCH-NPsshowed 1644 C-H in-plane stretching at 1242 C-F stretchcm-1, cm-1, ing at 1222 different peak fashion than the XRD pattern of pure components N-H and C-H wagging vibration at 994 vibration32”

  Sethi 等 - 2021 - Evaluation of Low Molecular Weight Cross Linked Ch DOI: 10.1177/15593258211025353
• confidence 0.7

  “Same context as 945.”

  Electrical and structural studies of a LiBOB-based gel polymer electrolyte DOI: 10.1007/s11581-016-1834-7
• C n single bond confidence 0.7

  “From table 1”

  Antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of biocompatible ceria oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles in mouse fibroblast NIH3T3 and insulin resistant HepG2 cells DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.11.230