The following table provides some of the common potential sources of spurious infrared absorptions that might appear on a spectrum (Refs. 1 and 2). Occasionally, the spectral lines of some impurities can be used as diagnostics; the reader is referred to the references for more details. Column definitions for the table are as follows.
Column heading | Definition |
Approximate wavenumber | Approximate wavenumber of spurious infrared absorption, in cm-1 |
Wavelength | Wavelength of spurious infrared absorption, in μm |
Compound or group | Molecular formula of compound or group that is the source of spurious absorption |
Origin | Possible origin of the compound or group |
Approximate wavenumber in cm–1 | Wavelength in μm | Compound or group | Origin |
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3700 | 2.70 | H2O | Water in solvent (thick layers) |
3650 | 2.74 | H2O | Water in some quartz windows |
3450 | 2.9 | H2O | Hydrogen-bonded water, usually in KBr disks |
2900 | 3.44 | –CH3, =CH2 | Paraffin oil, residual from previous mulls |
2350 | 4.26 | CO2 | Atmospheric absorption, or dissolved gas from a dry ice bath |
2330 | 4.30 | CO2 | |
2300 and 2150 | 4.35 and 4.65 | CS2 | Leaky cells, previous analysis of samples dissolved in carbon disulfide |
1996 | 5.01 | BO2- | Metaborate in the halide window |
1400–2000 | 5–7 | H2O | Atmospheric absorption |
1820 | 5.52 | COCl2 | Phosgene, decomposition product in purified CHCl3 |
1755 | 5.7 | Phthalic anhydride | Decomposition product of phthalate esters or resins; paint off-gas product |
1700–1760 | 5.7–5.9 | =C=O | Bottle-cap liners leached by sample |
1720 | 5.8 | Phthalates | Phthalate polymer plastic tubing |
1640 | 6.1 | H2O | Water of crystallization entrenched in sample |
1520 | 6.6 | CO2 | Leaky cells, previous analysis |
1430 | 7.0 | CO3-2 | Contaminant in halide window |
1360 | 7.38 | NO3- | Contaminant in halide window |
1270 | 7.9 | =SiO– | Silicone oil or grease |
1000–1110 | 9–10 | ≡Si–O–Si≡ | Glass; silicones |