Infrared spectroscopy worksheet
Spectra are reproduced courtesy of SDBSWeb, The Spectral Database for Organic
Compounds : https://sdbs.db.aist.go.jp
(National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan)
1. For each of the spectra below identify the key peaks (marked with an asterisk *) in the
spectrum and the bond to which each corresponds.
For an O-H bond state whether it belongs to an alcohol or a carboxylic acid.
a) ethanol (CH3CH2OH)
H H
H C C O H
H H
IR spectrum
Transmittance / %
* *
*
Wavenumber / cm-1
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
© Quality Resources 1
b) ethanoic acid
IR spectrum
Transmittance / %
Wavenumber / cm-1
Mark with asterisks * the peaks that identify this compound as a carboxylic acid.
List the key peaks below.
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
© Quality Resources 2
c) Ethyl ethanoate
H O
H C C O CH2 CH3
H
IR spectrum
Transmittance / %
*
Wavenumber / cm-1
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
© Quality Resources 3
2. The infrared spectra A and B belong to butanone and butan-2-ol. Draw structural
formulae for these two compounds and hence state which spectrum belongs to each
compound. Then identify the main peaks in each spectrum by completing the tables.
butanone butan-2-ol
A
Transmittance / %
Wavenumber / cm-1
Spectrum A belongs to ____________________________________
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
B
Transmittance / %
Wavenumber / cm-1
Spectrum B belongs to ____________________________________
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
© Quality Resources 4
3. For each of the spectra below
i) identify the key peaks in the spectrum and the bond to which each corresponds
ii) where indicated draw the displayed formula for the compound
3a) IR spectrum of a primary alcohol with molecular formula C3H8O
Transmittance / %
* *
Wavenumber / cm-1
NB: This alcohol is oxidised to compound 3b when heated with distillation with acidified
potassium dichromate and 3c when heated under reflux with acidified potassium
dichromate.
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
Displayed formula of 3a
© Quality Resources 5
3b) IR spectrum of the compound with molecular formula C3H6O obtained by distilling
compound 3a with acidified potassium dichromate
impurity
Transmittance / %
Wavenumber / cm-1
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
Displayed formula of 3b
Describe how the infrared spectrum changes when compound 3a is converted to compound 3b.
broad OH tropf changes
© Quality Resources 6
3c) IR spectrum of the compound with molecular formula C3H6O2 formed when compound
3b is heated to reflux with acidified potassium dichromate
Transmittance / %
*
*
Wavenumber / cm-1
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
Displayed formula of Compound 3c
Describe how the infrared spectrum changes when compound 3b is converted to compound 3c.
© Quality Resources 7
4. For each of the spectra below
i) identify the key peaks in the spectrum and the bond to which each corresponds
ii) where indicated draw the displayed formula for the compound
4a) IR spectrum of a secondary alcohol of formula C3H8O which forms the same product
4b whether it is heated under reflux or distilled with acidified potassium dichromate
Transmittance / %
Wavenumber / cm-1
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
Displayed formula of 4a
© Quality Resources 8
4b) IR spectrum of the product of the reaction of 4a with acidified potassium dichromate
when heated under reflux or distillation.
impurity *
Transmittance / %
*
Wavenumber / cm-1
Wavenumber / cm-1 Bond
Displayed formula of 4b
© Quality Resources 9
