OH or NH function?
Peaks above 3100 cm-1 correspond to OH or NH stretching modes. They are large in the presence of hydrogen bonds:
νO-H = 3350 ± 50 cm-1
νN-H = 3320 – 3280 cm-1 (for an alkyl)
νN-H = 3400 cm-1 (for an aromatic)
νN-H = 3320 – 3280 cm-1 (for an alkyl)
νN-H = 3400 cm-1 (for an aromatic)
To confirm the presence of a NH or OH function, their stretching mode must be correlated to bending vibrations.
O-H bending modes:
δO-H in plan ~ 1350 cm-1
δO-H out of plan ~ 650 cm-1 (small and thick)
N-H bending modes:
δN-H out of plan ~ 750 - 700 cm-1 (small, thick)
Besides deviations, the presence of an OH function can be confirmed by the expected vibrations of the adjacent functions, and the type of alcohol can also be identified.
C-O stretchings: