Advanced pre-university organic chemistry: Infrared spectrum of butanone (2-butanone) CH3CH2COCH3

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Interpreting the infrared absorption spectrum of butanone (butan-2-one)

[Author © Dr Phil Brown PhD: Doc Brown's advanced level organic chemistry exam revision notes suitable for students of UK A level chemistry courses, IB chemistry & US K12 grade 11, grade 12 and AP honors chemistry courses: Molecular spectroscopy analysis of butanone [updated Mar 20th 2026 *] [privacy policy, cookies & disclaimer]

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 Links associated with butanone

 Infrared spectroscopy - spectra index

See also the Isomers of molecular formula C4H8O (Mr = 72)

Introductory note on the infrared spectrum of butanone

Students and teachers please note my explanation of the infrared spectrum of butanone is designed for advanced, but pre-university, chemistry courses.

Based in the infrared spectrum diagram for butanone, only some of the most prominent peaks for particular bond vibrations are discussed, particularly if butanone has a functional group with a particular characteristic wavenumber peak.

The infrared spectrum of butanone is unique and the whole, or selected wavenumbers, can be used to fingerprint its identity, sometimes analysing a mixture containing butanone or following its change of concentration in a reaction.

infrared spectrum of butanone wavenumbers cm-1 functional group detection fingerprint pattern identification of  2-butanone butan-2-onean-2-one doc brown's advanced organic chemistry revision notes 

Spectra obtained from a liquid film of butanone. The right-hand part of the of the infrared spectrum of butanone, wavenumbers ~1500 to 400 cm-1 is considered the fingerprint region for the identification of butanone and most organic compounds. It is due to a unique set of complex overlapping vibrations of the atoms of the molecule of butanone.

Butanone C4H8O,  aldehydes and ketones nomenclature (c) doc b , aldehydes and ketones nomenclature (c) doc b , aldehydes and ketones nomenclature (c) doc b , aldehydes and ketones nomenclature (c) doc b ketone

The molecular structure and naming of aldehydes and ketones

Interpretation of the infrared spectrum of butanone

The most prominent infrared absorption lines of butanone

The strongest and most characteristic absorption band of butanone is at wavenumbers ~1700 to 1725 cm-1 for the stretching vibrations of the carbonyl group bond C=O.

There are multiple C-H absorptions at wavenumbers ~1215 to 1435 cm-1 and ~3000 cm-1, but non particularly characteristic of ketones.

The absence of other specific functional group bands will show that a particular functional group is absent from the butanone molecular structure.

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Links associated with butanone

The mass spectrum of butanone

The H-1 NMR spectrum of butanal (butyraldehyde)

The C-13 NMR spectrum of butanal (butyraldehyde)

The chemistry of ALDEHYDES and KETONES revision notes INDEX

Infrared spectroscopy index

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