Advanced Organic Chemistry: Infrared spectrum of ethanal  CH3CHO

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Interpreting the infrared spectrum of ethanal (acetaldehyde)

[Author © Dr Phil Brown PhD: Doc Brown's advanced level organic chemistry exam revision notes suitable for students of UK A level chemistry courses & US K12 grade 11, grade 12 and AP honors chemistry courses: Molecular spectroscopy analysis of ethanal [spectra page updated Mar 23rd 2026 *]

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Introductory note on the infrared spectrum of ethanal

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

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

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

infrared spectrum of ethanal wavenumbers cm-1 functional group detection fingerprint pattern identification of acetaldehyde doc brown's advanced organic chemistry revision notes 

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

Ethanal (acetaldehyde), C2H4O, 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 an aliphatic aldehyde

The molecular structure and naming of aldehydes and ketones

Interpretation of the infrared spectrum of ethanal

The most prominent infrared absorption lines of butanal

Stretching vibrations of the C-H bond of the aldehyde group (CHO) occur at 2880 to 2650 cm-1.

There is a very prominent C=O stretching vibration absorption at 1740 to 1720 cm-1, characteristic of all molecules with a carbonyl group e.g. aldehydes like ethanal.

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


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Links associated with ethanal

The mass spectrum of ethanal (acetaldehyde)

The H-1 NMR spectrum of ethanal (acetaldehyde)

The C-13 NMR spectrum of ethanal (acetaldehyde)

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