Advanced Organic Chemistry: Infrared spectrum of propanamide CH₃CH₂CONH₂

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Interpreting the infrared spectrum of propanamide (propionamide)

[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 propanamide [spectra page updated Mar 26th 2026 *]

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Infrared spectroscopy - spectra index

Introductory note on the infrared spectrum of propanamide

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

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

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

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

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

propanamide (propionamide), C₃H₇NO, , ,

The molecular structure and naming of carboxylic acids and derivatives
The classification, structure and naming of organic nitrogen compounds

Interpretation of the infrared spectrum of propanamide

The most prominent infrared absorption lines of propanamide

Characteristic N-H stretching vibration absorption bands at wavenumbers 3500 to 3300 cm^-1.

At ~wavenumbers 3500 to 3300 cm^-1 are 'twin peaks' for N-H bond stretching vibrations, these twin bands are characteristic of primary amines.

Amides have a highly polar bond (^δ-N-H^δ+) and the intermolecular forces are increased by permanent dipole - permanent dipole attractions including hydrogen bonding (N-H^δ+llll^δ-N-H) between the propanamide molecules.

The hydrogen bonding interferes with the N-H stretching vibrations often producing a broader absorption band.

There are actually to sources of hydrogen bonding interactions i.e.

(i) The –NH₂ group i.e. ^δ–N–H^δ llll^δ–:N–H^δ+ as well as the hydrogen bonding due to (ii) ^δ+C=O:^δ–llll^δ+H–N^δ– interactions

A very prominent C=O stretching vibration absorption at wavenumbers 1690 to 1650 cm^-1, characteristic of all molecules with a carbonyl group.

But, this is complicated by combined N-H deformation and C-N stretching vibrations absorbing at 1650 to 1590 cm^-1.

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

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Links associated with propanamide

The mass spectrum of propanamide (propionamide)

The H-1 NMR spectrum of propanamide (propionamide)

The C-13 NMR spectrum of propanamide (propionamide)

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