Bonds can either undergo stretching vibrations or bending vibratinos.

Vibrations that cause a change in electric dipole moment lead to absorption of IR.
If the correct IR of particular energy interacts with molecule, the molecule absorbs it and
absorption band is the corresponding ‘bond’ that absorbs it.
Therefore, wavenumber depends on the type of bond vibration (stretch or bending), bond
enthalpy and mass of atoms.

More energy is required to stretch a bond than to vibrate it.

C-H stretching > C-H bending, C-H stretch has a higher wavenumber since energy
proportional to wavenumber.
The stronger the bond, the shorter the bond. More energy is thus required to vibrate the
short strong bond. Correspondingly stretching/vibration of C=C > C-C bond. (C=C has
greater wavenumber).

Bonds involving atoms with lower mass vibrate at a higher wavenumber. C-H higher
wavenumber than C-D bond.
C-H > C-D > C-O > C-Cl.
Intense absorption bands are normally due to vibrations of polar bonds as it leads to a large
change in dipole moment. O-H stretching vibration more intense than C-H stretching
vibration because C-H bonds are less polar. Therefore, more polar more intense.
Hydrogen bonding causes the O-H bond length to increase. However, broad O-H not
observed in gas phase or non-polar solvent and instead it shows a sharp band.
STEPS
1. Identify whether there is a O-H or N-H bond. This could mean: alcohol, carboxylic,
primary or secondary amine, or primary or secondary amide.
2. Check for the presence of C=O bond.
3. Check for C=C or C triple C.
4. Could look for presence of benzene ring at 1500 – 1600