EPA has classified mixed xylenes as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity. In this experiment, we will identify functional group of xylene compound and plastic sample by using the infrared spectrometer. An infrared spectrophotometer is an analytical instrument used to identify materials including organic polymers. Infrared spectrophotometers record the relative amount of energy as a function of the wavelength/frequency of the infrared radiation when it passes through a sample. Therefore, chemical structures of different samples will reflect differences in the IR absorption spectrum allowing for identification of a sample. Unlike a dispersive spectrometer, an FTIR spectrometer or FTIR spectrophotometer is used to simultaneously obtain spectral data of a sample. It does this by using an interferometer to collect the interferogram, also known as the raw data/signal format, which can then be translated into the infrared spectrum of the sample by means of a fourier transform algorithm. As a result there are many advantages including greater signal-to-noise ratio, high resolution, higher throughput, and a short wavelength limit. FTIR spectrometers can be used in a variety of industries including environmental, pharmaceutical, and petrochemical.