Acetonitrile



Acetonitrile
IUPAC name Ethanenitrile
Other names Methyl cyanide; cyanomethane
Identifiers
CAS number 75-05-8
RTECS number AL7700000
SMILES CC#N
InChI InChI=1/C2H3N/c1-2-3/h1H3
Properties
Molecular formula CH3CN
Molar mass 41.05 g/mol
Appearance colorless liquid
Density 0.786 g/mL liquid
Melting point

-45 °C

Boiling point

82 °C

Solubility in water miscible
Solubility organic solvents
Acidity (pKa) 25
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
EU classification Flammable, harmful
NFPA 704
3
2
0
 
R-phrases R11, R20/21/22, R36
S-phrases S36/37
Flash point 2 °C
Related Compounds
Related nitriles propionitrile, butyronitrile
Related compounds ethylamine
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties 		εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data 		Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data MS
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Acetonitrile is the solvent.

Industrial applications

Acetonitrile is used as a solvent but also as an intermediate in the production of many chemicals ranging from Sterling Chemicals. In 1992, 32.3 million pounds (14,700 t) of acetonitrile were produced in the United States of America.[citation needed]

Laboratory uses

Acetonitrile is commonly the solvent of choice for testing an unknown chemical reaction. It is polar with a convenient liquid range. It dissolves a wide range of compounds without complications due to the fact that it contains no acidic protons. Acetone has similar properties but is more acidic and more reactive toward bases and nucleophiles.

In inorganic chemistry, acetonitrile is widely employed as a displaceable palladium chloride in acetonitrile.

It is a popular solvent in high performance liquid chromatography where it serves as a mobile phase in the separation of molecules.

Safety

Acetonitrile is toxic and flammable. It is thiocyanate.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ DiBiase, S. A.; Beadle, J. R.; Gokel, G. W.. "Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated Nitriles from Acetonitrile: Cyclohexylideneacetonitrile and Cinnamonitrile". Org. Synth.; Coll. Vol. 7: 108. 
 
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