Knowledge
Acrylonitrile: A Deep Dive into an Essential Industrial Compound
Historical Development
People began working with acrylonitrile over 80 years ago, chasing better fibers and plastics. Carothers and his team at DuPont discovered polyacrylonitrile in the 1930s, which quickly caught attention because of its resilience. The postwar era saw its first big leap into commercial production, as chemical plants in the United States and Europe scaled up processes. Before the mid-century, plunger reactors and batch-wise technologies set the stage, but patent races eventually brought forth more continuous, catalytic methods. Chemists knew early that its double bond and nitrile group held promise for both industry and research, driving governments and companies to prioritize this molecule. Many innovations in synthetic rubber, acrylic fibers, and specialty plastics can trace their roots back to these first efforts. Early workers in this field faced raw chemistry and real safety risks, gradually learning ways to avoid runaway reactions and better ventilate workspaces.
Product Overview
Acrylonitrile flows as a colorless, volatile liquid, but packing a punch both chemically and in its applications. People know it for its role in making acrylic fibers, ABS plastic, and nitrile rubbers. Bottled or piped at industrial scale, producers ship it in drums or railcars to factories far beyond the point of origin. Raw acrylonitrile takes the form of a pungent, mobile liquid that, at room temperature, will evaporate and leave behind its tell-tale scent. Unlike commodity hydrocarbons, its nitrile group lends high chemical reactivity, making it valuable for further transformation. In daily life, objects as ordinary as water bottles, carpets, and car parts owe their durability in part to acrylonitrile-based polymers. It stands in the background of things we often overlook but rely on every day.
Physical & Chemical Properties
At 77 degrees Fahrenheit, acrylonitrile boils. With a molecular weight of roughly 53, it weighs less than water, yet feels slippery to the touch and mixes with many organic solvents. It’s polar, it’s flammable, and those vapors confer a risk—both fire and health hazards shadow every shipment and process unit. The molecule’s double bond attracts polymer chemists, while the cyano group gives opportunities for new carbon-nitrogen bonds. Straightforward formulas say C3H3N, but its real power emerges in reactions with other monomers, opening countless doors for specialty materials. The color and odor might not impress, but its sharp reactivity sets it apart, both as a target for environmental regulators and as a tool in the hands of chemical engineers.
Technical Specifications & Labeling
Buyers expect acrylonitrile of high purity, often 99 percent or better, with small limits on water, aldehydes, and metal impurities. Tank farms and drum labels bear hazard pictograms, reflecting not only the flammability, but the acute health risks from exposure. Manufacturers stamp containers with shippers’ names, batch numbers, UN codes, and warnings in clear block letters. Material Safety Data Sheets, and now Safety Data Sheets, run several pages long, describing threshold limits and emergency procedures in detail. Labs and plants use gas chromatography, FTIR, and other tools to check the purity from time to time, giving confidence that no sabotage or contamination disturbs the work. These details shape who can legally store and use the material—regulatory scrutiny hangs overhead at customs and in shipping lanes.
Preparation Method
The propylene ammoxidation route dominates today’s production. Propylene fans into reactors with ammonia and air, meeting bismuth-molybdenum catalysts. Yields reach above 80 percent in modern designs. Early days saw other methods, like dehydration of ethylene cyanohydrin, but those brought more waste and cost. Efficiency and safety shaped how researchers scaled these approaches—anyone working this process understands the blowout risks from heat and byproduct gases. The innovation wave in the 1960s and ‘70s squeezed extra yield by optimizing temperature, pressure, catalyst shape, and gas flow. Young engineers cut their teeth learning how fouling builds up on catalyst beds and troubleshooting leaks in high-pressure units. Plants today keep redundancy, alarms, and emergency shutdowns baked into each stage, with teams on call in case something jumps the rails. For smaller quantities, such as in academic labs, chemists will sometimes revisit old textbooks and carry out smaller-scale routes, but for industry, the propylene pathway rules.
Chemical Reactions & Modifications
Acrylonitrile’s backbone is a playground for chemists. It can chain together—polymerization, grafting, or copolymerization, all at room for new materials. ABS plastic, for instance, depends on a careful balance with styrene and butadiene. Hydrogenation reduces acrylonitrile to propionitrile or amine derivatives, and hydrolysis opens a door to acrylic acid or acrylamide. Nitrile hydrolysis or reduction transform the raw monomer for uses in dyes, drugs, and specialty polymers. The molecule also reacts with organometallics and stays at the center of new catalysis discoveries. Even after 80 years, researchers invent new ways to tweak and improve its value—turning byproducts or recycled streams into variants with bright futures. The practical side of these reactions drives everything from cost curves to waste reduction, shaping what chemistries survive in a competitive world. Every tweak in process brings a ripple effect through plant infrastructure, logistics, and safety policies.
Synonyms & Product Names
Chemists and buyers bump into a range of names—propenenitrile, vinyl cyanide, and cyanoethylene appear on old shipping manifests and product sheets. Big manufacturers sell acrylonitrile under a patchwork of trade names, each one jockeying for a slice of the market. Labs prefer IUPAC’s clear labeling, but sales teams dress up the same stuff with regional twists. Customs forms and safety checklists often use at least two of these synonyms to cut through confusion. The quick glance at a label in a warehouse or mixing station relies on simple, common names—nobody wants to guess in a risky spot. Accuracy saves lives, but it also cuts costs from regulatory headaches and misplaced orders. Older workers remember code names from early projects, but newer hires stick with standardized names to avoid mix-ups.
Safety & Operational Standards
It takes serious discipline to work with acrylonitrile. Burns and inhalation can hit hard and fast, so plants design handling systems to limit leaks and spills. Protective gear—gloves, eye protection, and full respirators—remain common in facilities. Regulations call for local exhaust ventilation and strict monitoring of air quality. Lock-out systems and regular training sessions reinforce habits meant to prevent accidents, with real consequences for ignoring protocols. Environmental regulators enforce emission rules, pressing companies to cut fugitive leaks as much as possible. Workers train for emergencies every few months, running through scenarios from small spills to full-scale releases. Many countries impose strict reporting for leaks or injuries involving acrylonitrile, and clean-up crews use specific absorbents and neutralization steps. Insurance underwriters pore over safety data, inspecting plants and penalizing poor risk controls. In my own experience, new employees must shadow veterans through a series of staged drills before taking independent shifts in these operations. Mistakes, even small ones, can come at high cost. Engineering controls, emergency showers, and eye wash stations dot every corridor. Production rates mean little if safety slips, because one incident can shut down whole supply chains and wreck careers.
Application Area
Acrylonitrile-built polymers define huge corners of daily life. Think clothing—acrylic fibers insulate and resist fading in sweaters and socks. Car dashboards and bumpers, sturdy at high and low temperatures, reflect the legacy of acrylonitrile in ABS plastics. Industrial hoses, gaskets, and seals owe flexibility and strength to nitrile rubber, itself produced with this key monomer. Consumer electronics often pack cases and connectors molded from SAN or ABS, tough enough for travel and long hours. Even packing foam and specialty adhesives feature acrylonitrile in the chain somewhere. Researchers keep finding new applications, especially as electronics, healthcare, and green energy evolve. For all its hazards, acrylonitrile’s ability to anchor strong, stable polymers ensures a steady market, with competition driving costs and innovation. If you ever use a water filter or touch a plastic suitcase, chemicals derived from this monomer likely lurk below the surface. Every sector—clothing, automotive, healthcare—leans on the durability and processability that come from acrylonitrile-derived materials. It lets designers stretch what’s possible in form and function, from lightweight aircraft parts to scratch-resistant phone cases.
Research & Development
Labs and pilot plants worldwide keep pushing acrylonitrile chemistry. Focus areas target improved catalysts to boost efficiency and cut waste, using less hazardous feedstocks and exploring new reaction conditions. Green chemistry goals push teams to minimize byproducts and lower energy use. Polymeric research stretches to find stronger, lighter, and more recyclable materials. Governments fund projects to reprocess old polymers or recover acrylonitrile from waste streams, seeing both environmental and economic payback. Academia and industry both look into biobased alternatives or hybrid production schemes, hoping to reduce fossil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the long run. Nanotechnology and surface science bring new twists, as researchers graft acrylonitrile segments onto exotic scaffolds for membranes or smart coatings. In my own experience, innovation rarely follows a straight path—failures lead to small wins that eventually overhaul how everyone approaches the chemistry. Newer analytical techniques, such as real-time spectroscopies and advanced modeling, allow researchers to see reaction pathways and optimize in ways they only guessed at before.
Toxicity Research
Toxicologists take acrylonitrile seriously. Acute exposure attacks the central nervous system, bringing headaches, nausea, or much worse if not contained fast. Chronic exposure links to cancer and birth defects, confirmed in animal models and flagged by agencies like the EPA and OSHA. From my time in industry, I recall drills simulating acrylonitrile leaks—nobody wanted to cut corners. Risk studies go beyond simple exposure limits, probing genetic damage, metabolic breakdown, and long-term organ effects. Many countries force routine monitoring of plant air and worker health, requiring companies to log symptoms and enforce job rotation to minimize risk. Disposal carries its own risks, so incinerators and wastewater treatments use specialized techniques to break down molecular residues. Lawsuits and regulatory pressure drive companies to invest in better containment and personal protective equipment, as any slip can bring steep fines and lasting health consequences for workers and their families. Medical researchers also keep watch on links between acrylonitrile and emerging health concerns, publishing new findings every year to help guide factory protocols and community awareness.
Future Prospects
Acrylonitrile will remain an anchor in global manufacturing. Shifts toward sustainable materials prompt research into greener synthesis and recycling. Some teams explore biobased feedstocks instead of fossil fuels, while others rework catalyst systems to cut greenhouse gas emissions. As demand for electric vehicles and lightweight composites grows, producers see new markets for acrylonitrile-derived polymers. Circular economy models push for recovery and reuse of both monomer and polymer, turning waste into resource. Environmental mandates and stricter safety codes keep profit margins thin, driving every player to innovate. In my own view, technical skills, regulatory awareness, and a willingness to adapt remain the keys—companies that cut corners risk more than just fines. With digitalization and new data tools, real-time monitoring gets easier, letting managers spot trouble and avoid costly mistakes. Societies looking for durable, affordable, and adaptable materials return again and again to chemistries built on this classic but ever-adapting monomer.
Everyday Goods Start Here
Walk through your home or garage. Odds are, you’ll spot something as simple as a sports bottle, a luggage shell, or a shiny new car bumper. There’s a good chance all of those started with acrylonitrile. Built into its name, “nitrile” hints at that oily, sharp-smelling building block of modern plastics. Chemically, it’s a clear liquid, but in real life, it’s the gateway to products that pack strength, flexibility, and weather resistance.
The Backbone of ABS Plastics
Almost every piece of tough plastic you touch—laptop casings, TV bodies, power tools—uses acrylonitrile to boost its strength. Acrylonitrile teams up with butadiene and styrene to form ABS plastic. This trio locks in a balance of hard-wearing rigidity and resilience. Car dashboards and helmets land smack in the center of that sweet spot. Ask makers why they lean hard on ABS, and the answer is simple: it stays tough in the cold, shrugs off small impacts, and keeps looking new for years.
Nylon’s Unseen Power
Most folks don’t see the start of their carpet, clothing, or even the belt under a car hood. Acrylonitrile lays the foundation for acrylic and nitrile rubbers—stretchy, oil-resistant, and built to last. Car tires, seals, hoses, and countless cables rely on this. The world’s braces and gears hum along thanks to acrylonitrile’s knack for handling friction and heat without falling apart. Strangely enough, clear acrylic sheets—like storefront windows and sneeze guards—trace their roots to the same source.
Safety and Health Concerns
Few outside the business ever set eyes or noses on raw acrylonitrile. That’s lucky, since breathing it in or getting it on skin can trigger dizziness, headaches, or worse. In factories, workers suit up with gloves, masks, and special filters. One rule from experience: better ventilation and strong local rules always matter. Over the years, watchdogs noticed the risks. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies acrylonitrile as a possible carcinogen. Countries like Germany and the U.S. police exposure with firm limits. Regular air monitoring, medical checkups, and training all come down to remembering that what you don’t see can still harm you.
Building a Greener Future
Big names in the business world aren’t sitting still on the old way of making acrylonitrile. Most still use oil. New efforts aim to shift toward bio-based sources. Labs have started turning plants like sugarcane and wheat into acrylonitrile, cutting down on oil use and pollution. It’s not easy, and switching over takes time and investment. Some Japanese firms already make small batches this way, but scaling up means finding ways to outcompete old petrochemical routes.
Smart Choices Matter
Plastic waste piles up fast, and acrylonitrile-based products are slow to break down. Recycling grows more important every year. ABS and acrylic recycling rates still lag behind those for bottles and cans. Pushing for better collection and sorting, and keeping high standards for worker safety, helps make acrylonitrile living up to modern standards. More repairs, smarter recycling bins, and investing in cleaner chemistry give this old plastic ingredient a future worth building on.
Recognizing the Risks
Acrylonitrile plays a huge role in making plastics, rubbers, and synthetic fibers. It’s an everyday hero for manufacturers, but not something you treat lightly. This liquid’s got a sharp, sweet odor and evaporates faster than you’d expect. Just one whiff over time can start working against your health. Long-term exposure links to headaches, weakness, nausea, and a bigger risk for certain cancers, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Quick spills can burn your skin or eyes, and inhaling vapors for even a short time impacts your nervous system.
Personal Experience: No Shortcuts with Gear
My time in the chemical industry taught me to respect acrylonitrile’s unpredictability. One afternoon, a distracted coworker donned thin, off-brand gloves and, in less than five minutes, suffered redness and itching. Proper gear would have kept him safe. The lesson stuck. Always suit up with nitrile (not latex) gloves, chemical goggles, and flame-resistant suits if there’s a risk of splashing. A fitted respirator, not a dust mask, stands between your lungs and toxic vapors. OSHA sets the legal exposure limit at just 2 parts per million—anything higher goes beyond what’s safe.
Workplace Engineering Saves Lives
No one wants to breathe chemical fumes all day. A well-designed workplace pulls acrylonitrile vapors away using explosion-proof exhaust hoods. Ventilation systems do the heavy lifting. Keep drums and containers cold, tightly sealed, and far from sparks or open flames. Acrylonitrile catches fire easily and reacts with acids, strong oxidizers, and bases. In my old shop, regular checks on hoses and valves caught a leaky seal before it started a fire.
Clear Habits and Training
Effective safety training helps teams spot hazards before trouble hits. Every new worker should know how to read Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and label containers correctly. Storing acrylonitrile beside incompatible chemicals leads to dangerous surprises. A few years back, a local facility learned this lesson after a mix-up led to fumes filling a storage room. Quick evacuation and biohazard gear saved the day, but costs and trust took a hit.
Emergency Response: Practiced, Not Improvised
I’ve seen drills save real lives. Fast action starts with eye wash stations and showers right near workspaces. Have fire extinguishers—rated for Class B and C fires—closer than you think you’ll need them. Spill kits that actually fit the chemical threat, not just the cheapest bins, are the rule. Team members need regular drills to practice sealing off a spill, alerting the area, and switching to breathing tanks if fumes spread.
Building a Culture of Accountability
Handling acrylonitrile safely comes down to more than rules and equipment. People look out for each other. One person’s shortcut risks everyone’s safety. Reporting close calls, not just accidents, gives you a chance to fix problems early. Setting up honest, open feedback means no one hides a mistake out of fear. The difference between an incident-free shift and a visit to the emergency room? Eyes wide open, habits set, and a team that knows what’s at stake every day.
Getting to Know Acrylonitrile
People rarely pause to think about acrylonitrile, but it’s one of those invisible workhorses behind fibers, plastics, and countless coatings. If you’ve worn a warm, fluffy sweater or driven a car with sturdy plastic panels, acrylonitrile probably helped make it all possible. You don’t need to be a chemist to recognize that the qualities of a chemical determine how safe, useful, and long-lasting a final product turns out.
Physical Properties You Can See and Smell
Acrylonitrile, at room temperature, comes as a colorless and volatile liquid. This stuff evaporates fast. Anyone who’s worked in a laboratory knows that acrylonitrile’s sharp, pungent odor gives it away long before you spot the container. The boiling point falls just short of 78°C – not far from water but enough to demand careful handling to prevent inhalation. The density, about 0.8 g/mL, keeps it a touch lighter than water, so spills won’t sink or settle, but spread fast across flat surfaces. Eye and respiratory irritation show up quickly even at low air concentrations, so proper ventilation in storage and handling becomes a must.
The liquid form looks harmless, but acrylonitrile can catch fire pretty easily. Its flash point hovers at about −1°C. I once saw an old laboratory stock ignite from a static spark after opening a container on a cold morning. The combustion products, including hydrogen cyanide, put you at risk for serious harm if ventilation and fire controls aren’t set up right. It’s a good reminder that lab safety isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about respecting substances known to bite back.
Chemical Behavior: Why Safety Protocols Matter
Besides physical quirks, acrylonitrile stands out for how reactive it can be. That CN group on the molecule’s end drives plenty of its chemistry. It dissolves in water up to about 7 grams per 100 milliliters, but it does a whole lot better in organic solvents. In the real world, this makes acrylonitrile compatible with industrial polymerization: it readily forms polyacrylonitrile, the backbone of strong, lightweight fibers. These fibers wind up in carpets, textiles, and tough plastics. Acrylonitrile’s double bond puts it among the usual suspects in addition reactions. It joins up fast with other small molecules — a property exploited in many manufacturing settings.
One thing that keeps coming up in chemical safety training: acrylonitrile’s toxicity. Inhalation or skin contact can trigger headache, nausea, and in larger exposures, worse. It gets absorbed into bloodstream quickly, which points to why storage containers need clear labeling and why you can’t cut corners on personal protective equipment (PPE). Years ago, I worked on a team tracking chemical exposure in plastic manufacturing. Tighter controls — gloves, closed transfer systems, continuous air monitoring — cut down the risks dramatically. It’s not just good practice, but essential for workplace health.
Solutions and Safer Handling
Engineered controls carry the most weight in reducing mishaps with acrylonitrile. Fume hoods, explosion-proof equipment, and leak detection alarms cut up-front risk. For transportation and storage, limiting storage temperature and quantity reduces odds of a major release. The chemistry can’t be changed, but work habits and procedures can. As more industries commit to responsible stewardship and clear reporting, workers and communities benefit, too. Understanding acrylonitrile’s core traits helps set real standards for safe use and points the way to greener chemistry options down the line.
People’s Lives Depend on It
Acrylonitrile isn’t the kind of chemical you take chances with. It’s clear, sharp-smelling, and common in everything from plastics to synthetic fibers. Yet, behind the scenes, keeping it from causing harm puts everyone involved to the test—from plant workers to transport drivers to the communities living down the road from storage sites. Experience around shipping and chemicals teaches a basic truth: cutting corners invites disaster.
Understanding Real Risks
Health worries show up every time acrylonitrile is mentioned. Exposure can lead to headaches, dizziness, or much worse, as the compound messes with the nervous system if fumes are breathed in—even briefly. Its flammability means any leak, spark, or uncontrolled heat can kick off fires that get out of control fast. Back in 1979, a train derailment in Mississauga, Canada, forced the largest evacuation in North American history because acrylonitrile caught fire and threatened the entire area. That sums up what’s at stake.
Steel Drums, Pressurized Tanks, and The Smallest Details
Acrylonitrile belongs in airtight tanks made from stainless steel or coated carbon steel. Rusty, damaged, or poorly maintained containers spell trouble—corrosion and leaks follow close behind. Flammable vapor can fill an area if even a small crack forms. Proper seals, gaskets, and regular inspections matter. Heat sources never belong near such storage. In my time at manufacturing plants, we would double-check pipes by touch in summer months—one hot patch warned us something might turn dangerous quickly.
Not everyone realizes that even static electricity can spark a fire where acrylonitrile is stored. That’s why grounding and bonding every container has saved lives. Chemical companies put in effort to monitor temperatures, vent gases if necessary, and always keep the tanks away from direct sunlight or warehouse heaters.
Transport: It’s About Preparation and Communication
Moving acrylonitrile safely means sticking to strict rules. Rail cars and road tankers with pressure relief devices, double valves, and tough lining become the norm. These aren’t just red tape, but things that separate a safe delivery from an environmental mess. Drivers carry proper documents, and most companies make sure routes avoid crowded city centers. Local fire departments even get advance notice. Anyone who’s helped respond to truck rollovers knows that early warning can change everything.
Practices need updating too. After a few close calls at rural crossings, my old team set up satellite tracking and two-way radios so no one moved a load without the dispatcher’s nod. Later, seeing government agencies push for better training and public information made a real difference; not only did incidents drop, but neighbors felt safer knowing what rolled through their community.
No Room for Missteps
The science stays crystal clear: acrylonitrile can’t be stored or moved like an ordinary liquid. Precautions demand respect at every level. Training, routine inspections, quality equipment, and planning for the worst—these keep people, property, and the air above us safe. Mistakes might cost more than money; they risk health, reputations, and trust. Even small steps, like updating old tanks or sharing emergency plans, show a company cares about the world beyond its gates.
Acrylonitrile in Everyday Life
Walk through any home or garage and acrylonitrile pops up in more places than most folks expect. This chemical helps build things like plastics, synthetic rubber, and even some fabrics. Plenty of office chairs, auto parts, and food containers rely on it. That kind of reach means acrylonitrile isn’t just an industrial word; it’s a reality of daily living.
Health Risks: Breathing, Touching, Drinking
Acrylonitrile gets into the body most often through air, especially near factories and busy highways. Breathing in even tiny amounts for long stretches leads to headaches, weakness, dizziness, and sometimes even shortness of breath. Skin that comes into regular contact with acrylonitrile can get irritated or break out in rashes.
Doctors, researchers, and groups like the EPA often link acrylonitrile exposure to more serious long-term problems. Studies in past decades uncovered patterns that connect long-term inhalation with higher risks of certain kinds of cancers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists acrylonitrile as a possible carcinogen. There’s evidence linking it to lung and colon cancer, especially in people who work around the stuff day in, day out. Since acrylonitrile travels through water supplies if leaks happen, drinking water can become contaminated. Kids in communities near chemical plants often face greater risks. Their bodies rarely flush out toxins as fast, leaving their brains and organs vulnerable.
Impact on the Environment
Once acrylonitrile escapes into the air, it doesn’t stick around for long, but it doesn’t vanish without a trace. Chemicals in the air break it down, leaving behind smaller compounds, some of which create new pollution headaches. One of the main byproducts, hydrogen cyanide, carries heavy risks of its own.
Rivers and soil near factories or waste disposal sites pick up the slack. Acrylonitrile moves through dirt easily, and once it hits water, it spreads fast. Fish and small animals pay the price, since the chemical can kill off insects and aquatic life with only a little exposure. This upsets the food chain, leaving birds and larger predators scrambling for a meal. Researchers have pointed out dead zones in streams near contaminated sites. Even years after a cleanup, wildlife setbacks persist. Neighbors often complain about smells and dead vegetation—clear reminders that the land still remembers.
Taking Steps Toward Safer Living
Addressing the risks starts at the source: better equipment, stronger safety rules, and strict limits on how much acrylonitrile a factory releases. Workers need steady training, solid gloves, masks, and gear. Monitoring air and water near production sites should run year-round, with local authorities sharing results and acting fast if levels start to climb. Homeowners near factories benefit from knowing what signs to look for and who to call in emergencies.
Heading off trouble on the health side means investing in medical checkups for workers and neighbors most likely to run into acrylonitrile. Modern filtration systems for water supplies prove vital around chemical plants. Health agencies tracking cancer and breathing problems in these communities can spot patterns faster and push for changes before problems spread.
A shift to safer materials, where possible, makes a real dent. Companies once used acrylonitrile for things that now have safer alternatives, but change comes slowly and only with pressure from consumers and regulators. Community voices get stronger with decisive, science-backed information in their corner. Speaking up, reading labels, pressing lawmakers, and choosing safer products keep the issue in the open. Everyone—from factory owners to everyday folks—plays a part in making sure acrylonitrile’s story doesn’t become a bigger crisis down the line.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | propenenitrile |
| Other names |
Vinyl cyanide
Propenenitrile Cyanoethylene 2-Propenenitrile |
| Pronunciation | /əˌkraɪ.loʊˈnaɪ.trəl/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 107-13-1 |
| Beilstein Reference | System: 4-03-00-00240 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:28683 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL95194 |
| ChemSpider | 5269 |
| DrugBank | DB02508 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.007.231 |
| EC Number | 200-835-2 |
| Gmelin Reference | Gmelin Reference: **792** |
| KEGG | C01416 |
| MeSH | D001198 |
| PubChem CID | 7855 |
| RTECS number | AT0700000 |
| UNII | 19GC1VG2CO |
| UN number | 1093 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C3H3N |
| Molar mass | 53.06 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless transparent liquid with a slight characteristic odor |
| Odor | Faintly aromatic |
| Density | 0.806 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | 7.45 g/100 mL (25 °C) |
| log P | 0.25 |
| Vapor pressure | 10.1 kPa (20 °C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 25.0 |
| Basicity (pKb) | pKb = 13.5 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | '-9.6×10⁻⁶ cgs' |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.3840 |
| Viscosity | 0.32 mPa·s |
| Dipole moment | 3.85 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | S⦵298 = 219.95 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | ΔfH⦵298 = 70.9 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | –1833 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | V09AX04 |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS06, GHS07, GHS08 |
| Pictograms | GHS02,GHS07,GHS08 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H225, H301, H311, H331, H319, H335, H351, H400 |
| Precautionary statements | P210, P261, P273, P280, P301+P310, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P308+P313, P337+P313, P370+P378, P403+P235, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 3-4-2-F |
| Flash point | 2 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | 481 °C (898 °F) |
| Explosive limits | 3% - 17% |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 oral rat 78 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): 78 mg/kg (oral, rat) |
| NIOSH | 100 ppm |
| PEL (Permissible) | 2 ppm |
| REL (Recommended) | 2 ppm |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | IDLH 85 ppm |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Acrylic acid
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Adiponitrile Ethyl acrylate Methacrylonitrile Polyacrylonitrile |
