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Acetonitrile

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Identification
Molecular formula
C2H3N
CAS number
75-05-8
IUPAC name
acetonitrile
State
State
Liquid at room temperature. Acetonitrile is a volatile and highly flammable liquid with excellent solvent properties, making it useful in a variety of chemical applications.
Melting point (Celsius)
-45.70
Melting point (Kelvin)
227.45
Boiling point (Celsius)
81.60
Boiling point (Kelvin)
354.75
General information
Molecular weight
41.05g/mol
Molar mass
41.0530g/mol
Density
0.7860g/cm3
Appearence

Acetonitrile is a clear, colorless liquid with a mild, ether-like odor. It is known for being highly volatile and miscible with water and most organic solvents. Due to its appearance and physical properties, it is often used as a solvent in laboratory and industrial applications.

Comment on solubility

Solubility of Acetonitrile (C2H3N)

Acetonitrile, a colorless liquid with a faint sweet odor, exhibits notable solubility characteristics that make it a valuable solvent in various chemical processes. Its solubility profile can be summarized as follows:

  • Highly Soluble in Water: Acetonitrile is miscible with water in all proportions, which allows it to effectively dissolve a wide range of polar and ionic substances.
  • Solvent for Organic Compounds: It dissolves many organic compounds, especially those that are polar or possesses functional groups that facilitate interaction with the acetonitrile molecule.
  • Limited Solubility for Non-Polar Compounds: While acetonitrile is a great solvent for many compounds, non-polar substances, such as hydrocarbons, typically have low solubility in this solvent.

In practical applications, acetonitrile's solubility traits allow it to be used effectively in:

  1. Extraction processes
  2. Reactions requiring polar solvents
  3. Chromatography, especially in analytical chemistry

In conclusion, the solubility of acetonitrile can be summarized by its strong affinity for water and its ability to solvate various organic compounds, while showing a distinct limitation regarding non-polar materials. This makes it a versatile and indispensable solvent in both laboratory and industrial settings.

Interesting facts

Interesting Facts About Acetonitrile

Acetonitrile, identified by its chemical formula, C2H3N, is a fascinating compound with a diverse range of applications and properties. Here are some key highlights:

  • Versatile Solvent: Acetonitrile is widely used as a solvent in various chemical reactions and processes due to its ability to dissolve a plethora of organic and inorganic substances.
  • Importance in the Laboratory: This compound is essential for laboratory work, especially in the purification of organic compounds and during chromatographic techniques.
  • Electrophilic Nitration: It can serve as an electrophile in chemical synthesis, allowing chemists to create complex molecules efficiently.
  • Biotechnology Applications: Acetonitrile is utilized in the synthesis of RNA and DNA, highlighting its significance in biochemistry and genetic research.
  • Toxicological Considerations: While acetonitrile is useful, it is essential to handle it with care as it can be harmful if inhaled or ingested in significant quantities. Safety precautions are crucial when working with this compound.

In the words of researchers, acetonitrile is often described as “a small but mighty compound” that plays a pivotal role across various fields, from organic chemistry to pharmaceuticals. Its unique properties and applications make it an invaluable resource for chemists and biochemists alike.

Additionally, the discovery of acetonitrile’s ability to act as a reagent has opened new avenues for synthetic chemistry, making it a compound worth exploring further for its rich potential in innovative applications. The study of acetonitrile not only helps us understand its properties but also encourages deeper research into related compounds that share similar characteristics.

Synonyms
ACETONITRILE
Cyanomethane
75-05-8
Methyl cyanide
Ethanenitrile
Ethyl nitrile
Methane, cyano-
Methanecarbonitrile
Acetonitril
Cyanure de methyl
Methylkyanid
MeCN
USAF EK-488
RCRA waste number U003
Methylkyanid [Czech]
NCI-C60822
148642-19-7
NCMe
Cyanure de methyl [French]
Acetonitril [German, Dutch]
HSDB 42
Acetonitrile, anhydrous
CCRIS 1628
CH3CN
NSC 7593
EINECS 200-835-2
UNII-Z072SB282N
Acetonitrile with 0.1% ammonium acetate
DTXSID7020009
CHEBI:38472
AI3-00327
Z072SB282N
NSC-7593
MFCD00001878
DTXCID909
UN1648
CH3-C#N
EC 200-835-2
ACETONITRILE WITH 0.1per cent AMMONIUM ACETATE
Acetonitrile-1-13C
ACETONITRILE (II)
ACETONITRILE [II]
Acetonitrile [UN1648] [Flammable liquid]
ACETONITRILE (MART.)
ACETONITRILE [MART.]
Acetonitril (GERMAN, DUTCH)
Acetonitrile, for DNA synthesis
acetnitrile
Ethanonitrile
Acetonitrile (anhydrous, 99.8%)
CCN
Acetonitrile, for HPLC, gradient grade, >=99.9%
RCRA waste no. U003
acetonitile
acetonitnle
acetonitriie
acteonitril
acteonitrile
actonitrile
methylcyanide
methylnitrile
ace-tonitrile
aceto-nitrile
acetonitrile-
Acetonitrile ACS
CC.equiv.N
Acetonitrile LC-MS
Acetonitrile HPLC grade
H3CCN
ACETONITRILE [MI]
Acetonitrile, LCMS grade
ACETONITRILE CLUSTER
bmse000826
bmse000896
ACETONITRILE [HSDB]
Acetonitrile, HPLC Reagent
WLN: NC1
Acetonitrile, >=99.5%
ACETONITRILE [USP-RS]
Acetonitrile, puriss., 95%
CHEMBL45211
METHYL CYANIDE (MECN)
Acetonitrile, for chromatography
Acetonitrile UV/HPLC ACS grade
Acetonitrile, analytical standard
Acetonitrile [for HPLC Solvent]
Acetonitrile for preparative HPLC
Acetonitrile, anhydrous, <30ppm
Acetonitrile, AR, >=99.5%
Acetonitrile, Environmental Grade
DTXSID20183561
NSC7593
Acetonitrile, anhydrous, 99.8%
Acetonitrile, >=99.5% (GC)
Acetonitrile, HPLC gradient Grade
STR02933
Acetonitrile [for Spectrophotometry]
Acetonitrile, far UV/gradient grade
Tox21_202481
Acetonitrile, HPLC Grade (Far UV)
Acetonitrile, p.a., dry, 99.9%
Acetonitrile, ReagentPlus(R), 99%
c1151
STL283937
Acetonitrile, Spectrophotometric Grade
Acetonitrile, >=99.8%, for HPLC
Acetonitrile, for HPLC, >=99.9%
AKOS000269067
InChI=1/C2H3N/c1-2-3/h1H
Acetonitrile, HPLC Plus, >=99.9%
NA 1648
UN 1648
Acetonitrile, >=99.5%, ACS reagent
Acetonitrile, ACS reagent, >=99.5%
Acetonitrile, AldraSORB(TM), 99.8%
Acetonitrile, purum, >=99.0% (GC)
CAS-75-05-8
ACETONITRILE (2-13C, 99%)
Acetonitrile (for HPLC) isocratic grade
Acetonitrile, HPLC grade, >=99.93%
NCGC00091552-01
NCGC00260030-01
Acetonitrile 1000 microg/mL in Methanol
Acetonitrile, purification grade, 99.8%
Ultrapure Acetonitrile, for DNA synthesis
Acetonitrile, biotech. grade, >=99.93%
Acetonitrile, p.a., ACS reagent, 99.8%
Acetonitrile, SAJ first grade, >=99.0%
A0060
A0293
A0793
Acetonitrile, JIS special grade, >=99.5%
NS00002918
Acetonitrile, anhydrous, ZerO2(TM), 99.8%
EN300-21632
Acetonitrile, for HPLC-GC, >=99.8% (GC)
Acetonitrile, for UHPLC, for mass spectrometry
Acetonitrile, Supergradient HPLC Grade (Far UV)
Acetonitrile, spectrophotometric grade, >=99.5%
Q408047
Acetonitrile, for HPLC, for UV, >=99.9% (GC)
Acetonitrile, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, 99.8%
Acetonitrile, for preparative HPLC, >=99.8% (GC)
Acetonitrile, for synthesis of DNA, >=99.9% (GC)
Acetonitrile with 0.1% Trifluoroacetic acid, LC-MS Grade
Acetonitrile, electronic grade, 99.999% trace metals basis
Acetonitrile, for HPLC, gradient grade, >=99.9% (GC)
Acetonitrile, for HPLC, gradient grade, >=99.90% (GC)
Acetonitrile, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, >=99.5% (GC)
Acetonitrile with 0.1% ammonium acetate, tested for UHPLC-MS
Acetonitrile, for protein sequence analysis, >=99.8% (GC)
Acetonitrile, Vetec(TM) reagent grade, anhydrous, >=99.8%
Acetonitrile, Preparateur, >=99.9% (GC), Customized plastic drum
Acetonitrile, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, reag. Ph. Eur., >=99.5% (GC)
Acetonitrile, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
Acetonitrile, Preparateur, >=99.9% (GC), One-time steel-plastic (SP) drum
Alcohol Determination - Acetonitrile, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
200-835-2
Acetonitrile for oligo synthesis (Water < 10 ppm) NC-0609 2.5L 4 GL45 thread 4 L US38 thread, emp Biotech GmbH
Acetonitrile for oligo synthesis (Water content < 20 ppm) 2.5L GL45 thread, 4L US38 thread emp Biotech GmbH, NC-0602
Residual Solvent - Acetonitrile, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
Residual Solvent Class 2 - Acetonitrile, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard