Table of Contents
What Is Acetonitrile?
Acetonitrile – Formula: Acetonitrile is a colorless, water-miscible, flammable liquid with a pungent odor. It is used as a solvent and in the manufacture of plastics, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals. Acetonitrile is a polar molecule and is soluble in water and other polar solvents. Therefore it is a weak acid and also a weak base.
Properties 0f Acetonitrile – C2H3N or CH3CN
Acetonitrile is a colorless liquid with a slightly pungent odor. It is miscible with water and most organic solvents. Acetonitrile is a weak base and a protic solvent. Therefore it is a good solvent for many organic compounds and is also used in the production of acrylonitrile, nitrile rubber, and adiponitrile.
Structure Of Acetonitrile – C2H3N or CH3CN
- The acetylide ion, C2H3-, is the conjugate acid of acetylene, HC≡CH. However it is a strong acid with a pKa of about −30.
- Acetonitrile is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid with a characteristic pungent odor. It is miscible with water and also most organic solvents.
- The molecule has a trigonal pyramidal geometry with the C-N bond pointing towards the apex. Therefore the C-H bonds are all in the plane of the paper and all sp3 hybridized.
Preparation Of Acetonitrile – C2H3N or CH3CN
- Acetonitrile is a colorless liquid with a slightly sweet odor. It is miscible with water and also most organic solvents.
- In industry, acetonitrile produced by the reaction of ammonia with chloroacetic acid:
- However the product is purified by distillation.
Uses Of Acetonitrile (C2H3N)
- Acetonitrile used as a solvent in various chemical reactions, as an extraction solvent for natural products, and as a denaturant for ethanol.
- Acetonitrile is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid. Therefore it used as a solvent and as a reagent in organic synthesis. Acetonitrile also used as an intermediate in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other chemicals.
