Acetonitrile is a colourless liquid that is characterized by aromatic fruity odour. Acetonitrile is used as a polar aprotic solvent in organic synthesis and purification of butadiene. Let us learn the chemical properties of Acetonitrile.
Chemical Properties Of Acetonitrile
| Chemical formula | C2H3N or CH3CN |
| Molecular weight | 41.053 g/mol |
| Chemical names | Methyl cyanide, Cyanomethane, Ethanenitrile |
| Density | 0.786 g/cm3 |
| Boiling point | 81.3 to 82.1 °C |
| Melting point | −46 to −44 °C |
| Solubility in water | Miscible |
Acetonitrile Structural Formula
Acetonitrile is an aliphatic nitrile and a volatile organic compound. Acetonitrile is less dense than water and its vapour is dense than air (Vapor pressure = 9.71 kPa). The structural formula of Acetonitrile is as shown below in the diagram.
Pictorial representation
Structural formula
Applications Of Acetonitrile
- Because of a high dielectric constant and capable to dissolve electrolytes acetonitriles are mainly used in battery applications.
- It is used in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
- It is used as a solvent in the manufacturing of DNA oligonucleotides, in a pharmaceutical field and in photographic film.
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