Open In App

Acetonitrile Formula – Structure, Properties, Uses, Sample Questions

Improve
Improve
Like Article
Like
Save
Share
Report

Acetonitrile is a kind of organic molecule. It’s the most basic organic nitrile. It is primarily produced as a byproduct of the acrylonitrile manufacturing process. It’s also used as a polar aprotic solvent in chemical synthesis and butadiene purification. Acetonitrile is a colorless, flammable, water-miscible liquid with a strong odor. It’s a solvent that’s also used to make plastics, medicines, and other substances. Acetonitrile is a polar chemical that dissolves in water as well as other polar solvents. It’s both an acid and a base that’s weak. 

Acetonitrile 

It is a volatile organic molecule with the formula C2H3N or CH3CN. Cyanomethane or Methane Carbonitrile are other names for Acetonitrile. Acetonitrile is its IUPAC name. It’s a nitrile, which is hydrogen cyanide with a methyl group (-CH3). in place of the hydrogen (H). In terms of functional group, acetonitrile is classed as nitrile. A nitrile is a carbon atom with a triple connection to a nitrogen atom, according to organic chemistry.  Acetonitrile is the simplest organic nitrile with a triple link between carbon and nitrogen. 

Structure of Acetonitrile 

 Acetonitrile

Occurrence of Acetonitrile 

It’s a byproduct of the acrylonitrile production process. It’s an acetic acid derivative that normally appears in an aqueous solution. It’s also used as a byproduct in the extraction process, chromatography, and other methods for obtaining acrylonitrile from propylene ammoxidation or waste streams.  Other chemicals such as benzene, alcohol, and methanol can also be found.

Preparation of Acetonitrile 

It is produced as a byproduct of the acrylonitrile production process. It can also be made by hydrogenating carbon monoxide mixtures or dehydrating acetamide and ammonia.

With the invention, a technique for producing high purity Acetonitrile from acetic acid and ammonia was revealed, which consists of two steps,

  1. Neutralizing acetic acid and ammonia to generate ammonium acetate, 
  2. Mixing an aqueous solution of ammonium acetate and gaseous ammonia, preheating and putting the mixture into a fixed bed reactor filled with a catalyst aluminum oxide for reaction to generate acetonitrile with mixed gas, and after continuously refining the gas we got pure Acetonitrile. 

Physical properties of Acetonitrile 

  • It has the appearance of a colorless, transparent liquid with a pleasant aroma. 
  • It’s a low-density base with a density of 0.783 g/cm3.  
  • The melting point is -46 to -44 degrees Celsius, while the boiling temperature is 81.3 to 82.1°Celsius. 
  • In water, it is miscible. 

Chemical properties of Acetonitrile 

It’s a nitrile (hydrogen cyanide) in which the hydrogen is replaced with a methyl group.  It’s also a polar molecule, which implies that its atoms may attract electrons to themselves. In addition, the nitrogen atom has a higher electronegative charge than the carbon atom. 

Uses of Acetonitrile 

  • Acetonitrile is a solvent used in the hydrocarbon extraction process.
  • It is applied in the extraction of fatty acids from vegetable oils.
  • Perfumes are manufactured using it.
  • It’s a common ingredient in the manufacture of synthetic medications.
  • It’s utilized in the rubber-making process.
  • It is utilized in copper refining as well as extraction.
  • It is also utilized as a solvent In electrochemical cells.

Sample Questions 

Question 1: What makes acetonitrile such a useful solvent?

Answer: 

In terms of solvability, acetonitrile is a highly polar solvent that is equivalent to alcohols. It, like alcohols, is a powerful receiver of hydrogen bonds rather than a donor of hydrogen bonds. Acetonitrile nitrogen is slightly basic, although it may be quite nucleophilic in this regard, similar to pyridine. 

Question 2: What should you do if you come into contact with acetonitrile?

Answer: 

The exposures and stages we must pick are as follows:

  1. If acetonitrile comes into contact with the eyes, immediately flush them with a significant amount of water and repeat the process for several minutes, elevating the upper and lower lids intermittently. If at all feasible, remove your contact lenses.
  2. If skin contact with Acetonitrile occurs, it should be cleansed with soap and a large amount of water promptly and thoroughly rinsed. If you have come into touch with infected clothing, throw it away. Cut the garment off if necessary, but don’t pull it over your head. Leave it in a double bag closed container until it can be decontaminated or properly disposed of. 

Question 3: Is acetonitrile more polar than methanol in terms of polarity?

Answer: 

Acetonitrile weakens the hydrogen bonds better than methanol. Methanol is a polar-protic solvent, but acetonitrile is a polar aprotic solvent with a higher dipole moment. 

Question 4: Is acetonitrile an effective base?

Answer: 

Acetonitrile, a common solvent in organic synthesis, can be hydrolyzed in the presence of a strong aqueous base, such as NaOH or KOH, leading to a runaway reaction. 

Question 5: Is there a difference between acetone and acetonitrile?

Answer: 

Acetonitrile and acetone are both organic compounds having a variety of chemical structures and physical and chemical characteristics. The fundamental difference between acetonitrile and acetone is that acetonitrile is a nitrile molecule, whereas acetone is a ketone. 

Question 6: Is it true that acetonitrile dissolves in water?

Answer: 

Heat, sparks, or flames may easily ignite acetonitrile, which produces very hazardous hydrogen cyanide gases when heated. It is easily dissolved in water. When it reacts with water, steam, or acids, it produces flammable vapours that, when exposed to air, can generate explosive combinations. 

Question 7: Is acetonitrile a stable substance?

Answer: 

Under normal conditions, acetonitrile is stable. Acids, bases, nitrating agents, nitrogen-fluorine compounds, oxidizers, perchlorates, and sulfites are all incompatible with it. Acetonitrile fires can produce poisonous gases as hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. 


Last Updated : 20 Dec, 2023
Like Article
Save Article
Previous
Next
Share your thoughts in the comments
Similar Reads