Acetonitrile
A polar aprotic solvent whose nitrile group is also a reaction site.
- Formula
- C2H3N
- Functional group
- Nitriles
- Molar mass
- 41.05 g/mol
- Also known as
- Methyl cyanide, Cyanomethane, Ethanenitrile, Ethyl nitrile, Methane, cyano-, Methanecarbonitrile
Overview
A polar aprotic solvent whose nitrile group is also a reaction site.
The C≡N group differs from an alkyne despite the shared triple-bond notation. Hydrolysis can give ethanoic acid or ethanoate, while reduction gives ethylamine. Its solvent role does not make it chemically inert under every reaction condition.
Identifiers
- Formula
- C2H3N
- Functional group
- Nitriles
- Molar mass
- 41.05 g/mol
- Also known as
- Methyl cyanide, Cyanomethane, Ethanenitrile, Ethyl nitrile, Methane, cyano-, Methanecarbonitrile
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- CC#N
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C2H3N/c1-2-3/h1H3
- PubChem CID
- 6342
Properties
- Melting Point
- -44 °C
- Boiling Point
- 81.6 °C at 760 mm Hg
- Relative density (water = 1)
- Specific gravity: 0.78745 at 15 °C/4 °C
- Water solubility
- In water, >800 g/L at 25 °C
Related compounds
- Nitriles
A polar aprotic solvent whose nitrile group is also a reaction site.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary: Acetonitrile (CID 6342)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem
Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.
- OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Chemistry of nitrilesJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023
Supports the qualitative structure and reactivity context; identity and numerical measurements retain their original references.
- OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Characteristics of the SN2 reactionJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023
Supports the qualitative structural interpretation of the recorded molecular structure; no new physical measurement or verified preparative yield is claimed.
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Acetonitrile — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6342#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 94th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2013-2014, p. 3-6
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Acetonitrile — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6342#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 14
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Acetonitrile — densityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6342#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 14
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Acetonitrile — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6342#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Yalkowsky, S.H., He, Yan, Jain, P. Handbook of Aqueous Solubility Data Second Edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL 2010, p. 27