Acetyl chloride
Ethanoyl chloride, a reactive carboxylic-acid derivative.
- Formula
- C2H3ClO
- Functional group
- Acyl chlorides
- Molar mass
- 78.5 g/mol
- Also known as
- Ethanoyl chloride, Acetic chloride, Acetic acid chloride, Acetylchloride, Acetic acid, chloride, QD15RNO45K
Overview
Ethanoyl chloride, a reactive carboxylic-acid derivative.
The chlorine atom is bonded to the carbonyl carbon, making this an acyl chloride rather than a chloroalkane. Water converts it to ethanoic acid, while alcohols and ammonia can give esters and amides. These substitutions retain a carbonyl group and generate an HCl equivalent.
Identifiers
- Formula
- C2H3ClO
- Functional group
- Acyl chlorides
- Molar mass
- 78.5 g/mol
- Also known as
- Ethanoyl chloride, Acetic chloride, Acetic acid chloride, Acetylchloride, Acetic acid, chloride, QD15RNO45K
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- CC(=O)Cl
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C2H3ClO/c1-2(3)4/h1H3
- PubChem CID
- 6367
Properties
- Melting Point
- -112.7 °C
- Boiling Point
- 51 °C
- Density
- 1.1051g/cu cm at 20 °C
- Water solubility
- Solubility in water: reaction
Related compounds
- Acyl chlorides
Ethanoyl chloride, a reactive carboxylic-acid derivative.
Connected reactions
- Amide formation: Acetyl chloride → Acetamide
Ammonia attacks the carbonyl carbon and chloride leaves when the tetrahedral intermediate collapses. Deprotonation gives acetamide, while another ammonia equivalent neutralises the acid to form ammonium chloride.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary: Acetyl chloride (CID 6367)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 acid halidesJohn 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): Acetyl chloride — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6367#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. 95th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2014-2015, p. 3-6
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Acetyl chloride — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6367#section=Boiling-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. 95th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2014-2015, p. 3-6
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Acetyl chloride — densityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6367#section=Density. 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. 95th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2014-2015, p. 3-6
- ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs): Acetyl chloride — solubilityILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6367#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.