Acrylonitrile

Overview

Propenenitrile

One of the three monomers used to make ABS.

The vinyl double bond participates in chain growth, while the nitrile group remains a side group. In ABS it contributes to the styrene–acrylonitrile phase; it is not a finished-product ingredient used directly by consumers. Industrial ammoxidation connects it to propene, ammonia and oxygen; forming the nitrile monomer precedes the later addition and graft polymerisation.

Identifiers

Formula

C3H3N

Functional group

Alkene and nitrile

Molar mass

53.06 g/mol

Also known as

propenenitrile, vinyl cyanide

Properties

Melting Point

-83.51 °C

Boiling Point

77.2 °C

Relative density (water = 1)

Relative density (water = 1): 0.8

Water solubility

In water, 7.45X10+4 mg/L at 25 °C

Related compounds

• Alkenes

  One of the three monomers used to make ABS.

• Nitriles

  One of the three monomers used to make ABS.

References

1. ABS: monomers and manufacturing routesINEOS
2. Lima: acrylonitrile manufacture from propene, ammonia and airINEOS Nitriles
3. PubChem: AcrylonitrileNational Center for Biotechnology Information

   Identity retrieved 2026-09-08; matched against the record's isomeric structure. Unspecified stereochemistry remains unspecified.

4. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Acrylonitrile — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

   Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7855#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. 3-8

5. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Acrylonitrile — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

   Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7855#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. 3-8

6. ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs): Acrylonitrile — densityILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

   Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7855#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.

7. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Acrylonitrile — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

   Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7855#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. 46