Acetonitrile (CH₃CN) is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid organic compound with a distinctive, slightly sweet odor. It is the simplest aliphatic nitrile and is commonly used as a solvent in laboratories and industries due to its ability to dissolve a wide range of polar and nonpolar substances. Acetonitrile is highly polar, miscible with water and many organic solvents, and is often used in the production of pharmaceuticals, plastics, and adhesives. Additionally, it plays a key role in the extraction and purification of various compounds, especially in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Acetonitrile is widely used in various industrial, laboratory, and scientific applications. Some of the key applications of acetonitrile include:

Solvent in Organic Synthesis:

- Acetonitrile is often used as a solvent in organic synthesis due to its ability to dissolve a wide range of both polar and nonpolar substances. It's commonly employed in reactions involving electrophilic substitution, nucleophilic substitution, and polymerization.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC):

- Acetonitrile is a common solvent in HPLC, where it's used in mobile phases for separating and analyzing compounds, particularly in the pharmaceutical and environmental industries.

Pharmaceutical Industry:

- Acetonitrile is used in the production of various pharmaceuticals, particularly in the synthesis of intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It helps to purify and isolate compounds in medical formulations.

Extraction and Purification:

- Acetonitrile is used in liquid-liquid extraction to separate or purify chemicals, such as when isolating nucleic acids or proteins, and in the extraction of rare earth metals.

Chemical Manufacturing:

- It is involved in the production of acetic acid, adiponitrile (for nylon production), and various other chemicals, such as dyes, resins, and plastics.

Electrochemical Applications:

- Acetonitrile is used in electrochemical processes due to its high polarity and low viscosity, making it suitable for applications like electroplating and electrochemical cell research.

Cleaning and Degreasing:

- In some industrial applications, acetonitrile serves as a cleaning agent, helping to remove grease, oils, and other contaminants from machinery and equipment.

Gas Chromatography (GC):

- It can be used as a solvent in GC to help in the analysis and separation of volatile organic compounds.

Chemical Formula:	C₂H₃N + CH₃CN
Molecular Weight:	41.05 g/mol
CAS Registry Number:	75-05-8
Appearance	Colorless Liquid
Odor:	Sweet, ethereal
Density	0.787 at 68 °F (less dense than water)
Boiling Point:	82°C /179 °F
Solubility in water:	800 g/L at 25 °C
GHS Pictograms:
GHS Signal Word:	Danger
GHS Hazard Statements:	H225, H302, H312, H332, H319
GHS Precautionary Statements	P210, P233, P240, P241, P243, P261, P264, P270, P271, P280, P301, P212, P330, P303, P361, P353, P304, P340, P312, P305, P351, P338, P337, P313, P363, P370,P378, P403, P235, P501
UN Identification Number:	1648
Proper Shipping Name:	Acetonitrile
Transport Hazard Class:	3
Packing Group:	II
DOT Placard:

Acetonitrile Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Acetonitrile Safety Data Sheet (SDS)