Acetonitrile

• Formula: C₂H₃N
• Molecular weight: 41.0519
• IUPAC Standard InChI: InChI=1S/C2H3N/c1-2-3/h1H3 Copy

  
• IUPAC Standard InChIKey: WEVYAHXRMPXWCK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copy
• CAS Registry Number: 75-05-8
• Chemical structure:
  This structure is also available as a 2d Mol file or as a computed 3d SD file
  The 3d structure may be viewed using Java or Javascript.
• Other names: Cyanomethane; Ethanenitrile; Ethyl nitrile; Methane, cyano-; Methanecarbonitrile; Methyl cyanide; CH3CN; Acetonitril; Cyanure de methyl; USAF EK-488; Methylkyanid; NA 1648; NCI-C60822; Rcra waste number U003; UN 1648; Ethanonitrile
• Permanent link for this species. Use this link for bookmarking this species for future reference.
• Information on this page:
  • Gas phase thermochemistry data
  • Gas phase ion energetics data
  • Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels
  • Gas Chromatography
  • References
  • Notes
• Other data available:
  • Condensed phase thermochemistry data
  • Phase change data
  • Reaction thermochemistry data: reactions 1 to 50, reactions 51 to 100, reactions 101 to 150, reactions 151 to 188
  • Henry's Law data
  • Ion clustering data
  • IR Spectrum
  • Mass spectrum (electron ionization)
  • UV/Visible spectrum
• Data at other public NIST sites:
  • Computational Chemistry Comparison and Benchmark Database
  • Gas Phase Kinetics Database
  • X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Database, version 5.0
• Options:
  • Switch to calorie-based units

Data at NIST subscription sites:

• NIST / TRC Web Thermo Tables, "lite" edition (thermophysical and thermochemical data)
• NIST / TRC Web Thermo Tables, professional edition (thermophysical and thermochemical data)

NIST subscription sites provide data under the NIST Standard Reference Data Program, but require an annual fee to access. The purpose of the fee is to recover costs associated with the development of data collections included in such sites. Your institution may already be a subscriber. Follow the links above to find out more about the data in these sites and their terms of usage.

Gas phase thermochemistry data

Go To: Top, Gas phase ion energetics data, Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, Gas Chromatography, References, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled by: Hussein Y. Afeefy, Joel F. Liebman, and Stephen E. Stein

Gas phase ion energetics data

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, Gas Chromatography, References, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data evaluated as indicated in comments:
HL - Edward P. Hunter and Sharon G. Lias
L - Sharon G. Lias

Data compiled as indicated in comments:
B - John E. Bartmess
MM - Michael M. Meot-Ner (Mautner)
LL - Sharon G. Lias and Joel F. Liebman
LBLHLM - Sharon G. Lias, John E. Bartmess, Joel F. Liebman, John L. Holmes, Rhoda D. Levin, and W. Gary Mallard
LLK - Sharon G. Lias, Rhoda D. Levin, and Sherif A. Kafafi
RDSH - Henry M. Rosenstock, Keith Draxl, Bruce W. Steiner, and John T. Herron

View reactions leading to C₂H₃N⁺ (ion structure unspecified)

Electron affinity determinations

Proton affinity at 298K

Ionization energy determinations

Appearance energy determinations

De-protonation reactions

C₂H₂N^- +  =

By formula: C₂H₂N^- + H⁺ = C₂H₃N

Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Gas phase ion energetics data, Gas Chromatography, References, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled by: Takehiko Shimanouchi

Symmetry:   C_3ν     Symmetry Number σ = 3

Source: Shimanouchi, 1972

Notes

Gas Chromatography

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Gas phase ion energetics data, Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, References, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled by: NIST Mass Spectrometry Data Center, William E. Wallace, director

Kovats' RI, non-polar column, isothermal

View large format table.

Kovats' RI, polar column, isothermal

View large format table.

Van Den Dool and Kratz RI, polar column, temperature ramp

View large format table.

Normal alkane RI, non-polar column, isothermal

View large format table.

Normal alkane RI, non-polar column, temperature ramp

View large format table.

Normal alkane RI, non-polar column, custom temperature program

View large format table.

Normal alkane RI, polar column, temperature ramp

View large format table.

Normal alkane RI, polar column, custom temperature program

View large format table.

References

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Gas phase ion energetics data, Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, Gas Chromatography, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

An and Mansson, 1983
An, X.; Mansson, M., Enthalpies of combustion and formation of acetontrile, J. Chem. Thermodyn., 1983, 15, 287-293. [all data]

Hall and Baldt, 1971
Hall, H.K., Jr.; Baldt, J.H., Thermochemistry of strained-ring bridgehead nitriles and esters, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1971, 93, 140-145. [all data]

Hunter and Lias, 1998
Hunter, E.P.; Lias, S.G., Evaluated Gas Phase Basicities and Proton Affinities of Molecules: An Update, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 1998, 27, 3, 413-656, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.556018 . [all data]

Suess, Liu, et al., 2003
Suess, L.; Liu, Y.; Parthasarathy, R.; Dunning, F.B., Dipole-bound negative ions: Collisional destruction and blackbody-radiation-induced photodetachment, J. Chem. Phys., 2003, 119, 24, 12890-12894, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1628215 . [all data]

Bailey, Dessent, et al., 1996
Bailey, C.G.; Dessent, C.E.H.; Johnson, M.A.; Bowen, K.A., Jr., Vibronic Effects in the Photon Energy Dependent Photoelectron Spectra of the CH3CN- Dipole-bound Anion, J. Chem. Phys., 1996, 104, 18, 6976, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.471415 . [all data]

Desfrancois, Abdoul-Carime, et al., 1994
Desfrancois, C.; Abdoul-Carime, H.; Khelifa, N.; Schermann, J.P., Fork 1/r to 1/r2 Potentials: Electron Exchange between Rydberg Atoms and Polar Molecules, Phys. Rev. Lett., 1994, 73, 18, 2436, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.73.2436 . [all data]

Williams, Denault, et al., 2001
Williams, T.I.; Denault, J.W.; Cooks, R.G., Proton Affinity of Deuterated Acetonitrile Estimated by the Kinetic Method with Full Entropy Analysis, Int. J. Mass Spectrom., 2001, 210/211, 133. [all data]

Gochel-Dupuis, Delwiche, et al., 1992
Gochel-Dupuis, M.; Delwiche, J.; Hubin-Franskin, M.-J.; Collin, J.E., High-resolution HeI photoelectron spectrum of acetonitrile, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1992, 193, 41. [all data]

Harland and McIntosh, 1985
Harland, P.W.; McIntosh, B.J., Enthalpies of formation for the isomeric ions H_xCCN⁺ and H_xCNC⁺ (x = 0-3) by monochromatic electron impact on C₂N₂, CH₃CN and CH₃NC., Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Processes, 1985, 67, 29. [all data]

Chess, Lapp, et al., 1982
Chess, E.K.; Lapp, R.L.; Gross, M.L., The question of tautomerism of alkylnitrile and isonitrile radical cations, Org. Mass Spectrom., 1982, 17, 475. [all data]

Allam, Migahed, et al., 1982
Allam, S.H.; Migahed, M.D.; El-Khodary, A., Electron impact ionization and dissociation of deuterated and non-deuterated methanol, methyl cyanide, nitromethane and nitrobenzene, Egypt. J. Phys., 1982, 13, 167. [all data]

Rider, Ray, et al., 1981
Rider, D.M.; Ray, G.W.; Darland, E.J.; Leroi, G.E., A photoionization mass spectrometric investigation of CH₃CN and CD₃CN, J. Chem. Phys., 1981, 74, 1652. [all data]

Kimura, Katsumata, et al., 1981
Kimura, K.; Katsumata, S.; Achiba, Y.; Yamazaki, T.; Iwata, S., Ionization energies, Ab initio assignments, and valence electronic structure for 200 molecules in Handbook of HeI Photoelectron Spectra of Fundamental Organic Compounds, Japan Scientific Soc. Press, Tokyo, 1981. [all data]

Staley, Kleckner, et al., 1976
Staley, R.H.; Kleckner, J.E.; Beauchamp, J.L., Relationship between orbital ionization energies and molecular properties. Proton affinities and photoelectron spectra of nitriles, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1976, 98, 2081. [all data]

Lake and Thompson, 1970
Lake, R.F.; Thompson, H., The photoelectron spectra of some molecules containing the C N group, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London), 1970, A317, 187. [all data]

Frost, Herring, et al., 1970
Frost, D.C.; Herring, F.G.; McDowell, C.A.; Stenhouse, I.A., The ionization potentials of methyl cyanide and methyl acetylene by photoelectron spectroscopy and semi-rigorous LCAO SCF calculations, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1970, 4, 533. [all data]

Dibeler and Liston, 1968
Dibeler, V.H.; Liston, S.K., Mass-spectrometric study of photoionization. IX. Hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile, J. Chem. Phys., 1968, 48, 4765. [all data]

Franklin, Wada, et al., 1966
Franklin, J.L.; Wada, Y.; Natalis, P.; Hierl, P.M., Ion-molecule reactions in acetonitrile and propionitrile, J. Phys. Chem., 1966, 70, 2353. [all data]

Nicholson, 1965
Nicholson, A.J.C., Photoionization-efficiency curves. II. False and genuine structure, J. Chem. Phys., 1965, 43, 1171. [all data]

Watanabe, Nakayama, et al., 1962
Watanabe, K.; Nakayama, T.; Mottl, J., Ionization potentials of some molecules, J. Quant. Spectry. Radiative Transfer, 1962, 2, 369. [all data]

Asbrink, Von Niessen, et al., 1980
Asbrink, L.; Von Niessen, W.; Bieri, G., 30.4-nm He(II) photoelectron spectra of organic molecules, J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom., 1980, 21, 93. [all data]

Reed and Snedden, 1956
Reed, R.I.; Snedden, W., Studies in electron impact methods. Part 6.-The formation of the methine and carbon ions, J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans., 1956, 55, 876. [all data]

Haney and Franklin, 1968
Haney, M.A.; Franklin, J.L., Correlation of excess energies of electron-impact dissociations with the translational energies of the products, J.Chem. Phys., 1968, 48, 4093. [all data]

Holmes, Lossing, et al., 1993
Holmes, J.L.; Lossing, F.P.; Mayer, P.M., The effects of methyl substitution on the structure and thermochemistry of the cyanomethyl radical and cation, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1993, 212, 134. [all data]

Pottie and Lossing, 1961
Pottie, R.F.; Lossing, F.P., Free radicals by mass spectrometry. XXV. Ionization potentials of cyanoalkyl radicals, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1961, 83, 4737. [all data]

Bartmess, Scott, et al., 1979
Bartmess, J.E.; Scott, J.A.; McIver, R.T., Jr., The gas phase acidity scale from methanol to phenol, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1979, 101, 6047. [all data]

Graul and Squires, 1990
Graul, S.T.; Squires, R.R., Gas-Phase Acidities Derived from Threshold Energies for Activated Reactions, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1990, 112, 7, 2517, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00163a007 . [all data]

Cumming and Kebarle, 1978
Cumming, J.B.; Kebarle, P., Summary of gas phase measurements involving acids AH. Entropy changes in proton transfer reactions involving negative ions. Bond dissociation energies D(A-H) and electron affinities EA(A), Can. J. Chem., 1978, 56, 1. [all data]

Zimmerman and Brauman, 1977
Zimmerman, A.H.; Brauman, J.I., Electron photodetachment from negative ions of C_2v symmetry. Electron affinities of allyl and cyanomethyl radicals, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1977, 99, 3565. [all data]

Heni and Illenberger, 1986
Heni, M.; Illenberger, E., Electron attachment by saturated nitriles. Acrylonitrile (CH₂H₃CN), and benzonitrile (C₆H₅CN), Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Phys., 1986, 73, 127. [all data]

Shimanouchi, 1972
Shimanouchi, T., Tables of Molecular Vibrational Frequencies Consolidated Volume I, National Bureau of Standards, 1972, 1-160. [all data]

Görgényi and Héberger, 2003
Görgényi, M.; Héberger, K., Minimum in the temperature dependence of the Kováts retention indices of nitroalkanes and alkanenitriles on an apolar phase, J. Chromatogr. A, 2003, 985, 1-2, 11-19, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(02)01842-3 . [all data]

Do and Raulin, 1992
Do, L.; Raulin, F., Gas chromatography of Titan's atmosphere. III. Analysis of low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons and nitriles with a CP-Sil-5 CB WCOT capillary column, J. Chromatogr., 1992, 591, 1-2, 297-301, https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9673(92)80247-R . [all data]

Do and Raulin, 1989
Do, L.; Raulin, F., Gas chromatography of Titan's atmosphere. I. Analysis of low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons and nitriles with a PoraPLOT Q porous polymer coated open-tubular capillary column, J. Chromatogr., 1989, 481, 45-54, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)96751-2 . [all data]

de Zeeuw, de Nijs, et al., 1988
de Zeeuw, J.; de Nijs, R.C.M.; Buyten, J.C.; Peene, J.A.; Mohne, M., PoraPLOT Q: A porous layer open tubular column coated with styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer, J. Hi. Res. Chromatogr. Chromatogr. Comm., 1988, 11, 2, 162-167, https://doi.org/10.1002/jhrc.1240110204 . [all data]

Winskowski, 1983
Winskowski, J., Gaschromatographische Identifizierung von Stoffen anhand von Indexziffem und unterschiedlichen Detektoren, Chromatographia, 1983, 17, 3, 160-165, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02271041 . [all data]

Goebel, 1982
Goebel, K.-J., Gaschromatographische Identifizierung Niedrig Siedender Substanzen Mittels Retentionsindices und Rechnerhilfe, J. Chromatogr., 1982, 235, 1, 119-127, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(00)95793-5 . [all data]

Brown, Chapman, et al., 1968
Brown, I.; Chapman, I.L.; Nicholson, G.J., Gas chromatography of polar solutes in electron acceptor stationary phases, Aust. J. Chem., 1968, 21, 5, 1125-1141, https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9681125 . [all data]

Rohrschneider, 1966
Rohrschneider, L., Eine methode zur charakterisierung von gaschromatographischen trennflüssigkeiten, J. Chromatogr., 1966, 22, 6-22, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)97064-5 . [all data]

Wehrli and Kováts, 1959
Wehrli, A.; Kováts, E., Gas-chromatographische Charakterisierung ogranischer Verbindungen. Teil 3: Berechnung der Retentionsindices aliphatischer, alicyclischer und aromatischer Verbindungen, Helv. Chim. Acta, 1959, 7, 7, 2709-2736, https://doi.org/10.1002/hlca.19590420745 . [all data]

Ott, Fay, et al., 1997
Ott, A.; Fay, L.B.; Chaintreau, A., Determination and origin of the aroma impact compounds of yogurt flavor, J. Agric. Food Chem., 1997, 45, 3, 850-858, https://doi.org/10.1021/jf960508e . [all data]

Dufka, Malinsky, et al., 1971
Dufka, O.; Malinsky, J.; Vladyka, J., Sorpcni materialy pro plynovou chromatographii - III, Chemicky promysl., 1971, 21/46, 9, 459-463. [all data]

Anderson, 1968
Anderson, D.G., USe of Kovats retention indices and response factors for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of coating solvents, J. Paint Technol., 1968, 40, 527, 549-557. [all data]

Bramston-Cook, 2013
Bramston-Cook, R., Kovats indices for C2-C13 hydrocarbons and selected oxygenated/halocarbons with 100 % dimethylpolysiloxane columns, 2013, retrieved from http://lotusinstruments.com/monographs/List .... [all data]

Health Safety Executive, 2000
Health Safety Executive, MDHS 96 Volatile organic compounds in air - Laboratory method using pumed solid sorbent tubes, solvent desorption and gas chromatography in Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances (MDHS) guidance, Crown, Colegate, Norwich, 2000, 1-24, retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/mdhs/pdfs/mdhs96.pdf. [all data]

Flanagan, Streete, et al., 1997
Flanagan, R.J.; Streete, P.J.; Ramsey, J.D., Volatile Substance Abuse, UNODC Technical Series, No 5, United Nations, Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna International Centre, PO Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria, 1997, 56, retrieved from http://www.odccp.org/pdf/technical_series₁997-01-01₁.pdf. [all data]

Zenkevich and Chupalov, 1996
Zenkevich, I.G.; Chupalov, A.A., New Possibilities of Chromato Mass Pectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds Using Increments of Gas Chromatographic Retention Indices of Molecular Structural Fragments, Zh. Org. Khim. (Rus.), 1996, 32, 5, 656-666. [all data]

Zenkevich, Korolenko, et al., 1995
Zenkevich, I.G.; Korolenko, L.I.; Khralenkova, N.B., Desorption with solvent vapor as a method of sample preparation in the sorption preconcentration of organic-compounds from the air of a working area and from industrial-waste gases, J. Appl. Chem. USSR (Engl. Transl.), 1995, 50, 10, 937-944. [all data]

Strete, Ruprah, et al., 1992
Strete, P.J.; Ruprah, M.; Ramsey, J.D.; Flanagan, R.J., Detection and identification of volatile substances by headspace capillary gas chromatography to aid the diagnosis of acute poisoning, Analyst, 1992, 117, 7, 1111-1127, https://doi.org/10.1039/an9921701111 . [all data]

Weller and Wolf, 1989
Weller, J.-P.; Wolf, M., Massenspektroskopie und Headspace-GC, Beitr. Gerichtl. Med., 1989, 47, 525-532. [all data]

Waggott and Davies, 1984
Waggott, A.; Davies, I.W., Identification of organic pollutants using linear temperature programmed retention indices (LTPRIs) - Part II, 1984, retrieved from http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/research/completed-research/reports/dwi0383.pdf. [all data]

Ramsey and Flanagan, 1982
Ramsey, J.D.; Flanagan, R.J., Detection and Identification of Volatile Organic Compounds in Blood by Headspace Gas Chromatography as an Aid to the Diagnosis of Solvent Abuse, J. Chromatogr., 1982, 240, 2, 423-444, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(00)99622-5 . [all data]

Shimadzu, 2012
Shimadzu, Pharmaceutical Related, Analysis of pharmaceutical residual solvent (observation of separation) (1) - GC, 2012, retrieved from www.shimadzu.ru/applications/Applications_pdf/GC/Pharma/Pharmaceutical residual solvents GC.pdf. [all data]

de la Fuente, Martinez-Castro, et al., 2005
de la Fuente, E.; Martinez-Castro, I.; Sanz, J., Characterization of Spanish unifloral honeys by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, J. Sep. Sci., 2005, 28, 9-10, 1093-1100, https://doi.org/10.1002/jssc.200500018 . [all data]

Shimadzu Corporation, 2003
Shimadzu Corporation, Analysis of pharmaceutical residual solvent (observation of separation), 2003, retrieved from http://www.shimadzu.com.br/analitica/aplicacoes/book/pharm69.pdf. [all data]

Soria, Martinez-Castro, et al., 2003
Soria, A.C.; Martinez-Castro, I.; Sanz, J., Analysis of volatile composition of honey by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatographymass spectrometry, J. Sep. Sci., 2003, 26, 9-10, 793-801, https://doi.org/10.1002/jssc.200301368 . [all data]

Umano, Hagi, et al., 1995
Umano, K.; Hagi, Y.; Nakahara, K.; Shyoji, A.; Shibamoto, T., Volatile chemicals formed in the headspace of a heated D-glucose/L-cysteine Maillard model system, J. Agric. Food Chem., 1995, 43, 8, 2212-2218, https://doi.org/10.1021/jf00056a046 . [all data]

Johanningsmeier and McFeeters, 2011
Johanningsmeier, S.D.; McFeeters, R.F., Detection of volatile spoilage metabolites in fermented cucumbers using nontargeted, comprehensive 2-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGCxTOFMS), J. Food Sci., 2011, 76, 1, c168-c177, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01918.x . [all data]

Soria, Martinez-Castro, et al., 2009
Soria, A.C.; Martinez-Castro, I.; Sanz, J., Study of the precision in the purge-and-trap-gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry analysis of volatile compounds in honey, J. Chromatogr. A., 2009, 1216, 15, 3300-3304, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2009.01.065 . [all data]

Soria, Martinez-Castro, et al., 2008
Soria, A.C.; Martinez-Castro, I.; Sanz, J., Some aspects of dynamic headspace analysis of volatile components in honey, Foog Res. International, 2008, 41, 8, 838-848, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2008.07.010 . [all data]

Notes

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Gas phase ion energetics data, Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, Gas Chromatography, References

• Symbols used in this document:
  

  AE	Appearance energy
  EA	Electron affinity
  IE (evaluated)	Recommended ionization energy
  ΔfH°gas	Enthalpy of formation of gas at standard conditions
  ΔrG°	Free energy of reaction at standard conditions
  ΔrH°	Enthalpy of reaction at standard conditions

• Data from NIST Standard Reference Database 69: NIST Chemistry WebBook
• The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uses its best efforts to deliver a high quality copy of the Database and to verify that the data contained therein have been selected on the basis of sound scientific judgment. However, NIST makes no warranties to that effect, and NIST shall not be liable for any damage that may result from errors or omissions in the Database.
• Customer support for NIST Standard Reference Data products.