Hydrogen cyanide

• Formula: CHN
• Molecular weight: 27.0253
• IUPAC Standard InChI: InChI=1S/CHN/c1-2/h1H Copy

  
• IUPAC Standard InChIKey: LELOWRISYMNNSU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copy
• CAS Registry Number: 74-90-8
• Chemical structure:
  This structure is also available as a 2d Mol file
• Other names: Hydrocyanic acid; AC; Blausaeure (German); Carbon hydride nitride (CHN); Formic anammonide; Formonitrile; HCN; Prussic Acid; Cyclon; Acide cyanhydrique; Acido cianidrico; Aero Liquid HCN; Blausaeure; Blauwzuur; Cyaanwaterstof; Cyanwasserstoff; Cyclone B; Cyjanowodor; Evercyn; NA 1051; Prussic acid, unstabilized; Rcra waste number P063; UN 1051; Zaclondiscoids; Carbon hydride nitride; Zootic acid; Agent AC; Nitrilomethane
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• Information on this page:
  • Gas phase thermochemistry data
  • Condensed phase thermochemistry data
  • Phase change data
  • Henry's Law data
  • Gas phase ion energetics data
  • IR Spectrum
  • Mass spectrum (electron ionization)
  • Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels
  • Gas Chromatography
  • References
  • Notes
• Other data available:
  • Reaction thermochemistry data: reactions 1 to 50, reactions 51 to 92
  • Ion clustering data
• Data at other public NIST sites:
  • Microwave spectra (on physics lab web site)
  • Gas Phase Kinetics Database
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• NIST / TRC Web Thermo Tables, professional edition (thermophysical and thermochemical data)

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Gas phase thermochemistry data

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

Gas Phase Heat Capacity (Shomate Equation)

C_p° = A + B*t + C*t² + D*t³ + E/t²
H° − H°_298.15= A*t + B*t²/2 + C*t³/3 + D*t⁴/4 − E/t + F − H
S° = A*ln(t) + B*t + C*t²/2 + D*t³/3 − E/(2*t²) + G
    C_p = heat capacity (cal/mol*K)
    H° = standard enthalpy (kcal/mol)
    S° = standard entropy (cal/mol*K)
    t = temperature (K) / 1000.

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Condensed phase thermochemistry data

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

Data compiled by: Eugene S. Domalski and Elizabeth D. Hearing

Constant pressure heat capacity of liquid

Phase change data

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

Data compiled as indicated in comments:
TRC - Thermodynamics Research Center, NIST Boulder Laboratories, Chris Muzny director
DH - Eugene S. Domalski and Elizabeth D. Hearing
AC - William E. Acree, Jr., James S. Chickos

Enthalpy of vaporization

Entropy of vaporization

Antoine Equation Parameters

log₁₀(P) = A − (B / (T + C))
    P = vapor pressure (atm)
    T = temperature (K)

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Enthalpy of sublimation

Enthalpy of fusion

Entropy of fusion

Henry's Law data

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

Data compiled by: Rolf Sander

Henry's Law constant (water solution)

k_H(T) = k°_H exp(d(ln(k_H))/d(1/T) ((1/T) - 1/(298.15 K)))
k°_H = Henry's law constant for solubility in water at 298.15 K (mol/(kg*bar))
d(ln(k_H))/d(1/T) = Temperature dependence constant (K)

Gas phase ion energetics data

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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
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 CHN⁺ (ion structure unspecified)

Electron affinity determinations

Ionization energy determinations

Appearance energy determinations

De-protonation reactions

CN^- +  =

By formula: CN^- + H⁺ = CHN

IR Spectrum

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

Data compiled by: Coblentz Society, Inc.

Spectrum

A digitized version of this spectrum is not currently available.

Additional Data

Mass spectrum (electron ionization)

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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

Spectrum

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Additional Data

Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels

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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_∞ν     Symmetry Number σ = 1

Source: Shimanouchi, 1972

Notes

Gas Chromatography

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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

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

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References

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Condensed phase thermochemistry data, Phase change data, Henry's Law data, Gas phase ion energetics data, IR Spectrum, Mass spectrum (electron ionization), 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.

Chase, 1998
Chase, M.W., Jr., NIST-JANAF Themochemical Tables, Fourth Edition, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, Monograph 9, 1998, 1-1951. [all data]

Giauque and Ruehrwein, 1939
Giauque, W.F.; Ruehrwein, R.A., The entropy of hydrogen cyanide. Heat capacity, heat of vaporization and vapor pressure. Hydrogen bond polymerization of the gas in chains of indefinite length, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1939, 61, 2626-2633. [all data]

Giauque and Ruehrwein, 1939, 2
Giauque, W.F.; Ruehrwein, R.A., The Entropy of Hydrogen Cyanide. Heat Capacity, Heat of Vaporization and Vapor Pressure. Hydrogen Bond Polymerization of the Gas in Chains of Indefinite Length., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1939, 61, 2626. [all data]

Stephenson and Malanowski, 1987
Stephenson, Richard M.; Malanowski, Stanislaw, Handbook of the Thermodynamics of Organic Compounds, 1987, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3173-2 . [all data]

Iwasaki and Date, 1975
Iwasaki, H.; Date, K., Koatsu Gasu, 1975, 12, 374. [all data]

Lewis and Schutz, 1934
Lewis, Gilbert N.; Schutz, Philip W., THE VAPOR PRESSURE OF LIQUID AND SOLID DEUTOCYANIC ACID, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1934, 56, 4, 1002-1002, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01319a514 . [all data]

Perry and Porter, 1926
Perry, J.H.; Porter, Frank, THE VAPOR PRESSURES OF SOLID AND LIQUID HYDROGEN CYANIDE ¹, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1926, 48, 2, [299]-302, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01413a001 . [all data]

Sinozaki, Hara, et al., 1926
Sinozaki, Heima; Hara, Ryozaburo; Mitsukuri, Shinroku, THE VAPOUR PRESSURES OF HYDROGEN CYANIDE, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 1926, 1, 4, 59-61, https://doi.org/10.1246/bcsj.1.59 . [all data]

Stull, 1947
Stull, Daniel R., Vapor Pressure of Pure Substances. Organic and Inorganic Compounds, Ind. Eng. Chem., 1947, 39, 4, 517-540, https://doi.org/10.1021/ie50448a022 . [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]

Ard, Garrett, et al., 2009
Ard, S.; Garrett, W.R.; Compton, R.N.; Adamowicz, L.; Stepanian, S.G., Rotational states of dipole-bound anions of hydrogen cyanide., Chem. Phys. Lett., 2009, 473, 4-6, 223, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cplett.2009.04.007 . [all data]

Tsuda, Yokohata, et al., 1971
Tsuda, S.; Yokohata, A.; Umaba, T., Measurement of negative ions formed by electron impact. VIII. Ionization efficiency curves of negative ions from methyl and ethyl cyanides, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 1971, 44, 1486. [all data]

Lageot, 1972
Lageot, C., Etude des etats excites de l'ion HCN⁺, J. Chim. Phys. Phys.-Chim. Biol., 1972, 68, 214. [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]

Baker and Turner, 1968
Baker, C.; Turner, D.W., High resolution molecular photoelectron spectroscopy. III.Acetylenes and azaacetylenes, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London), 1968, A308, 19. [all data]

Varsel, Morrell, et al., 1960
Varsel, C.J.; Morrell, F.A.; Resnik, F.E.; Powell, W.A., Qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic compounds. Use of low-voltage mass spectrometry, Anal. Chem., 1960, 32, 182. [all data]

Kusch, Hustrulid, et al., 1937
Kusch, P.; Hustrulid, A.; Tate, J.T., The dissociation of HCN, C₂H₂, C₂N₂ and C₂H₄ by electron impact, Phys. Rev., 1937, 52, 843. [all data]

Kreile, Schweig, et al., 1982
Kreile, J.; Schweig, A.; Thiel, W., Experimental and theoretical investigation of the photoionization of hydrogen cyanide, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1982, 87, 473. [all data]

Fridh and Asbrink, 1975
Fridh, C.; Asbrink, L., Photoelectron electron impact spectrum of HCN, J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom., 1975, 7, 119. [all data]

Potts and Williams, 1974
Potts, A.W.; Williams, T.A., The observation of "forbidden" transitions in He II photoelectron spectra, J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom., 1974, 3, 3. [all data]

Frost, Lee, et al., 1973
Frost, D.C.; Lee, S.T.; McDowell, C.A., The photoelectron spectrum of HCP and comments on the first photoelectron band of HCN, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1973, 23, 472. [all data]

Berkowitz, Chupka, et al., 1969
Berkowitz, J.; Chupka, W.A.; Walter, T.A., Photoionization of HCN: the electron affinity and heat of formation of CN, J. Chem. Phys., 1969, 50, 1497. [all data]

Akin and Ervin, 2006
Akin, F.A.; Ervin, K.M., Collision-induced dissociation of HS-(HCN): Unsymmetrical hydrogen bonding in a proton-bound dimer anion, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2006, 110, 4, 1342-1349, https://doi.org/10.1021/jp0540454 . [all data]

Bradforth, Kim, et al., 1993
Bradforth, S.E.; Kim, E.H.; Arnold, D.W.; Neumark, D.M., Photoelectron Spectroscopy of CN-, NCO-, and NCS-, J. Chem. Phys., 1993, 98, 2, 800, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.464244 . [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]

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

Staples, 2006
Staples, E.J., Creating a compound library for chemical warfare agents for the ZNose, 2006, retrieved from http://www.estcal.com/TechPapers/Security/CWA-Libraries.pdf. [all data]

Notes

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Condensed phase thermochemistry data, Phase change data, Henry's Law data, Gas phase ion energetics data, IR Spectrum, Mass spectrum (electron ionization), Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, Gas Chromatography, References

• Symbols used in this document:
  

  AE	Appearance energy
  Cp,liquid	Constant pressure heat capacity of liquid
  EA	Electron affinity
  IE (evaluated)	Recommended ionization energy
  S°gas,1 bar	Entropy of gas at standard conditions (1 bar)
  S°liquid	Entropy of liquid at standard conditions
  Tboil	Boiling point
  Tfus	Fusion (melting) point
  Ttriple	Triple point temperature
  d(ln(kH))/d(1/T)	Temperature dependence parameter for Henry's Law constant
  k°H	Henry's Law constant at 298.15K
  ΔfH°gas	Enthalpy of formation of gas at standard conditions
  ΔfusH	Enthalpy of fusion
  ΔfusS	Entropy of fusion
  ΔrG°	Free energy of reaction at standard conditions
  ΔrH°	Enthalpy of reaction at standard conditions
  ΔsubH	Enthalpy of sublimation
  ΔvapH	Enthalpy of vaporization
  ΔvapS	Entropy of vaporization

• Data from NIST Standard Reference Database 69: NIST Chemistry WebBook
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