Acrylonitrile

Ball-and-stick model of acrylonitrile. The white balls are hydrogen atoms, the black balls are carbon atoms, and the blue ball is a nitrogen atom. The double bond and triple bond are shown as multiple bars.

Acrylonitrile is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH3CHCN. It is a molecule of ethylene where one of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced with the nitrile functional group, −C≡N. Similar to many other substituted ethylenes, it is a monomer used in some types of plastic.

Charles Moureu was the first person to make acrylonitrile. He made it in 1893.

Uses

The main use of acrylonitrile is in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, also named ABS plastic. This three-part polymer (terpolymer) is made from the three chemicals in its name: acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene.

References

  1. ↑
    • Moureu, C. (1893). "Contribution à l'étude de l'acide acrylique et de ses dérivés" [Contribution to the study of acrylic acid and of its derivatives]. Annales de chimie et de physique. 7th. 2: 145–212. See especially pp. 187–189 ("Nitrile acrylique ou cyanure de vinyle (Propène-nitrile)").
    • Moureu, C. (1893). "Nitrile acrylique, cyanure de vinyle (propène-nitrile)" [Acrylic nitrile, vinyl cyanide (propenenitrile)]. Bulletin de la Société Chimique de France. 3rd. 9: 424–427.
  2. ↑ Campo, E. Alfredo (2008-01-01), Campo, E. Alfredo (ed.), "1 - Polymeric Materials and Properties", Selection of Polymeric Materials, Plastics Design Library, Norwich, NY: William Andrew Publishing, pp. 1–39, doi:10.1016/b978-081551551-7.50003-6, ISBN 978-0-8155-1551-7, retrieved May 24, 2026{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)