Acetonitrile (CAS No. 75-05-8) is a highly polar aprotic organic solvent widely used in analytical chemistry, chromatography, organic synthesis, pharmaceuticals, electrochemistry, and advanced materials research. As one of the most important nitrile solvents, acetonitrile offers excellent solvating ability, low viscosity, high chemical stability, and a wide electrochemical stability window.
Due to its outstanding chromatographic performance and compatibility with a broad range of compounds, Acetonitrile is one of the most commonly used solvents in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and analytical sample preparation.
In energy-related research, acetonitrile is also investigated as a solvent component for electrolyte systems, lithium battery research, and electrochemical applications due to its high dielectric constant and ability to dissolve various electrolyte salts.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Acetonitrile |
| Synonyms | Methyl Cyanide; Ethanenitrile; Cyanomethane |
| CAS Number | 75-05-8 |
| Molecular Formula | C₂H₃N |
| Molecular Weight | 41.05 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless transparent liquid |
| Boiling Point | ~81.6°C |
| Melting Point | ~-45.7°C |
| Density | ~0.786 g/cm³ |
| Solubility | Miscible with water and many organic solvents |
| Solvent Type | Polar aprotic solvent |
Acetonitrile features:
Acetonitrile is one of the most widely used mobile phase solvents in analytical chemistry.
Typical applications include:
Advantages in chromatography:
Acetonitrile is commonly used as a reaction solvent in synthetic chemistry.
Typical applications include:
Its polar aprotic properties help stabilize ionic intermediates and improve reaction efficiency.
Acetonitrile is widely used in pharmaceutical development and quality control.
Typical applications include:
Acetonitrile is used as a solvent in electrochemical systems due to its high dielectric constant and electrochemical properties.
Typical applications include:
Acetonitrile is used in electronic material processing and laboratory research.
Typical applications include:
Acetonitrile is widely used for extraction and purification processes.
Typical applications include:
Acetonitrile is a flammable toxic organic solvent and should be handled according to laboratory safety guidelines.
Acetonitrile is a highly polar aprotic solvent widely used in chromatography, organic synthesis, pharmaceutical research, and electrochemical applications.
Acetonitrile provides low UV absorbance, low viscosity, excellent analyte solubility, and efficient chromatographic separation, making it a preferred HPLC mobile phase solvent.
Yes. Acetonitrile is one of the most commonly used LC-MS solvents because of its compatibility with mass spectrometry detection and excellent chromatographic properties.
Acetonitrile is a polar aprotic solvent that can dissolve many ionic and organic compounds without acting as a hydrogen bond donor.
Yes. Acetonitrile is investigated as a solvent component in electrolyte systems, electrochemical studies, and energy storage research.
Both are polar aprotic solvents:
| Property | Acetonitrile | NMP |
|---|---|---|
| CAS | 75-05-8 | 872-50-4 |
| Boiling Point | ~81.6°C | ~202°C |
| Main Uses | HPLC, LC-MS, synthesis | Battery electrodes, polymers |
| Polarity | High | High |
Store acetonitrile in a sealed container away from heat sources and incompatible materials. Follow standard chemical storage practices.
Yes. This product is supplied for laboratory research, analytical chemistry, chemical synthesis, and industrial R&D applications only.
