NITRILES Meaning and
Definition
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Nitriles are a class of organic compounds that contain a cyano group (-CN) functional group attached to a carbon atom. They are also known as cyanides or alkyl cyanides. The cyano group consists of a nitrogen atom, which is triple bonded to a carbon atom. This structural arrangement imparts distinctive chemical properties to nitriles, making them an important and diverse group of compounds in organic chemistry.
Nitriles are usually synthesized by reacting a halogenated hydrocarbon, such as an alkyl halide, with a metal cyanide or a cyanogenic reagent. They can also be obtained through hydrocyanation of alkenes or oxidization of primary amines.
Nitriles find a wide range of applications in various industries. They are commonly used as intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and dyes. Additionally, nitriles are utilized as solvents, stabilizers, and additives in the production of synthetic rubbers, plastics, and adhesives. Some nitrile compounds have biomedical applications, such as the use of acetonitrile in DNA extraction and propionitrile in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
From a health and safety perspective, nitriles can be toxic and irritants, particularly in high concentrations or when inhaled, ingested, or in contact with the skin. However, certain nitriles also possess anti-cancer properties and are being studied for potential therapeutic applications.
In summary, nitriles are a class of organic compounds that contain a cyano group (-CN) functional group. They have diverse chemical properties and are used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and plastics.
Common Misspellings for NITRILES
- bitriles
- mitriles
- jitriles
- hitriles
- nutriles
- njtriles
- nktriles
- notriles
- n9triles
- n8triles
- nirriles
- nifriles
- nigriles
- niyriles
- ni6riles
- ni5riles
- niteiles
- nitdiles
- nitfiles
- nittiles
Etymology of NITRILES
The word "nitrile" originated from a combination of two distinct roots. The first root is "nitro-", derived from the Latin word "nitrum", which means potassium nitrate or niter. The second root is "-ile", which is a chemical suffix used to indicate a hydrocarbon compound containing a double bond between two carbon atoms.
The term "nitrile" was first coined in the early 19th century by French chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas when he discovered a class of compounds characterized by the presence of a cyano group (-C≡N). These compounds were initially named "cyanhydrines" due to their ability to form hydrogen cyanide upon hydrolysis. However, this name was later replaced by "nitriles" to highlight their link to nitrogen-containing compounds (such as nitrates and nitrites) and to emphasize the presence of the cyano group.
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