Substance profile
Acrylonitrile
Acrylonitrile is a clear, colorless liquid at room temperature and is odorless.
01 · Identification
What Acrylonitrile is
Acrylonitrile is a clear, colorless liquid at room temperature and is odorless. Its molecular formula is C3H3N and its molecular weight is 53.06 g/mol. It boils at 77.2 °C, melts at -83.5 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
Acrylonitrile identifiers and molecular data
Acrylonitrile CAS number and EC number
Acrylonitrile molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Acrylonitrile hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Acrylonitrile pictograms and signal word
Acrylonitrile hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 2 | H225 | GHS02 |
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H301 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H311 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H331 | GHS06 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 2 | H315 | GHS07 |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation GHS chapter 3.3 | Category 1 | H318 | GHS05 |
| Skin sensitisation GHS chapter 3.4 | Category 1 or 1A or 1B | H317 | GHS07 |
| Carcinogenicity GHS chapter 3.6 | Category 1A or 1B | H350 | GHS08 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 2 | H411 | GHS09 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
Acrylonitrile hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H350 | May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H311 | Toxic in contact with skin. |
| H301 | Toxic if swallowed. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H318 | Causes serious eye damage. |
| H317 | May cause an allergic skin reaction. |
| H411 | Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Acrylonitrile. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Acrylonitrile
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of Acrylonitrile issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
Acrylonitrile precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 28 precautionary statements to Acrylonitrile. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Acrylonitrile name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | акрилонитрил |
| Spanish español | Acrilonitrilo |
| Czech čeština | akrylonitril |
| Danish dansk | acrylonitril |
| German Deutsch | Acrylnitril |
| Estonian eesti | akrülonitriil |
| Greek ελληνικά | ακρυλονιτρίλιο |
| English English | acrylonitrile |
| French français | acrylonitrile |
| Croatian hrvatski | akrilonitril |
| Italian italiano | acrilonitrile |
| Latvian latviešu | akrilnitrils |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | akrilnitrilas |
| Hungarian magyar | akrilnitril |
| Maltese Malti | akrilonitril |
| Dutch Nederlands | acrylnitril |
| Polish polski | akrylonitryl cyjanek winylunitryl kwasu akrylowego |
| Portuguese português | acrilonitrilo |
| Romanian română | acrilonitril |
| Slovak slovenčina | akrylonitril |
| Slovenian slovenščina | akrilonitril |
| Finnish suomi | akryylinitriili |
| Swedish svenska | akrylonitril |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Acrylonitrile GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Acrylonitrile, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Acrylonitrile
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Toxic if inhaled.
- Toxic in contact with skin.
- Toxic if swallowed.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes skin irritation.
- Causes serious eye damage.
- May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Obtain special instructions before use.
- Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
- Keep container tightly closed.
- Use explosion-proof [electrical/ventilating/lighting/…] equipment.
- Use only non-sparking tools.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Wash … thoroughly after handling.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF INHALED:
- IF IN EYES:
- IF exposed or concerned:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Rinse mouth.
- If skin irritation occurs:
- If skin irritation or rash occurs:
- Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- Wash with plenty of water/…
- Collect spillage.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Acrylonitrile in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Acrylonitrile health hazards and exposure limits
Acrylonitrile hazard summary
Acrylonitrile is a colorless, liquid, man-made chemical with a sharp, onion- or garlic-like odor. It can be dissolved in water and evaporates quickly. Acrylonitrile is used to make other chemicals such as plastics, synthetic rubber, and acrylic fibers. A mixture of acrylonitrile and carbon tetrachloride was used as a pesticide in the past; however, all pesticide uses have stopped.
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Acrylonitrile carcinogenicity classification
Under the conditions of this 2-year gavage study, there was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of acrylonitrile in male and female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of forestomach and harderian gland neoplasms. Neoplasms of the ovary and lung in female mice may have been related to administration of acrylonitrile.
Source: US National Toxicology Program · TR-506: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Acrylonitrile (CASRN 107-13-1) in B6C3F1 Mice (Gavage Studies) (2001 )
Acrylonitrile is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Cancer Classification: Group B1 Probable Human Carcinogen
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
Acrylonitrile occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 2.0 [ppm], Ceiling(OSHA) = 10 ppm | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 2 ppm [1 ppm Action Level] | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | 10 ppm [15 minute] | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 1 ppm | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 10 ppm [15 minutes] | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | Ca TWA 1 ppm C 10 ppm [15-minute] [skin] See Appendix A | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 60 ppm ; A potential occupational carcinogen. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 60.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | NIOSH considers acrylonitrile to be a potential occupational carcinogen. [85 ppm] | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Acrylonitrile properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Acrylonitrile boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 77.2 °C (171 °F) | HSDB | |
| 77.22 °C (171 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 77.22 °C (171 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Acrylonitrile melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -83.51 °C (-118.3 °F) | HSDB | |
| -82.22 °C (-116 °F) | NIOSH |
Acrylonitrile density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.81 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 0.8007 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| 0.8004 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | CAMEO |
Acrylonitrile solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Solubility of water in acrylonitrile: 3.1 parts water/100 parts acrylonitrile | HSDB | |
| Very soluble in ethanol, acetone, benzene, ether | HSDB | ||
| In water, 7.45X10+4 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Acrylonitrile vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 83 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 100 mmHg | at 23 °C | CAMEO | |
| 109 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Acrylonitrile flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | -5 °C (23 °F) | HSDB | |
| 0 °C (32 °F) | open cup | HSDB | |
| -1.11 °C (30 °F) | NIOSH |
Acrylonitrile autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 481.11 °C (898 °F) | HSDB | |
| 481 °C (897.8 °F) | ICSC |
Acrylonitrile lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 3 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 3.05 % by volume | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Acrylonitrile upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 17 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 17 % by volume | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Acrylonitrile vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 1.83 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 1.9 (air = 1) | CAMEO | ||
| 1.8 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Acrylonitrile odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Detection of acrylonitrile in water is 1.86x10+1 ppm; chemically pure | HSDB | |
| Low= 8.1000 mg/cu m; High= 78.7500 mg/cu m | HSDB | ||
| Odor Threshold Low: 21.6 [ppm] | Haz-Map |
Acrylonitrile critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 266.85 °C (512.3 °F) | HSDB |
Acrylonitrile corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Attacks copper and copper alloys ... attacks aluminum in high concentration | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Acrylonitrile fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Acrylonitrile fire potential
Dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat, flame, or oxidizers.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Acrylonitrile storage and handling
Acrylonitrile peroxide formation
C: Compounds that autopolymerize due to peroxide formation if inhibitors are depleated or not present
Source: Lab and Research Safety, University of Minnesota
Acrylonitrile safe storage
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants, strong bases and food and feedstuffs. Cool. Keep in the dark. Ventilation along the floor. Store only if stabilized.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Acrylonitrile storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Recommended storage temperature 2 - 8 °C. Light sensitive. Storage class (TRGS 510): Flammable liquids.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Acrylonitrile incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Oxidizing agents, copper.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Acrylonitrile reactivity
ACRYLONITRILE produces poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas on contact with strong acids or when heated to decomposition. Reacts violently with strong oxidizing agents (dibenzoyl peroxide, di-tert-butylperoxide, bromine) [Sax, 9th ed., p. 61]. Rapidly ignites in air and forms explosive mixtures with air. Polymerizes violently in the presence of strong bases or acids. Underwent a runaway reaction culminating in an explosion on contact with a small amount of bromine or solid silver nitrate [Bretherick, 5th ed., 1995, p. 404].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Acrylonitrile in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Acrylonitrile UN number and transport classification
Transport classification is a separate system from the GHS classification above. It decides how a package is marked and how a load may be carried; it does not follow from the workplace label, and the workplace label does not follow from it. The entries below are linked by CAS number, never by name.
Acrylonitrile under UN 1093 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACRYLONITRILE, STABILIZED | 3 | FT1 | I | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 3 is “Flammable liquids” (ADR 2.1.1.1).
United States · 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
| Proper shipping name (column 2) | Class or division | PG | Labels (column 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylonitrile, stabilized | 3 | I | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 3 is “Flammable and combustible liquid” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Acrylonitrile — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Acrylonitrile?
The CAS number of Acrylonitrile is 107-13-1. Its EC number is 203-466-5.
What is the chemical formula of Acrylonitrile?
The molecular formula of Acrylonitrile is C3H3N and its molecular weight is 53.06 g/mol.
What does a Acrylonitrile label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Acrylonitrile carries the pictograms Flame, Skull and crossbones, Health hazard, Corrosion and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Acrylonitrile flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Acrylonitrile H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is -5 °C (23 °F) (HSDB).
Is Acrylonitrile a carcinogen?
Yes. CLP Annex VI classifies Acrylonitrile as a category 1A or 1B carcinogen and assigns it H350: may cause cancer. IARC places it in Group 1: carcinogenic to humans.
What is the exposure limit for Acrylonitrile?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Acrylonitrile is 2.0 [ppm], Ceiling(OSHA) = 10 ppm (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of Acrylonitrile?
The boiling point reported for Acrylonitrile is 77.2 °C (171 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Acrylonitrile?
The melting point reported for Acrylonitrile is -83.51 °C (-118.3 °F) (HSDB).
How should Acrylonitrile be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Acrylonitrile the storage statement P403. Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Recommended storage temperature 2 - 8 °C. Light sensitive. Storage class (TRGS 510): Flammable liquids. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Acrylonitrile
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