What does acrylonitrile mean?
Acrylonitrile is a colorless, volatile organic compound with the formula CH₂=CH–CN, consisting of a vinyl group attached to a nitrile (cyano) group. It is a major industrial chemical, produced on a large scale chiefly by the catalytic ammoxidation of propylene with ammonia and air. Its overwhelming importance lies in polymerization: it is the key monomer in acrylic fibers used for textiles, in styrene-acrylonitrile resins, in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) — the tough plastic found in toys, electronics housings, and luggage — and in nitrile rubbers valued for oil resistance. The substance is highly flammable and toxic, and it is classified as a probable human carcinogen, so its handling is tightly regulated in workplaces. The word belongs to technical registers — chemistry, manufacturing, and environmental regulation — and appears almost exclusively in professional and scientific writing rather than general conversation.
nounA colorless, volatile, highly flammable liquid organic compound (CH₂=CH–CN) used chiefly as a monomer in the manufacture of acrylic fibers, plastics such as ABS, and synthetic rubbers.
- The colorless toxic liquid compound CH₂=CH–CN, produced industrially by ammoxidation of propylene and used as a monomer for acrylic fibers, ABS and other plastics, and nitrile rubbers.
"The plant produces acrylonitrile, which is then polymerized into the acrylic fibers used in sweaters and blankets."
"Exposure limits for acrylonitrile are strictly regulated because the compound is classified as a probable human carcinogen."
"Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers offer greater clarity and chemical resistance than polystyrene alone."
As the name of a specific chemical substance, acrylonitrile is treated as an uncountable mass noun and is not pluralized; quantities are expressed as amounts (e.g., 'tons of acrylonitrile').
"The refinery ships thousands of tons of acrylonitrile each year."
That 'ABS' stamped on Lego bricks and luggage stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene — so this one chemical is hiding inside your childhood toys.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acrylonitrile
The name combines 'acryl-', from acrolein and ultimately from Latin acer ('sharp'), referring to the pungent character of related compounds, with 'nitrile', the class name for compounds bearing the cyano group, derived from 'nitre' via Greek nitron, a term for native soda or saltpeter. The word was coined in the late nineteenth century as chemists systematized the naming of unsaturated nitriles. It shares its roots with terms like acrylic, acrolein, nitrogen, and nitrate.
How acrylonitrile is actually used
A technical term confined to chemistry, industry, and regulatory contexts; it never appears in everyday speech. Because it is a specific chemical substance, it functions as an uncountable mass noun rather than a countable one.
Easily confused with acrylonitrile
Acrylamide is an amide (CH₂=CH–CONH₂) formed in starchy foods during high-heat cooking, whereas acrylonitrile is a nitrile industrial monomer containing a cyano group.
Acetonitrile is a saturated solvent (CH₃CN) common in laboratories, while acrylonitrile is an unsaturated monomer used to make polymers.