acetic nitrile

1 definition found

acetic nitrile - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Nitrile \Ni"trile\ (? or ?), n. [See Nitro-.] (Chem.)
     Any one of a series of compounds bearing the cyanide radical
     (-CN); particularly, one of those cyanides of alcohol
     radicals which, by boiling with acids or alkalies, produce a
     carboxyl acid, with the elimination of the nitrogen as
     ammonia.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The nitriles are named with reference to the acids
           produced by their decomposition, thus, hydrocyanic acid
           is formic nitrile, methyl cyanide is acetonitrile
           (also acetic nitrile), and ethyl cyanide is
           propionitrile (from propionic acid).
           [1913 Webster +PJC]