Question

Which of the following compounds represents acrylonitrile?
A. Vinyl cyanide
B. Cyanoethene
C. Prop-2-ene-nitrile
D. All of them

Answer 1

Hint: We know that nitrile is a functional group and when a nitrile group is present in a compound, the compound is called cyano compound. Here, we have to identify the compound which is the correct representation of the compound acrylonitrile.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
Let’s discuss the compound acrylonitrile in detail. The chemical formula that represents acrylonitrile is \[{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{CHCN}}\]. It is present in the liquid state and it is volatile in nature. It is colourless but due to impurities, it is observed in the colour yellow in commercial samples. Its odour is pungent in nature. In the manufacturing of plastics, such as polyacrylonitrile, it is used as a monomer. Its nature is very reactive.

Now, we will discuss the options one by one.
Option A is vinyl cyanide whose chemical representation is \[{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_2} = {\rm{CH}} - {\rm{CN}}\] . So, it is the same as acrylonitrile. Therefore, A is correct.

Option B is cyanoethene whose chemical representation is \[{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_2} = {\rm{CH}} - {\rm{CN}}\]. So, it also represents acrylonitrile. Therefore, B is also correct.

Option C is Prop-2-ene-nitrile whose chemical representation is \[{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_2} = {\rm{CH}} - {\rm{CN}}\]. So, it also represents acrylonitrile. Therefore, C is also right.
Therefore, all of them represent acrylonitrile.
Hence, option D is right.

Note: It is to be noted that the functional group, cyanide, is an ambidentate ligand. An ambidentate ligand forms a covalent bond through two atoms. That means, cyanide can form bonds either by the nitrogen atom or the carbon atom.