Acrylonitrile
. Acrylonitrile, colorless, volatile liquid, with a pungent odor. It can be made by the reaction of hydrogen cyanide , HCN , with ethylene oxide, or acetylene . Currently, however, most acrylonitrile is produced through the reaction of propene, ammonia , and oxygen . Acrylonitrile is used in the production of acrylic fibers , plastics , and synthetic rubbers . Acrylonitrile melts at -83.5° C (-118.3° F), boils at 77.5° C (171.5° F), and has a density of 0.806 g per ml at 20° C (68° F). In recent years acrylonitrile has been implicated as a carcinogen.