Acetamide is a white crystalline solid with a faint odor. It is synthesized by reacting acetic acid with ammonia. It is commonly used in the manufacture of plastics and pharmaceuticals.
| IUPAC Name | Ethanamide |
| Molecular Formula | C2H5NO |
| CAS Number | 60-35-5 |
| Synonyms | Acetic Acid Amide, Ethamide, Ethanamide, CH3CONH2 |
| InChI | InChI=1S/C2H5NO/c1-2(3)4/h1H3,(H2,3,4) |
Acetamide Properties
Acetamide Molar Mass
Acetamide has a molar mass of 59.07 g/mol, which is the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in one molecule of acetamide. The molar mass of a compound is useful in determining the number of moles of the compound present in a given sample. It is also used in calculating the mass percent composition of the compound.
Acetamide Boiling Point
The boiling point of ethanamide is 222 °C. This is the temperature at which ethanamide changes from a liquid to a gas. The boiling point of a substance is affected by the strength of its intermolecular forces, and ethanamide has strong hydrogen bonds between its molecules. Therefore, it has a relatively high boiling point compared to other amides.
Acetamide Melting Point
The melting point of ethanamide is 82.5 °C. This is the temperature at which ethanamide changes from a solid to a liquid. The melting point of a substance is influenced by the strength of its intermolecular forces, and in the case of ethanamide, it has strong hydrogen bonds between its molecules. Therefore, it has a relatively high melting point compared to other amides.
Acetamide Density g/ml
The density of ethanamide is 1.16 g/mL. Density is the mass of a substance per unit volume, and it is a useful physical property for identifying and characterizing substances. Acetamide is a relatively dense compound, and its density can be used in calculations for various applications.
Acetamide Molecular Weight
The molecular weight of acetamide is 59.07 g/mol. This value is useful in determining the amount of acetamide present in a sample, as well as for stoichiometric calculations in chemical reactions.
Acetamide Structure
Acetamide has a simple structure consisting of a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to an amino group (NH2). This gives it the molecular formula C2H5NO. The carbonyl and amino groups are connected by a single carbon atom. The structure of ethanamide allows it to form strong hydrogen bonds with other ethanamide molecules, which contributes to its physical properties such as boiling point and melting point.
Acetamide Formula
The chemical formula for ethanamide is CH3CONH2, which indicates that it contains one carbon atom, two hydrogen atoms, one nitrogen atom, and one oxygen atom. The formula is useful in identifying the elements and their ratios present in the compound. It is also helpful in determining the stoichiometry of chemical reactions involving ethanamide.
| Appearance | White crystalline solid |
| Specific Gravity | 1.16 g/mL |
| Color | Colorless |
| Odor | Faint odor |
| Molar Mass | 59.07 g/mol |
| Density | 1.16 g/mL |
| Melting Point | 82.5 °C |
| Boiling Point | 222 °C |
| Flash Point | Not applicable |
| Water Solubility | Completely miscible |
| Solubility | Soluble in ethanol, ether, benzene, and chloroform |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.000138 mmHg at 25°C |
| Vapor Density | 2.1 |
| pKa | 16.5 |
| pH | 6.5 – 7.5 (10% aqueous solution) |
Acetamide Safety and Hazards
Acetamide is considered to be a relatively safe compound, but it can still pose certain hazards. It may cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system upon prolonged exposure. It may also cause gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression if ingested. Acetamide is combustible and may cause fires if exposed to heat or flame. It is important to handle ethanamide with care and use protective equipment, such as gloves and safety glasses, when working with it. Proper ventilation and storage are also necessary to prevent unnecessary exposure and minimize potential risks.
| Hazard Symbols | None |
| Safety Description | Avoid prolonged exposure. Wear protective equipment. Proper ventilation and storage are necessary. |
| UN IDs | Not applicable |
| HS Code | 29242990 |
| Hazard Class | Not classified as hazardous by OSHA or GHS |
| Packing Group | Not applicable |
| Toxicity | LD50 (oral, rat): 3.8 g/kg; LC50 (inhalation, rat): >20 mg/L (4-hour exposure) |
Acetamide Synthesis Methods
Ammonia or ammonium salts can react with acetic acid to synthesize ethanamide, ammonia can react with acetyl chloride to synthesize ethanamide, and ammonium acetate can undergo dehydration to synthesize ethanamide.
In the first method, Zinc oxide or copper catalyzes the reaction of acetic acid and ammonia or ammonium salts to synthesize ethanamide. The reaction produces ethanamide and water as byproducts.
In the second method, a base such as sodium hydroxide or ammonia gas reacts with acetyl chloride to produce ethanamide. The reaction produces ethanamide and hydrogen chloride gas as a byproduct.
In the third method, a dehydrating agent such as sulfuric acid facilitates the dehydration of ammonium acetate to synthesize ethanamide and water as a byproduct.
Acetamide Uses
Acetamide has a variety of uses in different industries due to its unique properties. Some of the common uses of ethanamide are:
- Solvent: Manufacturers often use it as a solvent to produce plastics, fibers, and resins.
- Pharmaceutical industry: Used in the pharmaceutical industry as a starting material for the synthesis of various drugs and also as a stabilizer for some antibiotics.
- Textile industry: Used in the textile industry as a softener for synthetic fibers such as nylon and as a dyeing agent for cotton and other natural fibers.
- Chemical industry: Also used as a chemical intermediate in the production of various chemicals such as acrylonitrile, acetic anhydride, and acrylamide.
- Food industry: Used as a flavoring agent and as an ingredient in some food products such as baked goods, candy, and ice cream.
- Laboratory research: Used in laboratory research as a solvent, reagent, and also as denaturant for proteins.
Questions:
Q: Which reagent or sequence of reagents will convert acetamide to ethyl acetate?
A: Acetamide can be converted to ethyl acetate by reacting it with ethyl chloroformate in the presence of a base such as pyridine. The reaction produces ethyl acetate, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen chloride gas as byproducts.
Q: Is acetamide an amino acid?
A: No, ethanamide is not an amino acid. It is a derivative of acetic acid and contains an amide functional group (-CONH2) instead of an amino group (-NH2).
Q: What is the product of the reaction of acetamide with HO-?
A: The reaction of acetamide with HO- (hydroxide ion) results in the hydrolysis of acetamide to form acetic acid and ammonia.
Q: How to remove acetamide solvent from crystals?
A: To remove ethanamide solvent from crystals, one can use techniques such as recrystallization or vacuum filtration. Recrystallization involves dissolving the crystals in a suitable solvent, such as water, and then allowing the solvent to evaporate slowly to obtain pure crystals. Vacuum filtration involves filtering the crystals through a filter paper under reduced pressure to remove any residual ethanamide solvent.
Q: Does acetamide have hydrogen bonding?
A: Yes, ethanamide can participate in hydrogen bonding due to the presence of a hydrogen bond acceptor (-CO) and a hydrogen bond donor (-NH2) in its molecular structure.