Thiocyanic acid
Thiocyanic acid is a chemical compound with the formula HSCN which exists as a tautomer with isothiocyanic acid (HNCS).[4] The iso- form tends to dominate with the material being about 95% isothiocyanic acid in the vapor phase.[5]
Tautomerism between thiocyanic acid (left) and isothiocyanic acid (right)
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name
Thiocyanic acid[2] | |
Other names
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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| 3DMet | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.006.672 |
| EC Number |
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| 25178 | |
| KEGG | |
| MeSH | thiocyanic+acid |
PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| CHNS | |
| Molar mass | 59.09 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | colorless, oily liquid |
| Odor | pungent |
| Density | 2.04 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 5 °C (41 °F; 278 K) |
| Miscible | |
| Solubility | soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether |
| log P | 0.429 |
| Acidity (pKa) | 0.926 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 13.071 |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
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| Warning | |
| H302, H312, H332, H412 | |
| P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P304+P312, P304+P340, P312, P322, P330, P363, P501 | |
| Related compounds | |
Related alkanenitriles |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references | |
It is a moderately strong acid,[6] with a pKa of 1.1 at 20 °C and extrapolated to zero ionic strength.[7]
HSCN is predicted to have a triple bond between carbon and nitrogen. It has been observed spectroscopically but has not been isolated as a pure substance.[8]
The salts and esters of thiocyanic acid are known as thiocyanates. The salts are composed of the thiocyanate ion (−SCN) and a suitable metal cation (e.g., potassium thiocyanate, KSCN). The esters of thiocyanic acid have the general structure R–SCN.
Isothiocyanic acid, HNCS, is a Lewis acid whose free energy, enthalpy and entropy changes for its 1:1 association with a variety of Lewis bases in carbon tetrachloride solution at 25 °C have been reported.[9] HNCS acceptor properties are discussed in the ECW model.
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References
- Merck Index, 11th Edition, 9257.
- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (2014). Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013. The Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 784. doi:10.1039/9781849733069. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
- Richter, Victor von; Spielmann, Percy E., trans. (1922). Organic Chemistry or Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds. Vol. 1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.: P. Blakiston's Son & Co. p. 466.
- Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. (2001). Inorganic Chemistry. San Diego: Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.
- Beard, C. I.; Dailey, B. P. (1950). "The Structure and Dipole Moment of Isothiocyanic Acid" (PDF). The Journal of Chemical Physics. 18 (11): 1437. Bibcode:1950JChPh..18.1437B. doi:10.1063/1.1747507. hdl:1721.1/4934.
- Munegumi, Toratane (23 January 2013). "Where is the Border Line between Strong Acids and Weak Acids?". World Journal of Chemical Education. 1 (1): 12–16.
- Martell, A. E.; Smith, R. M.; Motelaitis, R. J. (2001). NIST Database 46. Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- Wierzejewska, M.; Mielke, Z. (2001). "Photolysis of Isothiocyanic Acid HNCS in Low-Temperature Matrices. Infrared Detection of HSCN and HSNC Isomers". Chemical Physics Letters. 349 (3–4): 227–234. Bibcode:2001CPL...349..227W. doi:10.1016/S0009-2614(01)01180-0.
- . Barakat, T. M.; Nelson, J.; Nelson, S. M.; Pullin, A. D. E. (1969.) “Spectra and hydrogen-bonding of characteristics of thiocyanic acid. Part 4.—Association with weak proton acceptors”. Trans. Faraday Soc., 1969,65, 41-51



