Hydrogen Cyanide

Overview IFRA Botanical Request a quote

  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    74-90-8

    Molecular formula
    CHN

    SMILES
    C#N
    N

    Safety labels

    Flammable
    Flammable

    Acute Toxic
    Acute Toxic

    Health Hazard
    Health

    Environmental Hazard
    Environmental

  • Odor profile

    odorless 46.39%
    pungent 28.1%
    bitter 17.38%
    sulfurous 17.27%
    sharp 16.9%
    fishy 16.22%
    almond 14.9%
    burnt 14.71%
    floral 14.56%
    garlic 14.39%

    Scent© AI

    Odor threshold>

    • Odor Threshold Low: 2.0 [mmHg]. Odor Threshold High: 10.0 [mmHg]
    • Approximately 60 to 70% of the population can detect the bitter almond odor of hydrogen cyanide. The odor threshold for those sensitive to the odor is estimated to be 1 to 5 ppm in the air. However, even at high toxic concentrations, up to 20% of all individuals are genetically unable to smell hydrogen cyanide.
    • Detection in air of hydrogen cyanide of an unspecified purity or grade: 1X10-3 mg/L.
    • High odor threshold was 5 mg/cu m; Low odor threshold was 0.9 mg/cu m.

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    0.1 Well soluble in TEC, MMB, IAA

    Molecular weight
    27.025 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • 812.5604 hPa @ 20°C
    • 978.0594 hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra fast

    Melting point expt.

    • 7 °F (96%) (NIOSH, 2024)
    • -13.28 °C
    • 5.00 °C. @ 0.00 mm Hg
    • 7 °F (96%)

    Boiling point

    • 78 °F at 760 mmHg (96%) (NIOSH, 2024)
    • 25.63 °C
    • 79.00 °C. @ 0.00 mm Hg
    • 78 °F (96%)

    Flash point expt.

    • 0 °F (96%) (NIOSH, 2024)
    • 0 °F (-18 °C) (Closed cup)
    • 0 °F (96%)

    Solubility expt.

    • Miscible (NIOSH, 2024)
    • Miscible with water
    • Miscible with ethanol, ethyl ether
    • Miscible with alcohol; slightly soluble in ether
    • 1.00E+06 mg/L @ 25 °C (exp)
    • Miscible

  • Synonyms

    • hydrogen cyanide
    • hydrocyanic acid
    • Formonitrile
    • Prussic acid
    • Cyanwasserstoff
    • Blausaeure
    • Formic anammonide
    • Zaclondiscoids
    • Evercyn
    • Cyclon
NaN -Infinity

IFRA Standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction

Botanical

Name CAS Botanical Proportion
Almond 8013-76-1 Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A. Webb (P. amygdalus Batsch, P. communis L.) 3.0%
Apricot kernel 68650-44-2 Prunus armeniaca L., fam. Rosaceae 3.0%