130. Acrylic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 79-10-7
2-Propenoic acid; vinylformic acid.
C3H4O2; mol wt 72.06.
C 50.00%, H 5.60%, O 44.41%.

Description and references

Prepd by hydrolysis of acrylonitrile: Kaszuba, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 67, 1227 (1945); by oxidation of acrolein: US 1911219 (1933 to Rohm & Haas); US 2288566 (1942 to Acrolein Corp.); US 2341339 (1944 to Distillers). Various other syntheses, see Org. Synth. coll. vol. III, 30-34 (1955). Toxicity study: H. F. Smyth et al., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 23, 95 (1962). Review: J. W. Nemec, W. Bauer in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 1 (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 3rd ed., 1978) pp 330-354.

Chemical structure

Properties

Liquid; acrid odor and fumes. Corrosive, flammable. d416 1.0621. mp 14°. bp 141.0°; bp400 122.0°; bp200 103.3°; bp100 86.1°; bp40 66.2°; bp10 39.0°; bp5 27.3°. nD20 1.4224. Flash pt, open cup: 155°F (68°C). pKa (25°): 4.25. Miscible with water, alc, ether. Polymerizes readily in the presence of oxygen. LD50 orally in rats: 2.59 g/kg (Smyth).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, skin, respiratory system; eye, skin burns; skin sensitization. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 8.

Use

In the manuf of plastics.