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Chemical Name: Mandelonitrile
Synonyms: α-Hydroxybenzeneacetonitrile
Chemical Formula: C8H7NO
Physical Form: Crystalline solid with a faint almond-like odor
CAS Number: 532-28-5
Recognizable Uses: Research laboratories handle this compound during organic synthesis projects, and it sometimes ends up in specialty chemistry classrooms.
Main Health Hazards: Mandelonitrile can seriously affect the nervous system after exposure, as it rapidly releases cyanide ions in the body. Skin contact, eye contact, inhalation, or accidental ingestion can lead to acute toxicity and headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, or, in severe cases, respiratory failure.
Label Elements: Toxic if swallowed, fatal in contact with skin, harmful if inhaled, risk of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure, possible environmental hazard due to breakdown products.
Pictogram Needs: Skull and crossbones, exclamation mark, environment symbol.
Warning Words: DANGER (not as scary as it is honest).
Active Ingredient: Pure Mandelonitrile, typically above 97% purity.
Other Ingredients: Trace amounts of moisture; rarely, laboratory solvents might stick around in very low concentrations, though experienced chemists will keep this to a minimum.
Inhalation: Move affected person into fresh air without delay. Do not leave them alone. Seek medical attention right away. Remove contaminated clothing.
Skin Contact: Wash thoroughly with soap and water. Use emergency showers if possible. Seek immediate medical help.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes gently and continuously with water for 15 minutes, keeping eyelids open. Get medical help if irritation or pain persists.
Ingestion: Call emergency services right away. Do not induce vomiting. Rinse the person’s mouth only when they are conscious. Emergency services must know mandelonitrile’s cyanide risk.
Extinguishing Media: Small fires can be put out using dry chemical powder, foam, or CO₂. Avoid using water jets as they can spread the material.
Specific Risks: Mandelonitrile decomposes under heat, releasing toxic gases such as hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides. If the material burns, hazardous clouds may form, making it risky for those without chemical protection gear.
Protective Equipment Needed: Firefighters must wear full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus. No exceptions.
Special Procedures: Isolate the area. Let trained responders manage fires involving this compound. Evacuate nearby people if possible.
Precautions: Ventilate the area; keep unauthorized personnel away. Use chemical spill kits with absorbent material. Wear gloves, goggles, and a properly rated respirator.
Cleanup Methods: Scoop up the solid with non-sparking tools, place in a sealed chemical waste container, and wash down the area with a dilute bleach or alkaline solution to neutralize residues.
Environmental Protection: Prevent release into drains, surface water, or soil because of cyanide breakdown products. Tell safety officers so bigger spills get the right response.
Personal Protective Needs: Handle only with full PPE; splashes travel farther than people expect.
Handling: Only handle in fume hoods or controlled ventilated areas. Wear protective clothing, and never eat, drink, or smoke anywhere near the work zone. Keep containers tightly closed and labeled.
Storage: Keep mandelonitrile in tightly closed glass or suitable plastic containers, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, protected from sunlight and incompatible materials such as acids, oxidizers, and bases. Lock storage areas and restrict access to trained personnel.
Avoidance: Don’t return unused material to original containers. Keep away from ignition sources and all sources of heat.
Engineering Controls: Chemical fume hoods are essential. Install eyewash stations and emergency showers close by. Regularly maintain exhaust ventilation.
Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile gloves, chemical safety goggles, lab coats, and, in cases of possible dust or vapor exposure, a respiratory mask approved for cyanide compounds.
Exposure Limits: No established workplace exposure limit for mandelonitrile itself, but specialists recommend staying well below the cyanide exposure threshold (OSHA ceiling for cyanide at 5 mg/m³; NIOSH REL at 4.7 mg/m³).
Hygiene Practices: Wash hands and face thoroughly before breaks and after handling. Immediately remove all contaminated clothing.
Appearance: White, needle-like or crystalline solid
Odor: Light almond scent
Melting Point: Ranges from 30 to 32°C
Boiling Point: Decays before boiling
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, soluble in ethanol and ether
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at room temperature
Density: Roughly 1.2 g/cm³
Stability: Stable when cool and dry, but breaks down easily with heat, light, strong acids, or bases.
Reactivity: Reacts with acids, releasing hydrogen cyanide.
Chemical Stability: Stable during storage under recommended conditions. At elevated temperatures, mandelonitrile easily decomposes.
Possibility of Hazardous Reactions: Contact with strong oxidizers, acids, or bases increases the risk of rapid breakdown and hazardous emission of toxic gases.
Incompatible Materials: Avoid acids, oxidizing agents, and bases.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides appear during decomposition.
Main Routes of Exposure: Eyes, skin, lungs (dust and vapor), and digestive tract.
Acute Health Effects: Inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption can lead to delayed symptoms, including nausea, rapid heartbeat, confusion, and convulsions from cyanide release. Death can occur from severe poisoning.
Chronic Risks: Repeated low-level exposure may produce neurological symptoms, persistent headaches, and weakness.
Animal Studies: Research shows rapid internal release of cyanide; rodents die quickly at modest doses.
Sensitive Groups: Pregnant women, children, and those with respiratory conditions face higher risk from even minor exposures.
Environmental Fate: Mandelonitrile does not last long in the environment. It breaks down in water or soil, but releases cyanide as it does.
Risks to Aquatic Life: Cyanide harms fish and other aquatic creatures. Waterways near chemical sites need constant monitoring.
Bioaccumulation: Does not tend to build up in plants or animals, but brief spikes can be deadly for smaller organisms.
Soil Impact: Quickly degrades in moist soils, with resulting cyanide possibly persisting until neutralized.
Disposal Method: Bring mandelonitrile residues to a licensed hazardous waste site. Do not wash down labs drains.
Incineration: High-temperature, chemical incineration may destroy remaining hazardous material.
Containment: Store waste in sealed, labeled hazardous material drums until shipment.
Legal Requirements: Follow all regional, national, and local waste management regulations closely. Environmental officers like to audit chemical disposal for compounds with cyanide groups.
UN Number: Typically ships as a dangerous good in the poison classification.
Shipping Labels: Toxic solid, organic, n.o.s.
Packaging: Strong, tightly sealed, unbreakable containers with obvious hazard labeling.
Precautions During Transport: Secure upright, keep away from incompatible materials, avoid rough handling, and never transport with food or feed.
Classification: Governed by national and international laws for toxic chemicals.
Inventory Listings: Found on major chemical inventories, but must meet peroxide and hazardous substance protocols.
Labelling Laws: Requires hazard statements, reference to cyanide risk, pictograms, signal words, and precautionary statements in line with GHS (Globally Harmonized System).
Workplace Controls: Strict training rules, written protocols, and restricted access form the regulatory backbone for sites keeping mandelonitrile on hand. Inspections focus on signage, emergency kit visibility, and records of use and disposal.
