Thiocyanic acid

Thiocyanic acid
  Carbon, C
  Sulfur, S
  Nitrogen, N
  Hydrogen, H
Names
IUPAC name
Thiocyanic acid
Other names
  • Hydrogen thiocyanate
  • Sulfocyanic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.006.672
EC Number
  • 207-337-4
25178
KEGG
MeSH thiocyanic+acid
UNII
  • InChI=1S/CHNS/c2-1-3/h3H Y
    Key: ZMZDMBWJUHKJPS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  • thiocyanic acid: SC#N
  • isothiocyanic acid: N=C=S
Properties
HSCN
Molar mass 59.09 g·mol−1
Appearance
  • Colourless liquid
  • Colourless gas, autopolymerizing to white solid
Odor Pungent
Density 2.04 g/cm3
Melting point
  • 5 °C (oligomers?)
  • −110 °C (monomer?)
Miscible
Solubility Soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether
log P 0.429
Vapor pressure 4.73 mmHg (631 Pa)
Acidity (pKa) 0.926
Basicity (pKb) 13.071
Hazards
GHS labelling:
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 compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Thiocyanic acid is a chemical compound with the formula HSCN and structure H−S−C≡N, which exists as a tautomer with isothiocyanic acid (H−N=C=S). The isothiocyanic acid tautomer tends to dominate with the compound being about 95% isothiocyanic acid in the vapor phase.

It is a moderately strong acid, with a pKa of 1.1 at 20 °C and extrapolated to zero ionic strength.

One of the thiocyanic acid tautomers, HSCN, is predicted to have a triple bond between carbon and nitrogen. Thiocyanic acid has been observed spectroscopically.

The salts and esters of thiocyanic acid are known as thiocyanates. The salts are composed of the thiocyanate ion ([SCN]) and a suitable cation (e.g., potassium thiocyanate, KSCN). The esters of thiocyanic acid have the general structure R−S−C≡N, where R stands for an organyl group.

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.< HNCS acceptor properties are discussed in the ECW model. The salts are composed of the thiocyanate ion ([SCN]) and a suitable cation (e.g., ammonium thiocyanate, [NH4]+[SCN]). Isothiocyanic acid forms isothiocyanates R−N=C=S, where R stands for an organyl group.

Thiocyanuric acid is a stable trimer of thiocyanic acid.