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Acrylamide is the simplest unsaturated organic amide. Despite its low molar mass, and because it is highly polar, it is a solid rather than a liquid. As the hazard information table indicates, it is extremely toxic in multiple ways.
In 1949, Otto Bayer at Bayer AG (Leverkusen, West Germany) described the preparation of acrylamide. (Bayer was not related to the founding Bayer family.) Chemist Bayer synthesized acrylamide via the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of acrylonitrile. This is the only manufacturing method in use today. But in 2019, Kemira Ltd. (Helsinki, Finland) announced that it will begin to produce in its Mobile, AL, plant.
By far the major use of acrylamide is polymerization into polyacrylamides, which, depending on their molar masses and degree of cross-linking, are valuable for flocculating solids suspended in water, thickening water for use in enhanced petroleum recovery, and agricultural soil conditioning.
Acrylamide has become notorious in the past 20 years because traces of it have been found in commercial and home-cooked foods. Most of these are starchy foods such as French fries, potato chips, and some breads. In general, . Smoking tobacco, however, results in much than any food source.
Acrylamide hazard information
GHS classification*: acute toxicity, oral, category 3 | |
H301鈥擳oxic if swallowed | ![]() |
GHS classification: acute toxicity, dermal, category 4 | |
H312鈥擧armful in contact with skin | ![]() |
GHS classification: skin corrosion/irritation, category 2 | |
H315鈥擟auses skin irritation | ![]() |
GHS classification: skin sensitization, category 1 | |
H317鈥擬ay cause an allergic skin reaction | ![]() |
GHS classification: serious eye damage/eye irritation, category 2A | |
H319鈥擟auses serious eye irritation聽 | ![]() |
GHS classification: 聽acute toxicity, inhalation, category 4 | |
H332鈥擧armful if inhaled | ![]() |
GHS classification: 聽germ cell mutagenicity, category 1B | |
H340鈥擬ay cause genetic defects聽 | ![]() |
GHS classification: 聽carcinogenicity, category 1B | |
H350鈥擬ay cause cancer | ![]() |
GHS classification: reproductive toxicity, category 2 | |
H361f鈥擲uspected of damaging fertility | ![]() |
GHS classification: specific target organ toxicity, oral, repeated exposure, category 1 | |
H372鈥擟auses damage to organs (testes, peripheral nervous system) through prolonged or repeated exposure if swallowed | ![]() |
**Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.聽
Acrylamide fast facts
CAS Reg. No. | 79-06-1 |
nomenclature | 2-Propenamide |
Empirical formula | C3H5NO |
Molar mass | 71.08 g/mol |
Appearance | White crystals |
Melting point | 84.5 潞C |
Water solubility | 2.04 kg/L (25 潞C) |

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