Cyanuric acid

Description

Cyanuric acid, or 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triol, is the hydroxyl analogue of?melamine. First synthesized by F. W?hler in 1829, from urea and uric acid, it is manufactured today by thermally decomposing urea. Cyanuric acid is a component of disinfectants and herbicides, and it is used as a chlorine stabilizer in swimming pools. It is nontoxic but was implicated in the recent?Chinese infant formula and pet food adulteration scandal.

Chemical properties

white powder

The Uses of Cyanuric acid

Cyanuric acid is used in chemical synthesis (see Section 31.0), as an intermediate for chlorinated bleaches, as a selective herbicide, and as a whitening agent. The parent compound and salts, chlorinated salts, and chlorinated acids are used to disinfect swimming pools, restaurants, and barns. Chlorinated salts hydrolyze in water to form cyanurate and hypochlorous acid. Other monomeric isocyanurates (e.g., triallyl cyanurate) are used as cross-linking components for producing polyurethanes, polyesters, and alkyd resins. Tris (2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate is used in wire lacquers. Cyanuric acid is produced in the United States.

The Uses of Cyanuric acid

Diagnostic determination of Melamine and related compounds in kidney tissue.

The Uses of Cyanuric acid

Convenient lab source of cyanic acid gas. In preparation of melamine, sponge rubber, herbicides, dyes, resin, antimicrobial agents. As stabilizer and disinfectant in swimming pool water.

Definition

ChEBI: The keto tautomer of cyanuric acid.

Definition

cyanuric acid: A white crystallinewater-soluble trimer of cyanic acid,(HNCO)₃. It is a cyclic compound havinga six-membered ring made of alternatingimide (NH) and carbonyl(CO) groups (i.e. three -NH-C(O)-units). It can also exist in a phenolicform (three -N=C(OH)- units).

Production Methods

Cyanuric acid is an odorless, crystalline powder. Chlorinated isocyanuratesareusuallypreparedbycontrolledchlorinationof the sodium or potassium salts of cyanuric acid. Other monomeric isocyanurates made from the parent compound include tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate and triallyl cyanurate.

General Description

Crystals.

Air & Water Reactions

Soluble in hot water [Hawley].

Reactivity Profile

An amide and amine. Organic amides/imides react with azo and diazo compounds to generate toxic gases. Flammable gases are formed by the reaction of organic amides/imides with strong reducing agents. Amides are very weak bases (weaker than water). Imides are less basic yet and in fact react with strong bases to form salts. That is, they can react as acids. Mixing amides with dehydrating agents such as P2O5 or SOCl2 generates the corresponding nitrile. The combustion of these compounds generate mixed oxides of nitrogen (NOx)

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Purification Methods

It crystallises from water. Dry it at room temperature in a desiccator in a vacuum. [Beilstein 26 III/IV 632.]