MOLECULE

Acetamide

Acetamide, also known as ethanamid or acetic acid amide, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as carboximidic acids. These are organic acids with the general formula RC(=N)-OH. Acetamide is soluble in water and low molecular mass alcohols. It forms deliquescent hexagonal crystals that are odorless when pure (DOI: 10.1002/14356007.a01_045.pub3), but it frequently has a mousy odor. Pure acetamide has a bitter taste. Acetamide is used as a solvent and as a plasticizer (DOI:10.1002/14356007.a01_045.pub3). Acetamide has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 2B possible human carcinogen (PMID: 10507919). However, further studies need to be conducted to better understand the potential in vivo genotoxicity of acetamide (PMID: 31470077). It has also been investigated as a residue from some pesticides and as an impurity in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals (DOI: 10.1021/op200205b). Acetamide has been identified in milk, eggs, and meat (PMID: 29186951). It has also been detected as one of the volatile components in marijuana samples obtained during police seizures (PMID: 26657499).