What Is Isocyanic Acid?
Isocyanic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula HNCO. It exists primarily as a colorless gas at room temperature and pressure but can also be found in liquid form. Isocyanic acid has two isomers: cyanic acid and fulminic acid, and it can readily convert to cyanic acid.
Isocyanic acid can be synthesized by reacting cyanic acid with an acid, which leads to the addition of a hydrogen ion. Another method involves the thermal decomposition of cyanuric acid, a substance derived from urea.
Isocyanic acid is soluble in organic solvents such as benzene and is slightly soluble in water.
Uses of Isocyanic Acid
Isocyanic acid has various derivatives, one of the main ones being methyl isocyanate. Methyl isocyanate is known for its application in chemical industries but requires careful handling due to its toxic nature. The tragic incident in Bhopal, India in 1984 involving a methyl isocyanate leak from a carbaryl plant, which resulted in numerous fatalities, underscores the critical importance of stringent safety measures in chemical manufacturing and storage.