Acetonitrile, abbreviated ACN, is the simplest organic nitrile, also commonly called methyl cyanide and methyl nitrile. It is a colorless transparent liquid at room temperature, very volatile, with a special odor similar to ether, flammable, and burns with a bright flame. It is miscible with water, methanol, carbon tetrachloride, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, dichloroethane and many unsaturated hydrocarbon solvents. It is toxic and can be metabolized into hydrogen cyanide and thiocyanic acid. However, acetonitrile reacts violently with alkali metals, strong acids, strong bases and oxidants, so be careful.