Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Cortisol Extraction from Sturgeon Fin and Jawbone Matrices
Published on: September 10, 2019
Photochemistry of XCH2CN (X = -Cl, -SH) in Argon Matrices
Joanna Zapała1, Thomas Custer1, Jean-Claude Guillemin2
1Institute of Physical Chemistry , Polish Academy of Sciences , Kasprzaka 44/52 , PL-01-224 Warsaw , Poland.
Abstract:
We report infrared spectra and photochemical behavior of the potentially astrochemically significant species, mercaptoacetonitrile (HS-CH2C≡N) and, for comparison purposes, chloroacetonitrile (Cl-CH2C≡N), both suspended in an argon matrix at 6 K. Photolytic formation of the isocyano products HS-CH2-NC and Cl-CH2-NC were observed as well as CH3NSC and CH3SCN (in HS-CH2CN photolysis). While no dissociation products were observed for Cl-CH2-CN, photolysis of HS-CH2-CN produced compounds necessitating the loss of the CN group to form CH2═S, the SH group to form H2C-CN and HC-CN, or both CN and SH to form CH3 and CH4. Observation of emission spectra upon annealing indicates the presence of free sulfur atom in matrices of photolyzed HS-CH2-CN.
Related Concept Videos
Mixtures of Gases: Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures and Mole Fractions
Kinetic Molecular Theory: Molecular Velocities, Temperature, and Kinetic Energy
Electron Configuration of Multielectron Atoms
The Extracellular Matrix
Electron Affinity
Noble Gases
The elements in group 18 are noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon). They earned the name “noble” because they were assumed to be nonreactive since they have filled valence shells. In 1962, Dr. Neil Bartlett at the University of British Columbia proved this assumption to be false.

