acrylamide
Sign in to saveAcrylamide (or acrylic amide) is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH2=CHC(O)NH2. It is a white odorless solid, soluble in water and several organic solvents. From the chemistry perspective, acrylamide is a vinyl-substituted primary amide (CONH2). It is produced industrially mainly as a precursor to polyacrylamides, which find many uses as water-soluble thickeners and flocculation agents.
Article
14 sectionsContents
- Production
- Uses
- Toxicity and carcinogenicity
- Europe
- United States
- Opinions of health organizations
- Hazards
- Mechanism of action
- Occurrence in food
- Occurrence in cigarettes
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Acrylamide (or acrylic amide) is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH2=CHC(O)NH2. It is a white odorless solid, soluble in water and several organic solvents. From the chemistry perspective, acrylamide is a vinyl-substituted primary amide (CONH2). It is produced industrially mainly as a precursor to polyacrylamides, which find many uses as water-soluble thickeners and flocculation agents.
Acrylamide forms in burnt areas of food, particularly starchy foods like potatoes, when cooked with high heat, above . Despite health scares following this discovery in 2002, and its classification as a probable carcinogen, there is ongoing debate as to whether acrylamide consumed through diet is likely to cause cancer in humans; Cancer Research UK categorized the idea that eating burnt food causes cancer as a myth.