C3H5NS

C3H5NS is the empirical formula for several chemical compounds, most notably thiocyanate and isothiocyanate derivatives. It indicates a molecule containing three carbon atoms, five hydrogen atoms, one nitrogen atom, and one sulfur atom. The specific arrangement of these atoms determines the compound's properties and name.

One common compound with this formula is allyl isothiocyanate. This organic compound is responsible for the pungent smell and taste of mustard, horseradish, and wasabi. It is naturally occurring and produced by plants when their tissues are damaged, such as when a moth is eating a mustard plant. Allyl isothiocyanate is used as a flavoring agent and has also been investigated for its potential antimicrobial and insecticidal properties.

Another possibility for the formula C3H5NS is thiocyanic acid, also known as isothiocyanic acid. This is a highly unstable and toxic acid that readily polymerizes. Its salts, thiocyanates, are much more stable and have various industrial applications, including in photography, dyes, and as herbicides. However, the formula C3H5NS usually refers to organic derivatives rather than the free acid itself. The structural isomerism between thiocyanate and isothiocyanate groups leads to different chemical behaviors and applications for compounds with this elemental composition.