CompoundList
Sign in
Herbicides

Cyanamide

Also known as Hydrogen cyanamide, Amidocyanogen, Carbamonitrile

CAS 420-04-2Formula CH2N2Molar mass 42.04 g/molEC 206-992-3
GHS signal word: Danger. Pictograms: Corrosive, Acute toxicity (severe), Serious health hazard 67 suppliers listed
Get quotes Compare 67 suppliers
Cyanamide chemical structure, CH2N2, CAS 420-04-2
2D chemical structure

Key facts

What buyers check first

All properties
Appearance
Orthorhombic, elongated, six-sided tablets from dimethyl phthalate
Melting point
45 to 46
Boiling point
260 °C
Density
1.282 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Flash point
141 °C
HS code
285390
Category
Herbicides
UN number
UN 2811
Illustrative photo, drums, an IBC tote and sacks in a chemical warehouse in a warehouse
Typical packagingIllustrative packaging image, not the actual product

What is Cyanamide?

Plain description, key identifiers and synonyms

Cyanamide is a nitrile that is hydrogen cyanide in which the hydrogen has been replaced by an amino group. It has a role as an EC 1.2.1.3 [aldehyde dehydrogenase (NAD(+))] inhibitor. It is a nitrile and a one-carbon compound. It is a conjugate acid of a cyanamide(2-).

Cyanamide is a chemical compound featuring a nitrile group attached to an amino group.

Identifiers

Registry numbers, names and line notations, tap to copy

IUPAC name
cyanamide
CAS number
420-04-2 CAS number cross-checkedOther or deprecated CAS: 20890-10-2, 25300-84-9, 2669-76-3
EC number
206-992-3
Molecular formula
CH2N2
UNII
21CP7826LC
MDL number
MFCD00007572
InChIKey
XZMCDFZZKTWFGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI
InChI=1S/CH2N2/c2-1-3/h2H2
SMILES (canonical and isomeric)
C(#N)N

Synonyms

  • Hydrogen cyanamide
  • Amidocyanogen
  • Carbamonitrile
  • Cyanoamine
  • aminoformonitrile
  • Cyanogenamide
  • Alzogur
  • Cyanogen nitride
  • N-Cyanoamine
  • TsAKS
  • USAF EK-1995
  • Carbodiamide
  • Aminonitrile
  • Calcium Cyanamide, Citrated
  • Cyanamide, Citrated Calcium
  • Deurbraak
  • Cyanamide aq
  • cyanamine
  • Cyanamide, 99%
  • Cyanamide (JP18)
  • 4-03-00-00145 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
  • Cyanamide,50% aqueous
  • Cyanamide, cryst., m.p. 43 c

Physical and chemical properties

Measured values and descriptors computed from the structure

Physical and chemical properties

Measured values, check the supplier specification for your grade

Appearance
Orthorhombic, elongated, six-sided tablets from dimethyl phthalateexp.
Melting point
45 to 46exp.
Boiling point
260 °Cexp.
Density
1.282 g/cm³ at 20 °Cexp.
Flash point
141 °Cexp.
Solubility
Cyanamide is completely soluble in water at 43 °C and has a minimum solubility at -15 °C, highly soluble in polar organic solvents, such as alcohols, ethers, esters, nitriles and amides, but less soluble in nonpolar solvents like…exp.
Vapour pressure
3.75 × 10⁻³ mm Hg at 20 °Cexp.

Values vary by grade. Ask suppliers for the COA or TDS of the batch you buy.

Computed descriptors

Calculated from the structure, useful for screening and formulation

Molecular weight
42.04 g/molcalc.
Exact mass
42.0218 Dacalc.
LogP (octanol/water)
-0.57calc.
Topological polar surface area
49.81 Ųcalc.
Hydrogen bond donors
1calc.
Hydrogen bond acceptors
2calc.
Rotatable bonds
0calc.
Heavy atoms
3calc.
Rings
0calc.
Aromatic rings
0calc.
Fraction sp3 carbons
0calc.
Formal charge
0calc.
Stereocentres
0calc.

Calculated for screening. Confirm critical figures with the supplier.

Safety and hazards

GHS classification summary, not a safety data sheet

GHS signal word
Danger
GHS05: Corrosive
Corrosive
GHS06: Acute toxicity (severe)
Acute toxicity (severe)
GHS08: Serious health hazard
Serious health hazard
143NFPA 704 rating

Hazard statements

  • H301Toxic if swallowed.
  • H311Toxic in contact with skin.
  • H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
  • H317May cause an allergic skin reaction.
  • H318Causes serious eye damage.
  • H351Suspected of causing cancer.
  • H361fdSuspected of damaging fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child.
  • H373May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
  • H412Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Precautionary statements (28)
  • P203Obtain, read and follow all safety instructions before use.
  • P260Do not breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
  • P261Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
  • P262Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing.
  • P264Wash skin thoroughly after handling.
  • P264 + P265Wash skin thoroughly after handling. Do not touch eyes.
  • P270Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
  • P272Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
  • P273Avoid release to the environment.
  • P280Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
  • P301 + P316If swallowed: Get emergency medical help immediately.
  • P301 + P330 + P331If swallowed: Rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting.
  • P302 + P352If on skin: Wash with plenty of water.
  • P302 + P361 + P354If on skin: Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Immediately rinse with water for several minutes.
  • P304 + P340If inhaled: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
  • P305 + P354 + P338If in eyes: Immediately rinse with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
  • P316Get emergency medical help immediately.
  • P317Get medical help.
  • P318If exposed or concerned, get medical advice.
  • P319Get medical help if you feel unwell.
  • P321Specific treatment (see supplemental first aid instructions on the label).
  • P330Rinse mouth.
  • P333 + P317If skin irritation or rash occurs: Get medical help.
  • P361 + P364Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. And wash it before reuse.
  • P362 + P364Take off contaminated clothing. And wash it before reuse.
  • P363Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
  • P405Store locked up.
  • P501Dispose of contents and container in accordance with local regulations.
UN number
UN 2811
Transport hazard class
6.1
Packing group
III

GHS classification summary, not a safety data sheet (SDS). Classifications can differ by supplier, grade and concentration. Always check the supplier's SDS.

Full safety data and first aid

Cyanamide suppliers

Sponsored listings first, then the documented ranking: membership, verification, replies, completeness, freshness and ratings

All 67 suppliers
30 of 30 offers

Suppliers marked Unclaimed profile have not claimed their profile yet. They are not verified by CompoundList, their offers are price on request and details may have changed, so please confirm them with the supplier. Company representatives can claim a profile with a business email on the company's own website domain. Our team verifies each claim and sends the result by email.

Where suppliers are based

67 suppliers in 14 countries

Send one request to many suppliers

Choose up to 10 suppliers or let us match your request. Compare quotes side by side, free.

Choose suppliersPost a request

Cyanamide price

Indicative price range per kg from live supplier offers

No published prices right now

Suppliers quote this chemical on request. Send one free request and compare quotes side by side.

Get latest price

Uses and applications

What the substance is used for, by industry and function

Early post-emergence control of broad-leaved weeds in alliums (onions, leeks, chives, shallots, and garlic) and bulb flowers. Also used to remove side shoots and inhibit sprouting in hops and vines.

Agrochemistry: Cyanamide is used as a plant growth regulator and budbreaking agent (Dormex) to compensate for the lack of frost and to improve the budbreak of grapes and other fruit crops in areas with mild winters. Cyanamide has a significant fungicidal and herbicidal potential and is used in pig farming to overcome sanitary problems related with the pig manure.

Cyanamide is the key raw material for many herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. It is used to produce the herbicides Amitrol and Hexazinone and builds up the pyrimidine or 1,3,5-triazine subunit for a vast number of sulfonylurea herbicides like Bensulfuron or Metsulfuron methyl.

Read more

The benzimidazole fungicides Carbendazim and Benomyl and the pyrimidine fungicides Cyprodinil, Pyrimethanil, and Mepanipyrim are based on cyanamide, as well as the pyrimidine insecticides Bupyrimate and Dimethirimol and neonicotinoids like Acetamiprid. Many fungicidal and biocidal guanidine and biguanide compounds like Dodine, Guazatine and Iminooctadine are based on cyanamide chemistry.

Industrial uses: Intermediate, Other.

Use classes: Pesticides.

Roles

  • enzyme inhibitor

How it is made

Prepared commercially by continuous carbonation of calcium cyanamide in water according to the equations: 2CaNCN + 2H2O = Ca(HNCN)2 + Ca(OH)2, Ca(HNCN)2 + CO2 + H2O = 2H2NCN + CaCO3.

Cyanamide is manufactured from calcium cyanamide by continuous carbonation in an aqueous medium. In the continuous cyanamide process, the amount of calcium cyanamide and water added is equivalent to the aqueous cyanamide removed.

Regulatory status

Inventories, regulations and trade controls that list this substance

Europe

  • EU harmonised classification (CLP Annex VI)
    Index no: 615-013-00-2

Health and food

  • EU Cosmetics Regulation Annex II, prohibited in cosmetics
    Name: Cyanamide, carbanonitril, Ref no: 1595, Annex ref: II/1595

United States

  • TSCA inventory (USA)
    Status: Active in US commerce

HS code and trade data

Customs classification and reported world trade statistics

Global trade

World import and export statistics for the HS code Cyanamide is traded under.

HS 2853.90Indicative HS code

Phosphides, whether or not chemically defined, excluding ferrophosphorus, other, other

World exports in 2024
$2.45B
−33.6% vs 2023, imports $816M
2019 to 2024
Top exporters
  1. China68.4%
  2. Israel8.1%
  3. United States4.9%
Top importers
  1. United States19.3%
  2. Japan17.9%
  3. China13.4%
Reported customs values in USD, not prices.Full trade data

The HS code shown for Cyanamide is indicative (it is known at chapter level only). Confirm the classification with your customs broker before shipping.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Cyanamide, based on the data on this page

What is Cyanamide?

Cyanamide is a nitrile that is hydrogen cyanide in which the hydrogen has been replaced by an amino group. It has a role as an EC 1.2.1.3 [aldehyde dehydrogenase (NAD(+))] inhibitor. It is a nitrile and a one-carbon compound. It is a conjugate acid of a cyanamide(2-).

What is the CAS number of Cyanamide?

The CAS registry number of Cyanamide is 420-04-2. Other or deprecated CAS numbers: 20890-10-2, 25300-84-9, 2669-76-3.

What is the molecular formula and weight of Cyanamide?

The molecular formula of Cyanamide is CH2N2 and its molar mass is 42.04 g/mol.

What is Cyanamide used for?

Early post-emergence control of broad-leaved weeds in alliums (onions, leeks, chives, shallots, and garlic) and bulb flowers. Also used to remove side shoots and inhibit sprouting in hops and vines.

Is Cyanamide hazardous?

Cyanamide carries the GHS signal word "Danger". Main hazards: toxic if swallowed, toxic in contact with skin, causes severe skin burns and eye damage. This summary is not an SDS, always read the supplier safety data sheet.

What is the HS code of Cyanamide?

Cyanamide is usually classified under HS code 285390 (Phosphides, whether or not chemically defined, excluding ferrophosphorus, other…). This is indicative, confirm it with your customs broker before shipping.

Where can I buy Cyanamide?

CompoundList lists 67 suppliers of Cyanamide in China, United States, Brazil, Germany and 10 more. Send one free request to get and compare quotes. Your contact details stay private until you accept a quote.

Where can I buy Cyanamide in India?

1 supplier in India list Cyanamide on CompoundList. Filter the suppliers list by country and send a request to compare prices, grades and delivery times.

What is the price of Cyanamide?

Suppliers quote Cyanamide on request because prices depend on grade, purity, quantity and destination. A free request on CompoundList gets you several quotes to compare.

Guides for buyers

Practical guides that help when you source, ship or handle Cyanamide

Get quotes for Cyanamide

Post one free request with your grade, quantity and destination. Matching suppliers send quotes you can compare side by side.
Post a request Sell Cyanamide
Data last updated 7 Oct 2026. Details may have changed, please confirm them with the supplier. Report an error on this page
Embed this structure on your websiteShow code

Paste this code into your page to show the 2D structure of Cyanamide with a 3D view, its CAS number where known and a link back to this page. Free to use with the link kept.

<iframe src="https://www.compoundlist.com/embed/structure/cyanamide-420-04-2" title="Cyanamide structure on CompoundList" width="360" height="420" style="border:1px solid #E7E2DA;border-radius:12px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe>
Preview the embed

Explore more in Herbicides or HS code 285390

67 suppliers
Free quotes, contact stays private
Get quotes