Pyridine

<p>Pyridine is a <a href="/facts/Basic_(chemistry)/M9wA7qeM">basic</a> <a href="/facts/Heterocyclic_compound/8oYSjJxY">heterocyclic</a> <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compound</a> with the <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">chemical formula</a> <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">C</a>5<a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">H</a>5<a href="/facts/Nitrogen/Nf1QpGDz">N</a>. It is structurally related to <a href="/facts/Benzene/Fguue7nr">benzene</a>, with one <a href="/facts/Methine_group/qIYGmIg2">methine group</a> (=CH−) replaced by a <a href="/facts/Nitrogen/Nf1QpGDz">nitrogen</a> atom (=N−).  It is a highly flammable, weakly <a href="/facts/Alkali/s6NqPGSP">alkaline</a>, water-miscible liquid with a distinctive, unpleasant fish-like smell. Pyridine is colorless, but older or impure samples can appear yellow, due to the formation of extended, unsaturated <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymeric</a> chains, which show significant <a href="/facts/Electrical_conductivity/akyCKvMy">electrical conductivity</a>.  The pyridine ring occurs in many important compounds, including <a href="/facts/Agrochemical/Pf7FXeuG">agrochemicals</a>, <a href="/facts/Pharmaceutical/h9mhwWP2">pharmaceuticals</a>, and <a href="/facts/Vitamin/SnW0LYBL">vitamins</a>. Historically, pyridine was produced from <a href="/facts/Coal_tar/6lLDL4Ic">coal tar</a>. As of 2016, it is synthesized on the scale of about 20,000 tons per year worldwide.
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Pyridine open-in-new

Pyridine