File:Structural_formula_of_melamine.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
melamine
Sign in to saveAlso known as sym-triaminotriazine, cyanuramide, cyanurotriamide, cyanurotriamine, 2,4,6-triamino-s-triazine, 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, triaminotriazine, cyanuric triamide
thumb|Marking of product made of Melamine Melamine is an organic compound with the formula C3H6N6. This white solid is a trimer of cyanamide, with a 1,3,5-triazine skeleton. Like cyanamide, it contains 66% nitrogen by mass, and its derivatives have fire-retardant properties due to its release of nitrogen gas when burned or charred. Melamine can be combined with formaldehyde and other agents to produce melamine resins. Such resins are characteristically durable thermosetting plastic used in high-pressure decorative laminates such as Formica, melamine dinnerware including cooking utensils, plat
Melamine is a white chemical compound (C3H6N6) that can be combined with other materials to create durable plastics used in everyday products like countertops, dinnerware, and cooking utensils. It matters because melamine resins have fire-retardant properties, releasing nitrogen gas when burned, which makes these products safer in fire-prone situations.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C3H6N6
- Molecular weight
- 126.12 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine
- SMILES
- C1(=NC(=NC(=N1)N)N)N
- InChIKey
- JDSHMPZPIAZGSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- XLogP
- -1.4
- Polar surface area
- 117 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 3
- H-bond acceptors
- 6
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 126.065
- Image
- Melamine A.jpg
Show 4 more facts
- Commons category
- Melamine
- chemical formula
- C₃H₆N₆
- canonical SMILES
- C1(=NC(=NC(=N1)N)N)N
- density
- 1.574
via Wikidata · CC0
~25 min read
Article
25 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Uses
- Plastics and building materials
- Fertilizers
- Fire-retardant additives
- Food adulterant
- Medicine
- Toxicity
- Acute toxicity
- Chronic toxicity
- Metabolism
- Treatment of urolithiasis
- Contamination
- Regulation in food and feed
- Synthesis and reactions
- Drug derivatives
- Production in mainland China
- Melamine poisoning by tainted food
- 2007 animal-feed recalls
- 2008 Chinese outbreak
- Detection in biological specimens
- Melamine on metal surfaces
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|Marking of product made of Melamine Melamine is an organic compound with the formula C3H6N6. This white solid is a trimer of cyanamide, with a 1,3,5-triazine skeleton. Like cyanamide, it contains 66% nitrogen by mass, and its derivatives have fire-retardant properties due to its release of nitrogen gas when burned or charred. Melamine can be combined with formaldehyde and other agents to produce melamine resins. Such resins are characteristically durable thermosetting plastic used in high-pressure decorative laminates such as Formica, melamine dinnerware including cooking utensils, plates, and plastic products, laminate flooring, and dry erase boards. Melamine foam is used as insulation and soundproofing material, and in polymeric cleaning products such as Magic Eraser.
Melamine gained infamy when Chinese food producers Sanlu Group added it to baby formula in order to increase the apparent protein content, causing the 2008 Chinese milk scandal. Ingestion of melamine may lead to reproductive damage, or bladder or kidney stones, and bladder cancer. It is also an irritant when inhaled or in contact with the skin or eyes. The United Nations' food standards body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, has set the maximum amount of melamine allowed in powdered infant formula to 1 mg/kg and the amount of the chemical allowed in other foods and animal feed to 2.5 mg/kg. While not legally binding, the levels allow countries to ban importation of products with excessive levels of melamine.