Benzonitrile is an organic compound with the chemical formula C7H5N. It is a colorless oily liquid with the smell of almonds. It is slightly soluble in cold water, soluble in hot water, and easily soluble in ethanol and ether..It is mainly used as an intermediate for advanced coatings such as benzomelamine. It is also an intermediate for synthetic pesticides, aliphatic amines, and benzoic acid. It can also be used as a solvent for nitrile rubber, resins, polymers, and coatings.