What are nitriles ?

Explanation

### Step-by-Step Solution

1. **Definition of Nitriles**: Nitriles are organic compounds that contain a cyano group, which is characterized by the functional group -C≡N. This means that nitriles have a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.

2. **Structure of Nitriles**: The general structure of a nitrile can be represented as R-C≡N, where R can be an alkyl or aryl group. This indicates that nitriles can be derived from both aliphatic (alkyl) and aromatic (aryl) compounds.

3. **Examples of Nitriles**: A common example of a nitrile is acetonitrile (CH₃CN), where the cyano group is attached to a methyl group. Another example is benzonitrile (C₆H₅CN), where the cyano group is attached to a benzene ring.

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