Parathion: Difference between revisions
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
A highly toxic organic phosphate [[insecticide|insecticide]]. Parathion was | A highly toxic organic phosphate [[insecticide|insecticide]]. Parathion was developed in the 1940s by Gerhard Schrader at IG Farben in Germany. The pale yellow liquid acts as a cholinesterase inhibitor for insects and mammals. This means it interrupts the function of the central nervous system and causes death by respiratory failure. The use of parathion has been banned or restricted worldwide. | ||
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|parathionir.jpg~FTIR]]] | [[[SliderGallery rightalign|parathionir.jpg~FTIR]]] | ||
== Synonyms and Related Terms == | == Synonyms and Related Terms == | ||
O,O-diethyl-O,p-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate | O,O-diethyl-O,p-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate; O,O-diethyl-p-nitrophenyl thiophosphate; diethyl parathion; parathion-ethyl; AATP; E605; Niran; Penncap-E | ||
== Personal Risks == | == Personal Risks == | ||
* Highly toxic by skin contact, inhalation or ingestion. | * Highly toxic by skin contact, inhalation or ingestion. | ||
* Flammable. Flash point = 120-160 C. | * Flammable. Flash point = 120-160 C. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 16: | ||
* Persistent organic pollutant; resists bacterial and chemical breakdown processes | * Persistent organic pollutant; resists bacterial and chemical breakdown processes | ||
* Biomagnifies as it is passed up the food chain | * Biomagnifies as it is passed up the food chain | ||
* Toxic to almost all forms of life | |||
* One of the 'Dirty Dozen' named by the Stockholm Convention | * One of the 'Dirty Dozen' named by the Stockholm Convention | ||
==Physical and Chemical Properties== | ==Physical and Chemical Properties== | ||
* Usually distributed as a brown liquid that steel like rotten eggs. It darken in sunlight | |||
Soluble in ester, alcohols, ketones, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, oils. Slightly soluble in water. Insoluble in petroleum ether, kerosene. | * Soluble in ester, alcohols, ketones, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, oils. Slightly soluble in water. | ||
* Insoluble in petroleum ether, kerosene. | |||
* Composition = (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>O)<sub>2</sub>P(S)OC<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>2</sub> (mol.wt. = 291.27 g/m) | |||
* CAS = 56-38-2 | |||
* Melting Point = 6 C | |||
* Density = 1.26 g/ml | |||
* Refractive Index = 1.5367 | |||
* Boiling Point = 375 C | |||
==Resources and Citations== | ==Resources and Citations== | ||
Revision as of 13:42, 8 November 2026
Description
A highly toxic organic phosphate insecticide. Parathion was developed in the 1940s by Gerhard Schrader at IG Farben in Germany. The pale yellow liquid acts as a cholinesterase inhibitor for insects and mammals. This means it interrupts the function of the central nervous system and causes death by respiratory failure. The use of parathion has been banned or restricted worldwide.
Synonyms and Related Terms
O,O-diethyl-O,p-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate; O,O-diethyl-p-nitrophenyl thiophosphate; diethyl parathion; parathion-ethyl; AATP; E605; Niran; Penncap-E
Personal Risks
- Highly toxic by skin contact, inhalation or ingestion.
- Flammable. Flash point = 120-160 C.
- NIH: Compound summary
Environmental Risks
- Persistent organic pollutant; resists bacterial and chemical breakdown processes
- Biomagnifies as it is passed up the food chain
- Toxic to almost all forms of life
- One of the 'Dirty Dozen' named by the Stockholm Convention
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Usually distributed as a brown liquid that steel like rotten eggs. It darken in sunlight
- Soluble in ester, alcohols, ketones, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, oils. Slightly soluble in water.
- Insoluble in petroleum ether, kerosene.
- Composition = (C2H5O)2P(S)OC6H4NO2 (mol.wt. = 291.27 g/m)
- CAS = 56-38-2
- Melting Point = 6 C
- Density = 1.26 g/ml
- Refractive Index = 1.5367
- Boiling Point = 375 C
Resources and Citations
- MuseumPests.net: Pesticide Database
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment:parathion [Accessed March 26, 2002].
- The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 6897
- Wikipedia: Parathion Accessed Nov 2026