Succinic anhydride

Description

Colorless crystalline needles. Succinic anhydride is used to harden photographic emulsions.

Note: The term succinaldehyde is sometimes incorrectly used commercially for this material.

Synonyms and Related Terms

2,5-diketotetrahydrofurane; succinyl oxide; butanedioic anhydride; succinaldehyde (incorrect)

Chemical structure

Risks

• Combustible.
• Skin contact can cause irritation.
• Inhalation may cause a rspiratory allergic reaction.
• Fisher Scientific: SDS

Physical and Chemical Properties

Soluble in chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, ethanol. Slightly soluble in ether, water.

Composition	C4H4O3
CAS	108-30-5
Melting Point	119.6 C
Density	1.104, 1.503 g/ml
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. = 100.02
Boiling Point	261 C

Resources and Citations

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 9039

• Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979