Tetrachloroethane

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Description

A clear, sweet-smelling, viscous liquid. Tetrachloroethane was formerly used as a solvent for fats, oils, waxes, resins, plastics, Cellulose acetate, Rubber, Copal, and Sulfur. It was also used in the manufacture of paint and varnish removers and in the production of insecticides, weed killers, and fumigants. Tetrachlorethane is suspected to be a carcinogen.

Synonyms and Related Terms

acetylene tetrachloride; sym-tetrachloroethane; Cellon; Bonoform

Chemical structure

Tetrachloroethane.jpg


Risks

  • Nonflammable. Decomposes on contact with flame or UV light to form toxic fumes (phosgene and hydrogen chloride).
  • Potential carcinogenic.
  • Toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption.
  • ThermoFisher: SDS

Physical and Chemical Properties

Miscible with methanol, ethanol, benzene, ether, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform carbon disulfide, dimethylformamide, oils. Slightly soluble in water.

Composition CHCl2CHCl2
CAS 79-34-5
Melting Point -44 C
Density 1.587-1.593 g/ml
Molecular Weight mol. wt. = 167.9
Refractive Index 1.49419
Boiling Point 146.5 C

Resources and Citations

  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 805
  • Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  • Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
  • The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 9331