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Chemical Name: Acetyl Iodide
Synonyms: Ethanoyl iodide
Chemical Formula: C2H3IO
CAS Number: 507-02-8
Description: Liquid with a sharp, pungent odor and colorless or pale yellow appearance. This compound shows high reactivity, making it a tool for organic synthesis, especially in acylation reactions within research labs. Handling acetyl iodide always calls for a grounded approach—nobody wants to risk skin or eye irritation, or even the more severe hazards that come from improper exposure.
Classification: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage; may cause respiratory irritation; flammable liquid and vapor.
Hazard Statements: Corrosive to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact can cause injury.
Pictogram Risks: Corrosive, flammable, harmful if inhaled.
Signal Word: Danger
Most Likely Hazards: Splashes or vapors getting onto skin or into lungs, and the liquid itself going straight through basic gloves or affecting anyone without proper gear. Swift exposure to moisture releases hydrogen iodide, a corrosive and toxic gas.
Ingredient: Acetyl iodide
Concentration: Typically over 98 percent in laboratories, few additives
Impurities: Small traces of related halide by-products or acetic acid may appear from decomposition
Relevant Properties: The packed nature of small molecule halides means minor exposures may have outsized effects compared to much larger-volume chemicals that get used elsewhere in a lab or industrial plant
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air urgently; seek medical help right away for any respiratory distress.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes; get immediate medical attention.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes with water for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelids open; medical care is essential.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, do not induce vomiting; seek care from a medical professional immediately.
Symptom Monitoring: Watch for difficulty breathing, coughing, or persistent burning on skin or mucous membranes; do not wait to see if these die down before consulting a professional.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or alcohol-resistant foam.
Unsuitable Media: Water (contact with water increases hydrogen iodide production and can worsen hazards).
Fire Hazards: Highly flammable; heated containers may explode; combustion releases toxic gases including hydrogen iodide and carbon oxides.
Protective Equipment: Full protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus, due to toxic vapor risk.
Emergency Procedure: Evacuate the area, control run-off, and avoid breathing fumes.
Personal Precautions: Use full protective equipment—chemical goggles, gloves, and a lab coat are always needed. Work in a properly ventilated area with extraction hoods.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent spillage from reaching waterways or drains because even small leaks can cause harm to aquatic life and disrupt treatment facilities.
Containment: Use inert absorbents like sand or activated charcoal. Do not use materials that might react with the compound, such as sawdust or organic fibers.
Cleanup: Sweep up and transfer to waste containers. Neutralize residues with sodium bicarbonate or similar chemicals under fume extraction.
Handling: Always use in a fume hood and keep away from sources of ignition. Avoid breathing vapors, or allowing any contact with skin or eyes. Never use near water or in damp areas, as this can generate toxic gas.
Storage: Keep containers tightly closed, dry, and stored in a cool, well-ventilated area. Segregate from oxidizers, acids, bases, and most other reactive chemicals. Avoid using containers with compromised seals, as air or humidity will trigger decomposition.
Exposure Limits: There is no established OSHA or ACGIH limit for acetyl iodide, but all halide reagents require controlling to the lowest reasonably achievable level.
Engineering Controls: Work in a chemical fume hood; ensure lab rooms have strong general ventilation.
Respiratory Protection: If ventilation proves insufficient or a spill occurs, a full-face respirator with appropriate acid gas cartridges should be used.
Skin Protection: Chemical-resistant gloves—nitrile or butyl recommended—along with lab coats and closable sleeves.
Eye Protection: Safety goggles that seal against the face or face shields.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands thoroughly before breaks and after handling, and do not eat, drink, or smoke nearby.
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Strong, pungent, vinegar-like
Boiling Point: About 100°C
Melting Point: Below room temperature, commonly recorded near -50°C
Flash Point: Flammable at temperatures below most laboratory conditions
Solubility: Hydrolyzes rapidly in water, producing hydrogen iodide and acetic acid
Vapor Pressure: Considerable at room temperature
Reactivity: Strongly reacts with water and basic solutions
Chemical Stability: Decomposes on contact with moisture, air, or light
Conditions to Avoid: Water, heat, exposure to open air, strong bases, oxidizers
Incompatible Materials: Strong bases, oxidizing agents, and water-promoted decomposition
Hazardous Reactions: Releases irritating and corrosive gases upon hydrolysis or combustion, including hydrogen iodide
Decomposition Products: Hydrogen iodide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide
Acute Effects: Burns to skin, eye injury, throat and lung irritation
Inhalation: Coughing, choking, respiratory tract burns sometimes leading to delayed pulmonary edema
Skin/Eye Contact: Redness, blistering, severe eye irritation, or vision damage
Ingestion: Harmful, can result in burns to mouth, throat, and stomach, nausea, vomiting
Chronic Effects: Repeated exposure risks thyroid disruption from iodine and chronic inflammation of exposed tissues
Sensitization: Not typically reported, but corrosion and irritation remain the main threats
Persistence and Degradability: Breaks down quickly in environment but hydrolysis to hazardous by-products can affect aquatic life and alter ecosystem pH.
Aquatic Toxicity: Toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms; the released hydrogen iodide shifts local water chemistry.
Bioaccumulation: Likelihood remains low, as free iodine reacts swiftly with environmental substrates.
Other Effects: High localized contamination could cause disruption in soil microbial life and small aquatic systems; better to treat all spills as potentially serious.
Waste Treatment: Collect liquid and residues for transport to hazardous waste facilities; neutralize cautiously before disposal whenever feasible.
Do Not: Discharge to sewer or environment.
Container Recommendations: Use only compatible, tightly sealed vessels; labeling and segregating corrosive waste is key to safe collection.
Shipping Description: Classed as a corrosive and flammable liquid for transport purposes.
Transport Considerations: Keep containers upright, secure, and protected from mechanical shock or prolonged temperature shifts.
Compatibility: Segregate from incompatible chemicals, keep away from public areas during transfer.
Labeling: Require clear corrosive and flammable labeling, both for staff and emergency services.
Regulatory Status: Covered by hazardous materials rules under various global, national, and local frameworks for handling, storage, transit, and worker safety.
Worker Protection Standards: Strict PPE and ventilation requirements in line with laboratory safety protocols.
Environmental Reporting: Reportable if a significant release or spill occurs, especially near bodies of water or public wastewater systems.
Other Controls: Relevant training, chemical inventory management, and accessible safety instructions help reduce user error, supporting both safety and regulatory compliance.
