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Chemical Name: Benzoquinone
Synonyms: 1,4-Benzoquinone, para-benzoquinone, quinone
Molecular Formula: C6H4O2
Appearance: Yellow crystalline solid
Odor: Sharp, irritating smell often described as similar to chlorine
CAS Number: 106-51-4
Common Use: Chemical synthesis, laboratory reagent, dye manufacture, and as an oxidizing agent
Health Hazards: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage, can trigger respiratory system irritation, ingestion produces toxic effects on organs, especially kidneys and liver, vapor inhalation leads to coughing, shortness of breath, and in some cases delayed lung injury
Physical Hazards: Flammable solid, combustion can produce irritating, toxic fumes including carbon monoxide, not just a fire risk but poses inhalation toxicity during accidents
Environmental Hazards: Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting impacts, persistence in water and soil presents risks to ecosystems especially near industrial discharge sources
Main Component: Para-benzoquinone (greater than 98% by weight in standard reagent grade)
Common Impurities: Small amounts of hydroquinone, water, trace organic acids
Stabilizers/Other Additives: None usually present in industrial or laboratory grade material
Formulation Concerns: Handling nearly pure substance means exposure risks aren’t diluted or masked by fillers
Inhalation: Get person out of contaminated air, seek medical care for breathing difficulty or irritation, oxygen may be given in clinics for severe exposure
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed skin quickly in plenty of water and soap, medical evaluation recommended for any burns or persistent symptoms
Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with clean, gently flowing water for more than fifteen minutes, make sure eyelids are held open, emergency evaluation by healthcare provider needed due to risk of permanent damage
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth thoroughly with water, seek immediate emergency care, possible risk of organ injury or chemical burns
Follow-Up: Monitor for delayed symptoms like pulmonary edema or allergic reactions, medical workplace documentation often required
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide
Special Firefighting Instructions: Firefighters need self-contained breathing apparatus and chemical-resistant clothing due to toxic fumes, evacuate area of unnecessary personnel
Major Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and noxious organic vapors release under fire conditions
Fire Risk: Flammable dust can form explosive mixtures, care needed to prevent static discharge in storage and handling areas
Personal Protection: Use chemical-resistant gloves, tight-fitting goggles, long sleeves, possibly respirators in case of vapor or dust risk
Containment: Ventilate area, isolate spill—avoid dust formation, scoop up residue with inert absorbent like vermiculite, then bag for disposal
Environmental Precautions: Don’t allow material to reach soil, surface water, or storm drains, notify authorities if spill threatens public areas
Clean-Up: Collect in clearly labeled waste containers, wash area with plenty of water, all cleaning materials treated as hazardous due to contamination risk
Handling: Only open containers in ventilated chemical hoods, use tools not hands when measuring or transferring, avoid skin or eye contact, wash hands after work with an abundance of soap
Storage: Keep tightly sealed in cool, dry places away from sunlight and heat sources, separate from acids, alkalis, reducing agents or combustibles, label all vessels clearly and store away from food or medicine areas
Safe Zones: Dedicated chemical storage cabinets, not general-purpose shelves, access restricted to trained chemical users
Engineering Controls: Fume hoods, closed batch processes wherever possible, negative pressure in storage areas to keep vapor away from users, eye wash fountains and safety showers within easy reach
Personal Protective Equipment: Butyl rubber or nitrile gloves, splash-proof goggles, face shield for large volume handling, full-coverage lab coat, apron or chemical-resistant suit for industrial settings, fit-tested air-purifying respirator for unavoidable vapor exposure
Work Practice Controls: No eating, drinking, or smoking near chemical use, mandatory hand washing, work in buddy system for complicated or risky procedures
Appearance: Yellow crystalline solid
Molecular Weight: 108.09 g/mol
Melting Point: About 115°C
Boiling Point: About 289°C under normal pressure
Density: 1.32 g/cm³
Vapor Pressure: Notable at room temperature, vapor easily detected by strong odor
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, much more in ether or alcohol
Volatility: High at ambient temperature, evaporates rapidly from open containers
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage and handling, breaks down in presence of strong acids, alkalis, reducing agents, or prolonged exposure to sunlight
Hazardous Reactions: Violent exothermic reaction with reducing agents or some metals, risk of explosion from dust clouds in air
Decomposition Products: Toxic gases like carbon monoxide, also phenol derivatives under some reactions
Polymerization Risks: Not likely under normal conditions, possible if contaminated or overheated
Acute Toxicity: Highly toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption, animal studies report LD50 (oral, rat) ranges from under 100 mg/kg, causes systemic organ damage
Chronic Effects: Prolonged, repeated skin contact leads to dermatitis, permanent skin sensitivity, extended exposure tied to kidney and liver injury
Sensitization: Known to cause allergic skin and respiratory reactions in some users, past cases document increased asthma or persistent cough
Symptoms of Overexposure: Nausea, vomiting, headache, collapse in severe cases, strongly irritating to skin and mucous membranes, long-term: anemia, kidney failure, or even fatality with significant overdose
Suspected Carcinogenicity: Not classified by major regulatory agencies as directly carcinogenic, but chronic inhalation exposure discouraged due to broad systemic effects
Aquatic Toxicity: Harmful to fish, daphnia, and other aquatic organisms at low concentrations, once in water it can persist and accumulate
Soil and Water Mobility: Limited mobility due to partial solubility, but stable enough to persist in pollutants near chemical plants, inappropriate disposal can contaminate wells and streams
Bioaccumulation Factor: Evidence suggests moderate to high risk for accumulation in aquatic species, raises concerns for the food chain
Degradation: Photodegrades slowly in sunlight, more persistent in shaded surface water or sediments
Environmental Concerns: Without adequate pre-treatment, direct discharge from factories causes harm noticeable on both small and community-wide scales
Recommended Methods: Collect all waste in high-density polyethylene containers, never pour down regular drains, utilize licensed chemical-waste processors for incineration or specialized disposal
Precautions: Separate from general trash, restrict access to designated personnel only, clean all tools that touch quinone residue with strong detergents and consider discarding
Disposal of Containers: Once emptied, rinse extensively and destroy or treat as hazardous waste
UN Number: Commonly shipped under hazardous chemical code, usually grouped with oxidizing solids
Packing Group: Typically classified in high-hazard group due to toxicity and reactivity
Transport Restrictions: Banned from passenger aircraft, only allowed in approved, clearly marked containers, proper documentation always required during highway or marine shipment
Accidental Release During Transit: Emergency cleanup plans recommended by international shipping laws, notification of authorities mandatory in case of leaks or spillage on route
Occupational Standards: Most industrialized nations set strict short- and long-term workplace exposure limits, typically measured in parts per million over shift and hour intervals
Inventory Tracking: Appears on most chemical control lists as a hazardous substance, local authorities often require logs of usage, storage amounts, and waste generation
Import/Export Rules: Subject to international treaties governing shipment of dangerous chemicals, legitimate users often bound by registration and licensing procedures
Labelling: Packages must display clear hazard warnings, signal words, and pictograms as mandated by global harmonized system standards
