© 2026 Sinochem Nanjing Corporation,
All Right Reserved
Chemical Name: Malonyl chloride
Synonyms: Propanedioyl dichloride
CAS Number: 1607-26-1
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid, pungent odor
Chemical Formula: C3H2Cl2O2
Understanding basic identity stops people mixing it up with compounds like oxalyl chloride. Watching for the sharp chemical odor or spotting a yellow tint helps with immediate workplace recognition.
Hazard Classification: Corrosive, Toxic
Main Risks: Severe irritation to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, risk of chemical burns upon contact, potential to release toxic gases (hydrogen chloride, phosgene) on exposure to water or heat
Labeling: Corrosive pictograms, skull and crossbones for acute toxicity
The dangers are not just theoretical. Direct splashes can burn through gloves or cause blindness, and inhalation threatens the lungs. In work history, cases where ventilation fails often lead to evacuating whole labs.
Substance: Malonyl chloride (pure)
Impurities: Trace amounts of hydrochloric acid or related chlorides possible from manufacturing
Most samples in research settings are nearly pure, but knowing about HCl traces matters since even small contamination can ramp up corrosivity and toxicity. This influences decisions about required protective equipment.
Eye Contact: Immediate irrigation with clean water for 15+ minutes, emergency medical attention required
Skin Contact: Thorough rinse using large amounts of water, remove contaminated clothing, seek medical help
Inhalation: Move to fresh air, provide oxygen if breathing is difficult, prompt medical attention
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, never induce vomiting, medical attention critical
Quick action cuts the risk of permanent injury. Most people don't realize how fast corrosive chemicals dig in—slow response time changes the outcome drastically. Colleagues once saw a minor skin spot turn into a serious chemical burn in under a minute.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, use water spray to cool but avoid direct contact with water
Hazardous Combustion Products: Hydrogen chloride, phosgene, carbon monoxide
Precautions: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus, use proper protective clothing
Mixing this chemical with water during a fire actually creates more toxic fumes, so firefighters use dry agents and keep their distance. Even a small fire involving this material pushes emergency protocols into high gear, especially for smoke venting.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate non-essential personnel, don chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection, and respirators
Containment: Ventilate area, dike spilled liquid with inert materials like sand, avoid water
Cleanup: Collect and transfer to secure container, wash spill area with soda ash solution to neutralize
Bystanders and workers have been caught unaware during small leaks, which escalate when ventilation fails or the cleanup supplies are out of reach. Proper spill kits—complete with neutralizing agents—get used up quickly in busy labs; restocking them keeps everyone safe.
Handling: Always work in a fume hood, never breathe vapors, avoid skin and eye contact, only trained people handle this chemical
Storage: Store in tightly sealed glass containers, cool and dry place, protect from moisture, separate from bases and oxidizers
Direct handling without a chemical fume hood spells disaster every time. There’s been real-world cases of leaks in storage rooms where moisture seeps in, breaking open containers or corroding shelves. Investing in humidity control for storage brings peace of mind and stops this from turning into a costly, hazardous mess.
Engineering Controls: Certified lab hoods, general and local exhaust ventilation
Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile gloves, splash goggles, lab coat, face shield, respirator when airborne exposure risks exist
Exposure Limits: No specific legal limit, but keep exposure as low as possible
PPE that fits well and fresh gloves make all the difference. Colleagues learned the hard way that latex gloves dissolved rapidly in contact, so switching to nitrile solved mysterious rashes and glove failures. Fume hoods with current airflow checks turn a stressful workspace into a controlled environment.
Physical State: Liquid
Color: Colorless or yellowish
Odor: Sharp, pungent, irritating
Boiling Point: Around 161°C
Melting Point: -24°C
Density: About 1.4 g/cm³
Solubility: Reacts violently with water
Highlighting this chemical’s thirst for water, just a drop falling on a wet surface creates clouds of hydrogen chloride. Even humidity in the air can corrode bottle caps or labeling, so keeping containers bone dry makes a huge difference.
Chemical Stability: Stable in sealed, dry containers at low temperatures
Reactivity: Reacts with water, alcohols, amines, bases; produces heat and toxic gases
Incompatible Materials: H2O, strong bases, strong oxidizers
Long-term storage with accidental exposure to air brings out yellow decomposition products and sticky residue, which signals that it’s time to replace stock. Any hint of evaporated acid mists points to chemical changes that create more hazards than the original material.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, dermal, eye, ingestion
Acute Effects: Severe corrosive burns, respiratory distress, eye damage
Chronic Effects: Ongoing exposure increases risk of respiratory tract injury, skin sensitization, possible but unconfirmed carcinogenicity
Treating every drip and whiff as a threat to health isn’t an overreaction. Colleagues who relaxed mask rules sometimes ended up needing respiratory exams, especially after accidental vapor releases. Prevention saves more than treatment ever could.
Environmental Risks: Harmful to aquatic life, causes acidification of water bodies, damaging to flora and fauna
Persistence and Degradability: Hydrolyzes in water, producing hydrochloric acid and malonic acid
Bioaccumulation: Low expected, primary concern is immediate toxicity
Most accidental releases come from spills or improper container disposal, not leaking from landfills. Quick neutralization and containment keep local waterways safe, and routine checks on drains and work areas support a greener lab.
Waste Handling: Collect and neutralize with soda ash or lime before disposal
Disposal Method: Hazardous chemical waste—do not pour down drains, follow local hazardous waste regulations
Sloppy disposal risks serious chemical injuries and environmental fines. Even small amounts of leftover solution need full neutralization before professional disposal. Setting up a routine neutralization station in the lab, with logs for every disposal, improves compliance and keeps regulators away.
UN Number: 3261
Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive liquid, acidic, organic, n.o.s. (Malonyl chloride)
Transport Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive substances)
Packing Group: II
Precautions: Ship in approved containers, trained personnel only, immediate access to spill kits
Shipments can go wrong fast if handlers ignore small leaks or cooling needs. Collaborating with logistics teams to educate on chemical hazards and package checks saves effort, time, and potential legal headaches.
Occupational Regulations: Covered under hazardous substances rules for corrosives and acute toxins
Labelling Requirements: GHS pictograms, signal word: Danger
Other Relevant Legislation: Registration, disposal, and reporting rules at state and federal levels for toxic substances
Staying up-to-date on these regulations demands regular reviews and cooperation with chemical safety officers. Compliance audits help spot recordkeeping gaps or improper signage, keeping both personnel and management out of legal and safety trouble.
