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Product Name: Oxalyl Chloride
Synonyms: Ethanedioyl dichloride, Ethanedioic acid dichloride
Chemical Formula: C2Cl2O2
CAS Number: 79-37-8
Recommended Use: Laboratory chemical, chemical synthesis, reagents
Supplier Address: Major chemical distributors provide this material; details on demand through supply chain provider
Emergency Contact Number: National Poison Control and local fire department numbers specific to locality
Restrictions: Not for food, drug, or cosmetic purposes
Classification: Acute toxicity (oral, inhalation), Corrosive to skin and eyes, Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure)
GHS Label Elements: Danger symbol (Skull, corrosive hand and metal)
Hazard Statements: H302: Harmful if swallowed. H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. H331: Toxic if inhaled.
Precautionary Statements: Use personal protective equipment, avoid breathing vapors, wash hands thoroughly after handling
Possible Health Effects: May cause respiratory irritation, severe eye and skin injuries, cough, sore throat, headache, nausea
Physical Hazards: Reacts vigorously with water, moisture, alcohols; produces toxic gases including hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide
Environmental Hazards: Possible contamination of water sources, aquatic toxicity due to reactivity and hydrolysis products
Chemical Name: Oxalyl Chloride
Purity: >99% in most laboratory and industrial settings
Hazardous Components: Contains no additives; main hazard comes from the substance itself
Impurities: Trace amounts of hydrochloric acid may form after prolonged storage due to moisture ingress
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air without delay; seek immediate medical attention if breathing issues develop; administer oxygen in severe cases
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse affected area with water for at least 15 minutes; medical attention needed for burns
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with plenty of water for 15 minutes, keeping eyelids open; immediate medical help crucial, risk of permanent injury
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water—do not induce vomiting; get medical help promptly; risk of severe burns to mouth and throat
Most Important Symptoms: Burning, irritation, pain, coughing, severe eye damage, delayed pulmonary edema possible after inhalation
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or foam. Sand may also be used for small spills. Water can produce corrosive fumes and should be avoided.
Hazards From Combustion: Hydrogen chloride, phosgene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide
Special Protective Equipment: Full-face respirator with supplied air, full chemical protective suit, gloves resistant to chemicals
Firefighting Instructions: Move containers from fire area if possible, cool with dry media; keep upwind; approach incident from windward side
Flash Point: Not flammable, but reacts with moisture to release corrosive, toxic gases
Explosion Hazard: Hydrolyzes rapidly; reaction with water can cause splattering or pressure build-up in closed containers
Personal Precautions: Evacuate unnecessary personnel, use chemical splash goggles, face shield, chemical-resistant gloves and suit, respirator or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into sewers, waterways, basements, or confined areas
Containment: Absorb spill with dry sand, vermiculite, or inert material; never use water directly
Cleanup Procedures: Collect absorbed material in a tightly closed chemical waste container; ventilate area well; neutralize hydrolyzed residue by careful addition to sodium bicarbonate or lime solution
Reporting Requirements: Notify proper authorities under local environmental control rules
Safe Handling Guidelines: Handle only in chemical fume hood with proper ventilation; avoid all contact with moisture and incompatible materials
Personal Hygiene: Remove contaminated clothing after working; wash surfaces and hands thoroughly; do not eat, drink, or smoke near work area
Storage Conditions: Store in tightly closed, corrosion-resistant containers; keep in cool, dry, well-ventilated place, separated from water sources and incompatible chemicals
Incompatible Materials: Water, alcohols, bases, amines, strong oxidizers, metal powders
Container Materials: Glass or Teflon containers preferred; regular plastic or mild steel not suitable due to corrosive nature
Exposure Limit Values: OSHA Ceiling 0.05 ppm for phosgene (hydrolysis by-product); specific TLVs not established for oxalyl chloride
Engineering Controls: Work in chemical fume hood, use closed systems where possible, maintain eyewash and safety showers accessible
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical splash goggles, face shield, gloves (butyl or nitrile rubber), long-sleeved chemical-resistant suit, impervious boots
Respiratory Protection: Use NIOSH-approved full-face respirator or supplied air for higher concentrations or spillage
Hygiene Measures: Avoid all contact; never touch face or eyes during use; thorough decontamination needed after work
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Pungent, suffocating, similar to acid vapors
Boiling Point: 63°C (145°F)
Melting Point: -16°C (3°F)
Density: 1.48 g/cm³ at 20°C
Vapor Pressure: 26 mm Hg at 20°C
pH: Not applicable—reacts with water
Solubility: Completely hydrolyzed in water, generating heat and toxic fumes; soluble in chloroform, benzene, and similar organic solvents
Viscosity: Low; mobile liquid at room temperature
Flash Point: Not combustible; reacts with water to release heat
Chemical Stability: Stable under dry, cool, inert gas conditions in original containers
Conditions to Avoid: Exposure to moisture, elevated temperatures, incompatible chemicals
Incompatible Materials: Water, alcohols, alkalis, amines, bases, oxidizers
Decomposition Products: Hydrogen chloride, phosgene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide
Reactivity: Violently reactive with water, alcohols, forming heat and hazardous gases; reacts with some metals and organic compounds
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion
Acute Toxicity: LD50 oral (rat): 756 mg/kg; LC50 inhalation (rat, 4h): approx 0.12 mg/L—classified as acutely toxic
Corrosive Effects: Can cause severe burns to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; risk of long-term pulmonary complications
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure may lead to respiratory sensitization, chronic bronchitis, or scarring
Carcinogenicity: Not listed as carcinogen by NTP, IARC, or OSHA
Other Health Effects: No evidence of reproductive toxicity or teratogenicity available in current literature
Aquatic Toxicity: Limited data, but highly reactive material forms acids that are toxic to aquatic organisms
Mobility: Spills hydrolyze rapidly, but HCl migrates in soil and water
Persistence and Degradability: Breaks down quickly in the environment, does not bioaccumulate
Bioaccumulative Potential: No known bioaccumulation
Environmental Precautions: Prevent releases to water; neutralize spills before disposal
Other Hazards: Hydrolysis releases gases that acidify water and soil, affecting local ecosystems
Waste Disposal Methods: Neutralize with sodium carbonate or calcium hydroxide while stirring under controlled conditions, then dispose through licensed chemical waste handler
Container Disposal: Decontaminate by rinsing with soda solution, triple rinse, and remove labels before disposal
Local Regulations: Dispose in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations. Never use household drains or sewers.
Special Instructions: All cleanup material should be handled as hazardous waste
UN Number: UN 3290
Proper Shipping Name: Oxalyl Chloride
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substances), 8 (Corrosive substances)
Packing Group: I (substances presenting high danger)
Label Codes Required: Toxic, Corrosive
Special Transport Precautions: Use vented and corrosion-resistant container; ensure containers are not exposed to moisture; emergency measures in place during transit
Regulatory Listings: Listed under international dangerous goods codes (IMDG, IATA, DOT)
OSHA: Hazardous chemical under OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
TSCA: Listed in the US Toxic Substances Control Act inventory
SARA Title III: Subject to reporting under Section 302 (EHS), 313 categories
RCRA: Considered hazardous waste due to toxicity and reactivity
REACH (EU): Substance of very high concern; registration and authorization required for use/import
California Proposition 65: Not specifically listed, but hydrolysis by-products may be regulated
Other Regulations: Subject to international transport and environmental safety regulations, including restrictions for general public use
