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Substance Name: Trichloroacetonitrile Chemical Formula: C2Cl3N Synonyms: 2,2,2-Trichloroacetonitrile Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid with a pungent odor CAS Number: 545-06-2
Hazard Class: Acute Toxicity, Skin Corrosion, Serious Eye Damage, Environmental Hazard Signal Word: Danger Possible Effects: Burns to skin and eyes, severe irritation of mucous membranes, possible respiratory damage on inhalation, harmful if swallowed or absorbed through skin GHS Symbols: Corrosive, Acute Toxicity, Environmental Hazard Key Risks: Eye and skin contact leads to immediate irritation and potentially permanent injury, inhaling vapors may result in respiratory tract irritation or edema, swallowing carries risk of systemic poisoning with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and possibly convulsions, environmental toxicity, especially to aquatic life
Main Component: Trichloroacetonitrile Concentration: Generally above 98% purity for laboratory/industrial use Other Components: Typically no significant impurities reported at technical grade
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air immediately, provide oxygen or artificial respiration if breathing is difficult, seek medical help for persistent symptoms Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, seek medical advice promptly if irritation develops Eye Contact: Irrigate eyes thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower eyelids occasionally, prompt medical attention is needed as injury risk is high Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth with water, provide immediate medical attention due to high toxicity
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or alcohol-resistant foam Protective Equipment: Full protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatus required to avoid exposure to toxic gases such as hydrogen chloride, cyanides, and phosgene formed in a fire Hazardous Combustion Products: Phosgene, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides, possible cyanide compounds Considerations: Keep containers cool with water spray, avoid allowing runoff to reach sewers or waterways
Personal Protection: Wear gloves, protective clothing, and eye protection, avoid inhaling vapors, provide adequate ventilation in area Spill Cleanup: Absorb with inert material such as sand or vermiculite, shovel into suitable container for disposal, decontaminate spill area with dilute sodium hydroxide Preventative Measures: Prevent chemicals from entering drains or watercourses due to high environmental risk
Handling: Avoid skin or eye contact and breathing of vapors, work in a fume hood or well-ventilated space, handle away from incompatible chemicals such as strong bases or oxidizers Storage: Store in tightly closed glass containers, out of direct sunlight in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated area, segregate from food and incompatible materials, secure storage required where accidental leak could expose personnel
Engineering Controls: Use fume hoods, local exhaust ventilation, proper containment PPE: Chemical splash goggles, gloves resistant to chlorinated solvents, long sleeves, laboratory coat, and proper respiratory protection if exposure will exceed acceptable levels Exposure Limits: No established occupational exposure limit for trichloroacetonitrile, though similar nitriles have very low permissible exposure thresholds
Physical State: Liquid Color: Colorless to pale yellow Odor: Strong, pungent Molecular Weight: 146.39 g/mol Boiling Point: 121–122°C Melting Point: -47°C Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, miscible with common organic solvents Vapor Pressure: Relatively high at room temperature Density: About 1.44 g/cm3
Chemical Stability: Stable with proper storage and handling Incompatibilities: Reacts strongly with bases and strong oxidizing agents, may hydrolyze in presence of moisture to form trichloroacetic acid and hydrogen cyanide Hazardous Decomposition: Combustion or reaction with water can produce toxic gases including phosgene and hydrogen chloride Reactivity Notes: Breaks down more readily under alkaline conditions or when overheated
Acute Toxicity: Very toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption Skin Effects: Causes severe skin burns and irritation Eye Effects: Permanent damage and blindness risk on contact Respiratory Effects: Coughing, breathing difficulty, possible pulmonary edema Chronic Exposure: Risk for cumulative damage with repeated exposure, especially to central nervous system and liver Carcinogenicity: No established cancer link, though similar nitriles sometimes show activity in long-term tests
Environmental Toxicity: Very toxic to aquatic organisms with long-lasting effects Persistence and Degradability: Not readily biodegradable, tends to persist if released to environment Bioaccumulation Potential: Not well-documented, likely low bioaccumulation due to volatility and rapid distribution Aquatic Impact: Runoff or significant spills can kill fish and invertebrates, contaminates groundwater due to mobility and resistance to breakdown
Waste Management: Incinerate material in accordance with local, regional, and national regulations using chemical incinerator equipped with gas scrubber, avoid landfilling Containers: Triple rinse empty containers before discarding, never reuse for other purposes, label as hazardous waste Precaution: Professional hazardous waste handler required, improper disposal poses risk to water sources and soil
UN Number: Associated with hazardous goods regulated for land, sea, and air transport Proper Shipping Name: Trichloroacetonitrile if specifically listed, toxic liquid, organic, n.o.s. if not Hazard Class: Toxic / Poisonous substance Packing Group: I or II depending on jurisdiction Environmental Hazard: Classified as a marine pollutant due to severe aquatic toxicity
Global Regulations: Covered by many national workplace health and environmental regulations Labeling: Requires clear warning labels detailing acute toxicity, corrosive action, and environmental hazard Disclosure: Mandatory reporting and handling requirements in case of workplace exposure, injury, or accidental release under most chemical safety frameworks Worker Safety: Employee training, safety documentation, and scheduled review critical for continued compliance and risk reduction
