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Common Name: Trifluoroacetic Acid
Chemical Formula: CF3COOH
Synonyms: TFA, Trifluoroethanoic acid
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid with a pungent odor
Uses: Widely used in organic synthesis and peptide chemistry, cleaning and etching electronics, laboratory applications
Boiling Point: Around 72°C
Molecular Weight: 114.02 g/mol
Health Hazards: Corrosive to skin, eyes, and respiratory system; highly irritant if inhaled or contacted
Acute Toxicity: Harmful or fatal if swallowed or absorbed through skin
Environmental Hazards: May cause damage to aquatic life
Fire Hazards: Not highly flammable, but releases toxic fumes when decomposed
Regulation Signals: Hazards include “Danger” signal word according to most chemical labeling standards; corrosive pictogram stands out for immediate visual warning
Main Ingredient: Trifluoroacetic Acid (typically close to 99-100% purity)
CAS Number: 76-05-1
Impurities: Product quality may contain trace organic solvents, water, and residuals from manufacturing; minor impurities do not typically shift major risk profiles
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air, seek medical attention for any breathing difficulty, avoid direct mouth-to-mouth resuscitation due to corrosive vapor risk
Skin Contact: Rinse thoroughly and remove contaminated clothing, call emergency care for burns or severe exposure
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, get medical help immediately—eye protection matters greatly here
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth, get immediate medical help; swallowing can lead to severe internal burns and systemic toxicity
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use CO2, dry chemical powder, or alcohol-resistant foam
Precautions: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and protective gear, as thermal decomposition releases corrosive and toxic vapors such as hydrogen fluoride and carbon oxides
Specific Hazards: Vapors heavier than air; even if not easily ignited, strong exothermic reactions may trigger fire or cause containers to rupture
Firefighting Tips: Keep containers cool, avoid water if spillage risks contamination of runoff, control ignition sources
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area, ensure adequate ventilation, wear full protective equipment including gloves and face shield
Environmental Precautions: Avoid entry into waterways, drains, or soil; contain spill with inert absorbent materials
Cleanup Methods: Neutralize with sodium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate before sweeping up; secure waste in corrosion-resistant container for later disposal; thorough decontamination with water after removal
Storage: Store in tightly closed, corrosion-resistant containers; keep in well-ventilated, cool, and dry place away from incompatible chemicals like bases, oxidizers, and metals
Handling: Work with TFA inside fume hoods, wear chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles, and lab coats; minimize open transfer and avoid breathing vapors
Safe Practices: Never pipette by mouth, always use designated glassware, and post clear hazard signage where TFA is handled or stored
Protective Equipment: Lab goggles, chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene preferred), full sleeve lab coats, closed shoes
Engineering Controls: Use efficient fume hoods, eye wash stations, and emergency showers
Occupational Limits: No widely accepted OSHA PEL or ACGIH TLV, but workplace exposure should use the lowest feasible concentrations; monitor air quality closely in high-volume environments
Hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly after use, avoid touching face while working with TFA, never eat or drink in work area
Physical State: Liquid
Color and Odor: Colorless, penetrating sharp odor
Melting Point: Approximately -15°C
Boiling Point: Approximately 72°C
Solubility: Completely mixable with water, alcohols, and most organic solvents
Density: 1.54–1.53 g/cm3 (20°C)
Vapor Pressure: High compared to many acids (approx 120 mmHg at 20°C); rapid evaporation increases inhalation risk
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal storage and handling conditions
Incompatibilities: Strong bases, finely divided metals, nitrides, oxidizing agents; mixing can trigger violent reactions, explosions, or toxic releases
Decomposition Products: Exposure to heat or strong oxidizers produces carbon oxides, hydrogen fluoride, and toxic fluorinated gases
Reactivity: Attacks many metals and organic materials, especially with moisture present; non-inert materials in piping or containment can corrode or fail quickly
Routes of Entry: Inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, eye contact
Short-Term Effects: Severe burns, necrosis, or blistering on skin and mucous membranes; intense pain and rapid tissue destruction
Long-Term Effects: Chronic exposure can damage respiratory tract, liver, and kidneys; increased risk of chronic lung inflammation is documented
Symptoms of Exposure: Cough, dizziness, headache, burning sensation, nausea; in severe cases, respiratory failure or systemic organ damage
LD50 (oral, rat): Ranges near 200–500 mg/kg reflecting high toxicity
Aquatic Impact: Highly toxic to aquatic life; lowers pH of water dramatically, resulting in fish and invertebrate death
Persistence: Readily soluble and mobile in water, resistent to breakdown, traceable in groundwater
Bioaccumulation: Not bioaccumulative, but rapid movement through soil increases chance of contamination in groundwater or surface waters
Remediation: Environmental release demands urgent containment, neutralization, and reporting to appropriate authorities
Waste Handling: Neutralize carefully before disposal; work with certified chemical waste haulers for proper incineration or destruction
Container Disposal: Triple-rinse empty containers with neutralizing solution, treat rinse water as hazardous, and deface or puncture before recycling as non-hazard waste
Avoid: Never dispose in municipal sewers or regular waste due to high risk of chemical burns and environmental damage; local authority guidelines for hazardous acids apply
Shipping Name: Trifluoroacetic Acid
Classification: Dangerous good by every major regulatory body—corrosive liquid, Class 8
Packing Group: II (medium danger)
Label Requirements: Corrosive pictograms and strict handling notices; transport only in approved, tightly sealed containers with secondary containment
Special Notes: Notification and paperwork should always highlight potential for acute human and environmental harm—spills must be reported and cleaned by trained personnel using proper PPE
Chemical Control: Listed as a hazardous substance under many national and international regulations
Restrictions: Use, storage, and bulk movement limited in proximity to food processing and residential settings
Safety Training: Mandated for every user and handler; safety data must be available to all employees working near TFA
Reporting: Accidental release or exposure often triggers mandatory incident reporting to local safety or environmental authorities
