Nomenclature
CAS number: 74-88-4
Iodomethane.
CH
3I; mol wt 141.94.
C 8.46%, H 2.13%, I 89.41%.
Description and references
Prepd from methyl alcohol, iodine and red phosphorus:
King, Org. Synth. coll.
vol. II, 399 (1943); from potassium iodide and methyl sulfate:
Hartman, ibid. 404. Review of toxicity and carcinogenic
risk: IARC Monographs 41, 213-227 (1986); ibid. Suppl. 7, p 47, 52 (1987); Evaluation of the Potential Carcinogenicity of Methyl
Iodide (PB93-196343, 1988) 17 pp.
Properties
Colorless, transparent liquid; turns brown on
exposure to light. Poisonous. d420 2.28. mp 66.5°. bp 42.5°; dec
at 270°. nD21 1.5293. Sol in about 50 parts water;
miscible with alcohol, ether. Protect from
light. LD50 orally in rats: 76 mg/kg; LD50 s.c. in mice: 0.78 mmoles/kg (IARC, 1986).Caution
Potential symptoms of overexposure
are nausea, vomiting; vertigo, ataxia; slurred speech, drowsiness;
dermatitis; direct contact may cause irritation of eyes, skin and
respiratory system. See NIOSH
Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997)
p 210. See also Patty's Industrial
Hygiene and Toxicology vol. 2E, G. D. Clayton,
F. E. Clayton, Eds. (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 4th ed.,
1994) pp 4030-4034; Clinical Toxicology of
Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 5th ed., 1984) Section
II, pp 158-159. This substance has been listed as reasonably anticipated
to be a carcinogen: Fourth Annual Report
on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985) p 132; delisted due
to IARC reevaluation as unclassifiable as to its human carcinogenicity:
Fifth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 89-239, 1989) p 340.Use
Methylating agent; in microscopy because of its
high refractive index; as imbedding material for examining diatoms;
in testing for pyridine. Light sensitive etching agent for electronic
circuits; component in fire extinguishers.