9190. Tetrachloroethylene

Nomenclature

CAS number: 127-18-4
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethene; tetrachloroethene; perchloroethylene; ethylene tetrachloride; tetrachlorethylene; Nema (Parke-Davis); Tetracap; Tetropil; Perclene; Ankilostin; Didakene.
C2Cl4; mol wt 165.83.
C 14.49%, Cl 85.52%.
Cl2C=CCl2.

Description and references

Prepd by Faraday in 1821. Manuf by catalytic oxidation of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane: Ellsworth, Vancamp, US 2951103 (1960 to Columbia-Southern Chem.); Feathers, Rogerson, US 3040109 (1962 to Pittsburgh Plate Glass); by catalytic chlorination of acetylene: Thermet, Parvi, US 2938931 (1960 to Société d'électrochimie, d'électrométallurgie et des aciéries électriques d'Ugine). Review of mfg processes: Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1975) pp 604-611. Physical properties: Mumford, Phillips, J. Chem. Soc. 1950, 75. Toxicity data: Dybing, Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol. 2, 223 (1946); Lazarew, Arch. Exp. Pathol. Pharmakol. 141, 19 (1929). Review of toxicology and human exposure: Toxicological Profile for Tetrachloroethylene (PB98-101181, 1997) 318 pp.

Properties

Colorless, nonflammable liq; ethereal odor. Poisonous. d415 1.6311; d420 1.6230. bp 121°. mp ≈-22°. nD20 1.5055. Sol in about 10,000 vol water; misc with alcohol, ether, chloroform, benzene. LD50 orally in mice: 8.85 g/kg (Dybing). LC for mice in air: 5925 ppm (Lazarew).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, nose and throat; nausea; flushing of face and neck; vertigo, dizziness, incoordination; headache, somnolence; skin erythema; liver damage. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 300. This substance is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen: Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition (PB2005-104914, 2004) p III-243

Use

Dry cleaning; textile processing; degreasing metals; solvent; chemical intermediate in production of fluorocarbons. Insulating fluid and cooling gas in electrical transformers.

Therapeutic Category

Anthelmintic (Nematodes, Trematodes).

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Anthelmintic.

Keywords

Anthelmintic (Nematodes); Anthelmintic (Trematodes)