Nomenclature
CAS number: 75-01-4
Chloroethylene.
C
2H
3Cl; mol wt 62.50.
C 38.43%, H 4.84%, Cl 56.72%.
CH
2=CHCl.
Description and references
Prepd from ethylene dichloride and alcoholic
potassium: Regnault, Ann. 14, 22 (1835); by halogenation of ethylene: Miller, Jenks, US 2896000 (1959 to National Distillers
and Chemical Corp.). 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 868-873. Acute toxicity study: L. Prodan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 246, 154 (1975). Series of articles on toxicology and “vinyl
chloride disease”: ibid. 1-337. Review: in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 12 (John Wiley & Sons, 3rd ed., 1983) pp 865-885.
Review of carcinogenic risk: IARC Monographs 19, 377-437 (1979); of toxicology and human exposure:
Toxicological Profile for Vinyl Chloride (PB98-101132, 1997) 277 pp.
Properties
Colorless gas; mild, sweet odor. Liquefies in
a freezing mixture. Polymerizes in light or in presence of catalyst.
mp 153.8°. bp 13.37°. d420 0.9106.
nD20 1.3700. Vapor pressure at 20°: 2530
mm Hg. Flammable. Flash pt, closed cup: 78°C (112°F). Sol in alc, ether, carbon tetrachloride, benzene. Slightly
sol in water. LD50 in mice, rats, guinea
pigs, rabbits (mg/l): 293.75, 390, 595, 295 by inhalation (Prodan).Caution
Potential symptoms of overexposure
are weakness; abdominal pain, GI bleeding; hepatomegaly; pallor or
cyanosis of extremities; direct contact with liquid may cause frostbite.
See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical
Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 330. 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 4169-4177. This substance
is listed as a known human carcinogen: Report
on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition (PB2005-104914, 2004)
p III-272.Use
In the plastics industry to manuf polyvinyl chloride;
in organic syntheses. Has been used as refrigerant, spray can propellant.