Chemical Properties
Powder or granules. Insoluble
in water; soluble in most organic solvents.
General Description
White to light-tan crystalline solid. Mp: 41° C, Density :1.49 g cm-3 at 25°C. Biocidal (toxic to all animal life in differing degrees) by its action as a cholinesterase inhibitor. Used as an insecticide. Degrades readily in the environment by hydrolysis and oxidation.
Reactivity Profile
FENCHLORPHOS is non-flammable and non-combustible. Decomposes with heating to evolve toxic and corrosive vapors (hydrogen chloride, phosphorus oxides, sulfur oxides). Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
Hazard
Toxic by ingestion and inhalation.
Cholinesterase inhibitor, use may be restricted.
Questionable carcinogen.
Potential Exposure
Ronnel is both an organochlorine and
organophosphorus compound; potential danger to those
involved in manufacture, formulation and application of this
insecticide for farm (livestock) and household uses. Degrades
readily in the environment by hydrolysis and oxidation .
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Speed in removing material from skin
is of extreme importance. Shampoo hair promptly if con-
taminated. Seek medical attention immediately. If this
chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin
rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including
resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medi-
cal attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.
Shipping
UN2811 Toxic solids, organic, n.o.s., Hazard
Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials, Technical Name
Required. UN2783 Organophosphorus pesticides, solid, toxic,
Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.
Incompatibilities
Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates,
nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine,
bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explo-
sions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases,
strong acids, oxoacids, and epoxides. Store at temperatures
＜25-30℃. Organothiophosphates are susceptible to
formation of highly toxic and flammable phosphine gas in
the presence of strong reducing agents such as hydrideds
and active metals. Partial oxidation by oxidizing agents
may result in the release of toxic phosphorus oxides
Description
Ronnel is a white to light tan crystalline solid.Molecular weight =321.54; Specific gravity (H2O:1) =1.48 at 25℃; Boiling point =(decomposes); Freezing/Melting point= 41℃. Practically insoluble in water;solubility = 0.004% at 25℃.
Waste Disposal
Incineration with added flam-
mable solvent in furnace equipped with afterburner and
alkali scrubber . In accordance with 40CFR165, follow
recommendations for the disposal of pesticides and pesti-
cide containers. Must be disposed properly by following
package label directions or by contacting your local or fed-
eral environmental control agency, or by contacting your
regional EPA office.
Definition
ChEBI: Fenchlorphos is an organic thiophosphate.
Health Hazard
Ronnel is a weak cholinesterase
inhibitor and has low toxicity.
On both single and repeated doses, ronnel
affects the pseudoesterase of the plasma rather
than the true acetylcholinesterase of the red
blood cells.Ronnel has not been shown to potentiate
the effect of other commonly used organophosphorus
insecticides.
Environmental Fate
Chemical/Physical. Though no products were identified, the reported hydrolysis halflife at pH 7.4 and 70°C using a 1:4 ethanol/water mixture is 10.2–10.4 hours (Freed et
al., 1977). Ronnel decomposed at elevated temperatures on five clay surfaces, each treated
with hydrogen, calcium, magnesium, aluminum and iron ions. At temperatures <950°C
(125, 300 and 750°C), bentonite clays impregnated with technical ronnel (18.6 wt %)
decomposed to 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and a rearrangement product tentatively identified
as O-methyl S-methyl-O-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) phosphorothioate (Rosenfield and Van
Valkenburg, 1965). At 950°C, only the latter product formed. It was postulated that this
compound resulted from an acid-catalyzed molecular rearrangement reaction. Ronnel also
undergoes base-catalyzed hydrolysis at elevated temperatures. Products include methanol
and a new compound that is formed via cleavage of a methyl group from one of the
methoxy groups, which is then bonded to the sulfur atom (Rosenfield and Van Valkenburg,
1965).
Ronnel is stable to hydrolysis over the pH range of 5–6 (Mortland and Raman, 1967).
However, in the presence of a Cu(II) salt (as cupric chloride) or when present as the
exchangeable Cu(II) cation in montmorillonite clays, ronnel is completely hydrolyzed via
first-order kinetics in <24 hours at 20°C. The calculated half-life of ronnel at 20°C for
this reaction is 6.0 hours. It was suggested that decomposition in the presence of Cu(II)
was a result of coordination of the copper atom through the oxygen or sulfur on the
phosphorus atom resulting in the cleavage of the side chain containing the phosphorus atom forming O,O-ethyl-O-phosphorothioate and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (Mortland and
Raman, 1967).
Emits very toxic fumes of chlorides, sulfur and phosphorus oxides when heated to
decomposition (Lewis, 1990).
storage
Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison: Storein a secure poison location. Prior to working with thischemical you should be trained on its proper handling andstorage. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, wellventilated area away from strong oxidizers. Where possible,automatically transfer material from drums or other storagecontainers to process containers. Sources of ignition, suchas smoking and open flames, are prohibited where thischemical is handled, used, or stored. Metal containersinvolving the transfer of this chemical should be groundedand bonded. Wherever this chemical is used, handled, manufactured, or stored, use explosion-proof electrical equipment and fittings.
