Chemical Properties
clear colourless to slightly yellowish liquid
General Description
A colorless fuming liquid. Boiling point 257°F (125 °C). Irritates the eyes and mucous membranes. Corrosive to metals and tissue.
Hazard
Strong irritant to skin and tissue.
Reactivity Profile
THIOPHOSPHORYL CHLORIDE(3982-91-0) is acidic. Incompatible with bases (including amines), with strong oxidizing agents, and with alcohols. May react vigorously or explosively if mixed with diisopropyl ether or other ethers in the presence of trace amounts of metal salts [J. Haz. Mat., 1981, 4, 291].
Air & Water Reactions
Fumes in air. Decomposes in water to form phosphoric acid and hydrochloric acid (hydrogen chloride). Both substances are corrosive to metal or tissue. Can also form hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a toxic flammable gas, in reaction with water [AAR 1991].
Health Hazard
TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or contact (skin, eyes) with vapors, dusts or substance may cause severe injury, burns or death. Reaction with water or moist air will release toxic, corrosive or flammable gases. Reaction with water may generate much heat that will increase the concentration of fumes in the air. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Vapors may accumulate in confined areas (basement, tanks, hopper/tank cars etc.). Substance will react with water (some violently), releasing corrosive and/or toxic gases and runoff. Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated or if contaminated with water.
Uses
Thiophosphoryl chloride was used in the synthesis of O-ethyl dichlorothiophosphate.
Purification Methods
Possible impurities are PCl5, H3PO4, HCl and AlCl3. Gently mix it with H2O to avoid a heavy emulsion; the product decoulorises immediately and settles to the bottom layer. It is soluble in *C6H6 and CCl4. [Duval Inorg Synth IV 73 1953.] HARMFUL VAPOURS.
