General Description
A clear colorless gas with a pungent odor. Flash point-58°F. Boiling point 54°F. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Vapors are heavier than air. Under prolonged exposure to fire or heat the containers may rupture violently and rocket.
Reactivity Profile
ETHYL CHLORIDE(75-00-3) is heat sensitive. This compound will hydrolyze in the presence of alkalis and water. ETHYL CHLORIDE(75-00-3) reacts with water or steam to produce toxic and corrosive fumes. ETHYL CHLORIDE(75-00-3) can also react vigorously with oxidizing materials. The vapor forms highly flammable mixtures with air. A mixture of this compound with potassium is shock-sensitive. Contact with chemically active metals such as Na, K, Ca, powdered Al, Zn and Mg may result in violent reactions.
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.
Hazard
Highly flammable, severe fire and explosion risk; flammable limits in air 3.8–15.4%. Irritant
to eyes. Questionable carcinogen.
Health Hazard
Vapor causes drunkenness, anesthesia, possible lung injury. Liquid may cause frostbite on eyes and skin.
Potential Exposure
Ethyl chloride is used as an ethylating
agent in the manufacture of tetraethyl lead, dyes, drugs,
and ethyl cellulose; as a pharmaceutical, solvent; alkylating
agent; as a refrigerant and as a local anesthetic (freezing).
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. 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 medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit
Shipping
UN1037 Ethyl chloride, Hazard Class: 2.1;
Labels: 2.1-Flammable gas. Cylinders must be transported
in a secure upright position, in a well-ventilated truck.
Protect cylinder and labels from physical damage. The
owner of the compressed gas cylinder is the only entity
allowed by federal law (49CFR) to transport and refill
them. It is a violation of transportation regulations to refill
compressed gas cylinders without the express written permission of the owner.
Incompatibilities
Flammable gas. Slow reaction with
water; forms hydrogen chloride gas. Contact with moisture
(water, steam) forms hydrochloric acid and/or fumes of
hydrogen chloride. May accumulate static electrical
charges, and may cause ignition of its vapors. May form
explosive mixture with air. Contact with chemically active
metals: aluminum, lithium, magnesium, sodium, potassium,
zinc may cause fire and explosions. Attacks some plastics
and rubber.
Description
Ethyl chloride is a colorless gas or liquid(below 12℃) with a pungent, ether-like odor and a burningtaste. Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas. Molecularweight 5 64.52; Specific gravity (H2O:1) = 0.92 (liquid at0℃); Boiling point = 12.2℃; Freezing/Meltingpoint = 2138.9; Vapor pressure = 1000 mmHg at 20℃;Flash point = -50℃ (liquid); Autoignitiontemperature = 519℃. Explosive limits: LEL = 3.8%;UEL = 15.4%. Hazard Identification (based on NFPA-704M Rating System): Health 1, Flammability 4, Reactivity 0.Slightly soluble in water; solubility = 0.6%.
Waste Disposal
Return refillable compressed
gas cylinders to supplier. Incineration, preferably after mixing with another combustible fuel. Care must be exercised
to assure complete combustion to prevent the formation of
phosgene. An acid scrubber is necessary to remove the halo
acids produced.
Physical properties
Clear, colorless gas or liquid with a pungent or faint, sweetish ether-like odor. When spilled, ethyl
chloride evaporates quickly. Odor threshold concentration is 4.2 ppm (quoted, Amoore and
Hautala, 1983).
Uses
Ethyl chloride is used as a refrigerant, as asolvent, in the manufacture of tetraethyl lead,and as an alkylating agent. It is also used asa topical anesthetic.
Uses
Ethyl chloride is used as synthetic gums and thickeners in the lacquer and plastics industries. Ethyl chloride is also used in the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene and other aromatics. Additional uses include solvent, refrigerant, heat-transfer medium, aerosol propellant and anesthetic.
Uses
Refrigerant, solvent, alkylating agent, starting point in the manufacture of tetraethyl lead: US 1907701 (1933).
Indications
Chlorethane (ethyl chloride) is a highly flammable liquid that acts as a topical vapocoolant
to control pain associated with minor surgical procedures.When applied as
a spray, the product produces freezing of superficial tissues to ?20?C, which results
in insensitivity of peripheral nerve endings and local anesthesia that is maintained
up to 1 minute. Other coolant sprays can be used with the same effect.
Production Methods
Ethyl Chloride can be synthesized by treatment of ethyl alcohol with HCl, cleavage of diethylether with HCl in the presence of a catalyst (ZnCl2), chlorination of ethane or hydrochlorination of ethylene. The latter is the choice of industry. The reaction is carried out at 125 °F and 125 psi in the presence of AlCl3, which is dissolved in ethyl chloride.
Chemical Reactivity
Reactivity with Water: No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.
Carcinogenicity
The EPA has not made a
carcinogenicity assessment as yet. However, the State of
California reviewed the carcinogenicity information.
CalEPA, using the NTP study, developed a cancer
potency estimate of 4.7E-3 per mg/kg/day and defined a No
Significance Risk Level (NSRL) of 1 50 μg/day.
Increased cancer of the uterus of female mice has been
produced by exposure to 15,000 ppm, but lower concentrations
have not been studied. Rats and mice were exposed to 0
or 15,000 ppm of ethyl chloride in an NTP 2-year study with
mixed results. Results in male rats were considered
equivocal based on a combined total of five skin tumors
versus none in the control male rats. Likewise, female rats’
results were considered equivocal because three astrocytomas
were found versus none in the female control rats. The
male mouse group had such poor survival that it was deemed
an inadequate study although combined alveolar/bronchiolar
adenomas and carcinomas were reported (10/48 versus 5/50
in the control male rats). Female mice exposed to 15,000 ppm
had clear evidence of an effect, for 43/50 mice had endometrial
uterine carcinomas versus 0/49 in the female control
mice. In addition, there was a suggestion of an increase in
combined hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas in the
female mice (8/48 exposed versus 3/49 control). There is
clear evidence for carcinogenicity in female B6C3F1 mice
and equivocal evidence in male and female F344/N rats (high
incidence of uterine carcinomas.)
Environmental Fate
Photolytic. The rate constant for the reaction of chloroethane and OH radicals in the atmosphere
at 300 K is 2.3 x 10-11 cm3/molecule?sec (Hendry and Kenley, 1979). At 296 K, a photooxidation
rate constant of 3.9 x 10-13 cm3/molecule?sec was reported (Howard and Evenson, 1976). The
estimated tropospheric lifetime is 14.6 d (Nimitz and Skaggs, 1992).
Chemical/Physical. Under laboratory conditions, chloroethane hydrolyzed to ethanol (Smith and
Dragun, 1984). An estimated hydrolysis half-life in water at 25 °C and pH 7 is 38 d, with ethanol
and HCl being the expected end-products (Mabey and Mill, 1978). Based on a measured
hydrolysis rate constant of 5.1 x 10-7 at 25 °C and pH 7, the half-life is 2.6 yr (Jeffers and Wolfe,
1996).
In air, formyl chloride is the initial photooxidation product (U.S. EPA, 1985). In the presence of
water, formyl chloride hydrolyzes to HCl and carbon monoxide (Morrison and Boyd, 1971).
Burns with a smoky, greenish flame releasing hydrogen chloride (Windholz et al., 1983).
In the laboratory, the evaporation half-life of chloroethane (1 mg/L) from water at 25 °C using a
shallow-pitch propeller stirrer at 200 rpm at an average depth of 6.5 cm was 23.1 min (Dilling,
1977).
At influent concentrations of 1.0, 0.1, and 0.01 mg/L, the GAC adsorption capacities at pH 5.3
were 0.59, 0.07, and 0.007 mg/g, respectively (Dobbs and Cohen, 1980).
Solubility in water
Soluble in ethanol, ether (U.S. EPA, 1985); miscible with chlorinated hydrocarbons such as
chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and tetrachloroethane.
storage
Color Code—Red Stripe: Flammability Hazard:Store separately from all other flammable materials. Priorto working with this chemical you should be trained on itsproper handling and storage. Before entering confined spacewhere this chemical may be present, check to make surethat an explosive concentration does not exist. Ethyl chloride must be stored to avoid contact with oxidizers (such asperoxides, chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, and permanganates) or chemically active metals (such as sodium, potassium, calcium, powdered aluminum, zinc, and magnesium)because violent reactions occur. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from heat.Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, areprohibited where ethyl chloride is handled, used, or stored.Metal containers used in the transfer of 5 gallons or more ofethyl chloride should be grounded and bonded. Drums mustbe equipped with self-closing valves, pressure vacuumbungs, and flame arresters. Use only nonsparking tools andequipment, especially when opening and closing containersof ethyl chloride. Procedures for the handling, use, and storage of cylinders should be in compliance with OSHA1910.101 and 1910.169, as with the recommendations ofthe Compressed Gas Association.
Purification Methods
Pass ethyl chloride through absorption towers containing, successively, conc H2SO4, NaOH pellets, P2O5 on glass wool, or soda-lime, CaCl2, P2O5. Condensed it into a flask containing CaH2 and fractionally distil it. It has also been purified by illumination in the presence of bromine at 0o using a 1000W lamp, followed by washing, drying and distilling. [Beilstein 1 IV 124.]
