General Description
A colorless crystalline solid, or a dark-brown liquid. Strongly irritating to skin and eyes. Toxic by ingestion and inhalation. Used as a military poison gas.
Air & Water Reactions
Slowly decomposed by water [Hawley].
Reactivity Profile
DIPHENYL CHLOROARSINE is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, amines, and alkalis. 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].
Health Hazard
Highly toxic, may be fatal if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through skin. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may 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. Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may pollute waterways.
Safety Profile
A human poison by
inhalation. Poison experimentally by
inhalation and skin contact. A powerfully
irritating military poison. Exposure yields
cold-like symptoms, plus headache,
vomiting and nausea. A nonpersistent gas.
Decontamination is by use of chlorine or
caustic soda in confined spaces. When
heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of As and Cl-. See also ARSENIC
COMPOUNDS.
