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Methane, Trichloro- is a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon more commonly known as chloroform or trichloromethane.
Methane, Trichloro- is a dense, colorless, volatile liquid widely used as an industrial solvent and as a key intermediate in the production of fluorocarbon refrigerants and fluoropolymers.
Methane, Trichloro- is also an important laboratory reagent, historically significant for its use as a surgical anesthetic before safer alternatives became available.
CAS Number: 67-66-3
EC Number: 200-663-8
Molecular Formula: CHCl3
Molecular Weight: 119.38 g/mol
Synonyms: Chloroform, Trichloromethane, Methane, Trichloro-, Trichloroform, Formyl Trichloride, Methane Trichloride, Methenyl Trichloride, Methyl Trichloride, Trichlormethan, Chloroforme, Cloroformio, Freon 20, R 20, R-20, TCM, NCI-C02686, RCRA Waste Number U044, UN 1888, NSC 77361, F 20, Methylidyne Trichloride
APPLICATIONS
Methane, Trichloro- is used as a general-purpose laboratory solvent for dissolving and extracting organic compounds such as alkaloids, fats, oils, and resins.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in liquid-liquid extraction and phase-separation techniques for the purification of biomolecules in biochemical and pharmaceutical research.
Methane, Trichloro- is used as a reagent in nucleic acid extraction protocols, most notably in phenol-chloroform extraction, where it assists in separating protein and lipid contaminants from DNA and RNA.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in environmental science to extract organic pollutants from water, soil, and sediment samples prior to instrumental analysis.
Methane, Trichloro- is used industrially as the principal feedstock for the manufacture of chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), a refrigerant and a key precursor to fluoropolymers such as PTFE.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in the broader fluorochemical production chain, where HCFC-22 derived from it is subsequently pyrolyzed to produce tetrafluoroethylene monomer.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in the production of various fluorocarbon and specialty chemical intermediates within the refrigerant, propellant, and polymer industries.
Methane, Trichloro- is used as a raw material in select pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis routes requiring a chlorinated one-carbon building block.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in organic synthesis as a source of the reactive dichlorocarbene intermediate when treated with a strong base such as sodium hydroxide.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in the classical Reimer-Tiemann reaction to introduce a formyl group onto phenolic substrates, yielding salicylaldehyde-type products.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in the synthesis of dichlorocyclopropane derivatives from alkenes via dichlorocarbene addition reactions.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in academic and industrial laboratories to illustrate carbene-generation chemistry and related mechanistic studies.
Methane, Trichloro- is used as a chlorinated reaction solvent in various halogenation and nucleophilic substitution reactions where low nucleophilicity and non-flammability are advantageous.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in recrystallization procedures for organic compounds that are poorly soluble in more polar solvents.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in the preparation of standard and stock solutions for a wide range of synthetic and analytical chemistry applications.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in combination with other halogenated and non-halogenated solvents to fine-tune polarity and selectivity in extraction and reaction workups.
Methane, Trichloro- is used as an NMR solvent in its deuterated form (chloroform-d) for structural elucidation of organic compounds.
Methane, Trichloro- is used as a mobile-phase component and extraction solvent in gas and liquid chromatography method development.
Methane, Trichloro- is used as an analytical reference standard for the identification and quantification of trichloromethane residues in environmental and regulatory testing.
Methane, Trichloro- is used as a target analyte and calibration standard in established volatile-organic-compound methods such as EPA Methods 601, 624, and 8260.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in forensic and toxicological laboratories as an extraction solvent when isolating drug, poison, or metabolite residues from biological specimens prior to instrumental analysis.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in drinking-water and wastewater monitoring programs as a reference compound for trihalomethane disinfection by-products.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in air-quality and industrial-hygiene monitoring as a reference analyte for assessing occupational and ambient exposure levels.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in quality-control laboratories to verify chromatographic and spectroscopic instrument performance.
Methane, Trichloro- is used as a solvent for a range of resins, waxes, gums, and specialty polymers in research and quality-control settings.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in the plastics and coatings industries in limited, tightly controlled applications requiring a strong, non-flammable organic solvent.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in the rubber industry in select solvent applications for the swelling, dissolution, or testing of certain elastomeric materials.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in historical degreasing and cleaning applications for metal parts and precision components, largely superseded by alternative solvents due to toxicity concerns.
Methane, Trichloro- is used historically as an inhalation anesthetic in human and veterinary medicine, a role it no longer holds due to its toxicity and narrow safety margin.
Methane, Trichloro- was historically used as an ingredient in cough preparations, liniments, and toothpaste formulations before such uses were withdrawn due to carcinogenicity concerns.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in the history of medicine as a case study in the transition from early volatile anesthetics to safer modern agents.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in pharmacological and toxicological teaching to illustrate structure-dependent hepatotoxicity and metabolic bioactivation.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in small, tightly regulated amounts as a component of adhesives intended for food-packaging and food-contact applications, subject to strict regulatory limits.
Methane, Trichloro- is used under specific pesticide-related regulatory listings in some jurisdictions, reflecting its historical classification alongside other chlorinated chemicals.
Methane, Trichloro- is used only in accordance with current national chemical, pesticide, and hazardous-substance regulations, as many of its historical uses are now restricted or prohibited.
Methane, Trichloro- is used according to the purity grade, regulatory status, and stabilizer content appropriate to the intended laboratory, industrial, or analytical application.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in academic teaching laboratories to demonstrate density-based liquid-liquid separations, given its higher density relative to water.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in introductory organic chemistry courses to illustrate nucleophilic substitution, elimination, and carbene-formation reaction mechanisms.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in vapor-density and volatility demonstrations in physical chemistry teaching contexts.
Methane, Trichloro- is used in controlled educational settings under appropriate fume-hood ventilation and instructor supervision.
DESCRIPTION
Methane, Trichloro- is a highly refractive, colorless liquid with a sweet, ether-like, pleasant odor detectable at low concentrations.
Methane, Trichloro- consists of a single carbon atom bonded to one hydrogen atom and three chlorine atoms, giving it a tetrahedral molecular geometry.
Methane, Trichloro- is typically manufactured by the chlorination of methane or methyl chloride, or as a by-product of chloromethane production, followed by fractional distillation to obtain high-purity material.
Methane, Trichloro- is only slightly soluble in water but is miscible with a wide range of organic solvents, including ethanol, diethyl ether, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and carbon disulfide.
Methane, Trichloro- is non-flammable under normal conditions and is classified as a noncombustible liquid, though it can decompose at high temperatures.
Methane, Trichloro- decomposes slowly in air and light to form phosgene, dichloromethane, formyl chloride, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen chloride, which is why commercial grades are typically stabilized with a small amount of ethanol or amylene.
Methane, Trichloro- is rapidly absorbed following inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact, and is metabolized in the liver, primarily via cytochrome P450-mediated oxidation to reactive intermediates such as phosgene.
Methane, Trichloro- is classified by regulatory and scientific bodies, including IARC and the U.S. EPA, as a probable human carcinogen, based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animal studies and limited evidence in humans.
Methane, Trichloro- carcinogenic potential is understood to result largely from the formation of reactive metabolites that bind to cellular macromolecules, with most direct mutagenicity assays yielding negative or weakly positive results.
Methane, Trichloro- exposure is primarily associated with central nervous system depression, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity, with the liver and kidneys considered the principal target organs of repeated or high-level exposure.
Methane, Trichloro- vapor is heavier than air and can accumulate in low-lying or poorly ventilated areas, posing an inhalation hazard in confined spaces.
Methane, Trichloro- is subject to strict occupational exposure controls in most jurisdictions given its recognized carcinogenic classification and narrow margin between anesthetic and toxic effects historically observed in clinical use.
Methane, Trichloro- released into the environment partitions primarily into air, where it undergoes slow photochemical degradation, and can also volatilize readily from water due to its relatively high vapor pressure.
Methane, Trichloro- has historically been regulated as a priority pollutant in drinking water and wastewater due to its formation as a disinfection by-product during water chlorination.
Methane, Trichloro- is supplied in various purity grades, including analytical reagent, HPLC, spectroscopic, and technical grades, depending on the intended application.
PROPERTIES
Chemical Formula: CHCl3
Molecular Weight: 119.38 g/mol
Common Name: Chloroform
CAS Number: 67-66-3
EC Number: 200-663-8
UN Number: 1888
Appearance: Colorless, highly refractive liquid
Odor: Sweet, ether-like, pleasant
Density: 1.489 g/mL at 25°C
Melting Point: −63.5°C
Boiling Point: 61.2°C
Vapor Pressure: 160 mmHg at 20°C
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water (~8 g/L at 20°C); miscible with ethanol, ether, benzene, and carbon tetrachloride
Flash Point: Not applicable (noncombustible liquid)
Stability: Stable when stabilized with ethanol or amylene; decomposes slowly in light and air to phosgene and other byproducts
OSHA PEL: 50 ppm (240 mg/m³) Ceiling
NIOSH REL: 2 ppm (9.78 mg/m³), 60-minute STEL; listed as a potential occupational carcinogen
ACGIH TLV: 10 ppm (49 mg/m³) TWA, A2 (suspected human carcinogen)
NIOSH IDLH: 500 ppm
Carcinogenicity Classification: IARC Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans); U.S. EPA Group B2 (probable human carcinogen)
Target Organs: Liver, kidneys, central nervous system, skin, eyes
Environmental Fate: Volatilizes readily from water; degrades slowly in the atmosphere via photochemical reactions
Storage Temperature: 15–25°C, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area protected from light
Shelf Life: 12–24 months in original sealed, stabilized packaging
FIRST AID
Inhalation
Remove to fresh air immediately.
Provide oxygen or artificial respiration if breathing is difficult or has stopped, and obtain immediate medical attention.
Keep the affected person at rest and monitor closely for signs of central nervous system depression.
Skin Contact
Remove contaminated clothing immediately and wash the affected area thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes.
Seek medical attention if irritation, redness, or dryness develops or persists.
Eye Contact
Rinse immediately and continuously with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, including under the eyelids.
Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do so, then continue rinsing.
Seek immediate medical attention, as this substance can cause significant eye irritation.
Ingestion
Do not induce vomiting due to the risk of aspiration.
Rinse mouth with water and seek immediate medical attention.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious or convulsing person.
Note to Physicians
Treat symptomatically and provide supportive care, with particular attention to hepatic, renal, and cardiac function.
Monitor for delayed hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, which may not be immediately apparent following acute exposure.
There is no specific antidote; management is supportive and may require prolonged clinical observation.
HANDLING AND STORAGE
Handling
Handle only in well-ventilated areas or under fume hood extraction to minimize vapor exposure.
Avoid all unnecessary skin, eye, and respiratory contact, and avoid ignition sources, though the material itself is noncombustible.
Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling and before eating, drinking, or smoking.
Engineering Controls
Use closed systems and local exhaust ventilation wherever practical to control airborne vapor concentrations below applicable exposure limits.
Ensure vapor-monitoring equipment is available in areas of frequent or bulk handling, given the substance's narrow margin between safe and harmful exposure levels.
Personal Protection
Wear chemical-resistant gloves suitable for chlorinated solvents, safety goggles, and appropriate protective clothing.
Use an approved respirator with organic-vapor cartridges when engineering controls cannot maintain airborne concentrations below the applicable exposure limit.
Storage
Store in tightly closed, light-resistant containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from strong oxidizers, strong bases, and reactive metals such as aluminum and magnesium powder.
Protect containers from heat, direct sunlight, and prolonged light exposure to minimize decomposition to phosgene and other hazardous byproducts.
Store away from food, feed, and incompatible materials, and maintain adequate stabilizer content per the supplier's certificate of analysis.
Spill and Leak Procedures
Evacuate non-essential personnel and ventilate the area, as vapor is heavier than air and can accumulate in low-lying spaces.
Absorb spilled material with inert, non-combustible absorbent material and place in a suitable closed container for disposal.
Prevent the material from entering drains, soil, groundwater, and surface water; notify environmental authorities if release exceeds reportable quantities.
Decontamination
Ventilate the affected area thoroughly before permitting re-entry.
Dispose of contaminated absorbents, clothing, and materials as hazardous waste in accordance with applicable regulations, including RCRA waste designation where applicable.
Handling Precautions
Handle as a potential occupational carcinogen, minimizing exposure through engineering controls, ventilation, and personal protective equipment.
Maintain an eyewash station and emergency shower in the immediate work area.
Follow the current safety data sheet, exposure-monitoring program, and all applicable occupational and environmental regulations.
