Production and Uses
- Chloroethane is produced by hydrochlorination of ethylene.
- It can also be produced from ethanol and hydrochloric acid, ethane and chlorine, or ethanol and phosphorus trichloride.
- Some chloroethane is generated as a byproduct of polyvinyl chloride production.
- The routes involving ethanol and hydrochloric acid, ethane and chlorine, and ethanol and phosphorus trichloride are no longer economical.
- Chloroethane production from ethanol and hydrochloric acid was first done in 1440.
- Chloroethane is an inexpensive ethylating agent.
- It is used to convert cellulose to ethylcellulose, a thickening agent and binder.
- It has been used as a refrigerant, aerosol spray propellant, anesthetic, and blowing agent for foam packaging.
- It was used as a promoter chemical in the process to produce ethylbenzene.
- Currently, it is not widely used in these roles.
Obsolete uses
- Chloroethane was primarily used to produce tetraethyllead, an anti-knock additive for gasoline.
- The demand for chloroethane has fallen sharply as tetraethyllead is being phased out.
- Tetraethyllead production using chloroethane as a precursor was common from 1922 to the 20th century.
- Chloroethane is no longer used for this purpose in most industrialized countries.
- The use of tetraethyllead has been or is being phased out worldwide.
Niche uses
- Chloroethane can be applied topically to produce a deep and rapid chill, useful for removing splinters or incising abscesses.
- It was commonly used in casualty wards and dentistry.
- Chloroethane was used as an anesthetic before di-ethyl ether.
- It is used in dentistry to diagnose a dead tooth.
- In Brazil, it is a major component of a traditional (though illegal) drug taken during Carnaval.
Safety
- Chloroethane vapor is flammable and narcotic, requiring caution.
- Monochloroethane is the least toxic of the chloroethanes.
- Breathing its vapors at less than 1% concentration usually causes no symptoms.
- Concentrations of 3% to 5% can cause symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication.
- Breathing its vapors at 15% concentration is often fatal.
Regulatory control and Health hazards
- Chloroethane is classified as a Group 2B carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
- Prolonged exposure to chloroethane can cause liver and kidney damage.
- Inhalation of chloroethane can lead to respiratory issues and central nervous system depression.
- Skin contact with chloroethane may cause irritation and dermatitis.
- Occupational exposure to chloroethane should be minimized to prevent adverse health effects.
- Anvisa, the Brazilian health regulatory agency, has listed chloroethane as a substance under special control.
- The use and distribution of chloroethane are regulated to prevent misuse and harm.
- Regulatory agencies worldwide have established guidelines and limits for exposure to chloroethane.
- Compliance with safety regulations and proper handling of chloroethane is essential in industrial settings.
- Ongoing monitoring and assessment of chloroethane's environmental and health impacts are necessary.
Chloroethane, commonly known as ethyl chloride, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3CH2Cl, once widely used in producing tetraethyllead, a gasoline additive. It is a colorless, flammable gas or refrigerated liquid with a faintly sweet odor.
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| Names | |||
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| Preferred IUPAC name
Chloroethane | |||
| Other names
Ethyl chloride, Monochloroethane, Chlorene, Muriatic ether, EtCl, UN 1037, Hydrochloric Ether, Chelen, Kelene
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| Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol)
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| ChEBI | |||
| ChEMBL | |||
| ChemSpider | |||
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.755 | ||
| KEGG | |||
PubChem CID
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| RTECS number |
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| UNII | |||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |||
| C2H5Cl | |||
| Molar mass | 64.51 g·mol−1 | ||
| Appearance | Colorless gas | ||
| Odor | Pungent, ethereal | ||
| Density | 0.921 g/cm3 (0-4 °C) 0.8898 g/cm3 (25 °C) | ||
| Melting point | −138.7 °C (−217.7 °F; 134.5 K) | ||
| Boiling point | 12.27 °C (54.09 °F; 285.42 K) decomposes at 510 °C | ||
| 0.447 g/100 mL (0 °C) 0.574 g/100 mL (20 °C) | |||
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohol, ether | ||
| Solubility in ethanol | 48.3 g/100 g (21 °C) | ||
| Vapor pressure | 8.4 kPa (-40 °C) 62.3 kPa (0 °C) 134.6 kPa (20 °C) | ||
Henry's law
constant (kH) |
11.1 L·atm/mol (24 °C) | ||
Refractive index (nD)
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1.3676 (20 °C) 1.001 (25 °C) | ||
| Viscosity | 0.279 cP (10 °C) | ||
| Structure | |||
| 2.06 D | |||
| Thermochemistry | |||
Heat capacity (C)
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104.3 J/mol·K | ||
Std molar
entropy (S⦵298) |
275.7 J/mol·K | ||
Std enthalpy of
formation (ΔfH⦵298) |
-137 kJ/mol | ||
Gibbs free energy (ΔfG⦵)
|
-59.3 kJ/mol | ||
| Pharmacology | |||
| N01BX01 (WHO) | |||
| Hazards | |||
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |||
Main hazards
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Flammable | ||
| GHS labelling: | |||
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| Danger | |||
| H220, H280, H351, H412 | |||
| P210, P273, P281, P410+P403 | |||
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |||
| Flash point | −43 °C (−45 °F; 230 K) open cup −50 °C (−58 °F; 223 K) closed cup | ||
| 494 to 519 °C (921 to 966 °F; 767 to 792 K) | |||
| Explosive limits | 3.8%-15.4% | ||
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |||
LC50 (median concentration)
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59,701 ppm (rat, 2 hr) 54,478 ppm (mouse, 2 hr) | ||
LCLo (lowest published)
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40,000 ppm (guinea pig, 45 min) | ||
| NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |||
PEL (Permissible)
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TWA 1000 ppm (2600 mg/m3) | ||
REL (Recommended)
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Handle with caution in the workplace. | ||
IDLH (Immediate danger)
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3800 ppm | ||
| Legal status |
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| Related compounds | |||
Related haloalkanes
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1,1-dichloroethane 1,2-dichloroethane | ||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Ethyl chloride was first synthesised by Basil Valentine by reacting ethanol and hydrochloric acid in 1440. Glauber made it in 1648 by reacting ethanol and zinc chloride.
chloro- + ethane
chloroethane (plural chloroethanes)
