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Dichloromethane

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Properties

General

Name Methylene chloride
Chemical formula CH2Cl2
Appearance Colorless liquid

Physical

Formula weight 80.9 amu
Melting point 176 K (-97 °C)
Boiling point 313 K (40 °C)
Density 1.32 ×103 kg/m3 (liquid)
Solubility slightly soluble in water

Thermochemistry

ΔfH0gas ? kJ/mol
ΔfH0liquid ? kJ/mol
ΔfH0solid ? kJ/mol
S0gas, 1 bar ? J/mol·K
S0liquid, 1 bar ? J/mol·K
S0solid ? J/mol·K

Safety

Ingestion Causes nausea and vomiting, with possible headache, dizziness, or unconsciousness.
Inhalation In high concentration, may cause dizziness, unconsciousness, coma, and possible respiratory failure. May cause delayed inflammation of the lungs.
Skin Prolonged or chronic exposure may cause irritation or burns.
Eyes Strongly irritating, producing tearing and burning sensations.
More info Hazardous Chemical Database
SI units were used where possible. Unless otherwise stated, standard conditions were used.

Disclaimer and references

Dichloromethane or Methylene chloride is a chemical compound widely used as a solvent for organic materials. It is a colorless, volatile liquid with a strong, sweet, vaguely pleasant aroma.

Methylene chloride was first prepared in 1840 by the French chemist Henri Victor Regnault, who isolated it from a mixture of chloromethane and chlorine that had been exposed to sunlight.

Table of contents
1 Production
2 Uses
3 Safety

Production

Industrially, methylene chloride is produced by reacting either methyl chloride or methane with chlorine gas at 400-500°C. At these temperatures, both methane and methyl chloride undergo a series of rections producing progressively more chlorinated products.

CH4 + Cl2CH3Cl + HCl
CH3Cl + Cl2 → CH2Cl2 + HCl
CH2Cl2 +Cl2CHCl3 + HCl
CHCl3 + Cl2CCl4 + HCl

The output of these processes is a mixture of methyl chloride, methylene choride, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. These compounds are then separated by distillation.

Uses

Methylene chloride's volatility and ability to dissolve a wide range of organic compounds makes it an ideal solvent for many chemical processes. It is mainly used as a paint stripper and a degreaser. In the food industry, it is used to decaffeinate coffee and to prepare extracts of hops and other flavorings. Its volatility has led to its use as an aerosol propellant and as a blowing agent for polyurethane foams. It is also used as a fumigant pesticide for stored strawberries and grains. However, concerns about its health effects have led to a search for alternatives to it in many of these applications.

It is also used in Christmas lights called bubble lights, in a sealed vial which bubbles when the incandescent light bulb below it is lit.

Safety

Methylene chloride is the least toxic of the simple chlorohydrocarbons, but it is not without its health risks. Chronic exposure to methylene chloride has been linked to cancer of the lungs, liver, and pancreas in laboratory animals. It is a mutagen and may cause birth defects if women are exposed to it during pregnancy. Prolonged skin contact can result in the methylene chloride dissolving some of the fatty tissues in skin, resulting in skin irritation or chemical burns.

In many countries, products containing methylene chloride must carry labels warning of its health risks.