Substance profile
Dichloroacetic Acid
Dichloroacetic Acid is a liquid with a pungent odor.
01 · Identification
What Dichloroacetic Acid is
Dichloroacetic Acid is a liquid with a pungent odor. Its molecular formula is C2H2Cl2O2 and its molecular weight is 128.94 g/mol. It boils at 193 °C, melts at 12 °C, is miscible with water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
02 · Identifiers
Dichloroacetic Acid identifiers and molecular data
Dichloroacetic Acid CAS number and EC number
Dichloroacetic Acid molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Dichloroacetic Acid hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Dichloroacetic Acid pictograms and signal word
Dichloroacetic Acid hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 1A or 1B or 1C | H314 | GHS05 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | GHS09 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
Dichloroacetic Acid hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Dichloroacetic Acid. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Dichloroacetic Acid
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of Dichloroacetic Acid issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
Dichloroacetic Acid precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 8 precautionary statements to Dichloroacetic Acid. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Dichloroacetic Acid name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | дихлорооцетна киселина |
| Spanish español | Ácido dicloroacético |
| Czech čeština | dichloroctová kyselina |
| Danish dansk | dichloreddikesyre |
| German Deutsch | Dichloressigsäure |
| Estonian eesti | dikloroäädikhape |
| Greek ελληνικά | διχλωροξικό οξύ |
| English English | dichloroacetic acid |
| French français | acide dichloroacétique |
| Croatian hrvatski | dikloroctena kiselina |
| Italian italiano | acido dicloroacetico |
| Latvian latviešu | dihloretiķskābe |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | dichloracto rūgštis |
| Hungarian magyar | diklórecetsav |
| Maltese Malti | aċidu dikloroaċetiku |
| Dutch Nederlands | dichloorazijnzuur |
| Polish polski | kwas dichlorooctowy |
| Portuguese português | ácido dicloroacético |
| Romanian română | acid dicloroacetic |
| Slovak slovenčina | kyselina dichlóroctová |
| Slovenian slovenščina | dikloroocetna kislina |
| Finnish suomi | dikloorietikkahappo |
| Swedish svenska | diklorättiksyra |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Dichloroacetic Acid GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Dichloroacetic Acid, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Dichloroacetic Acid
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Dichloroacetic Acid in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Dichloroacetic Acid health hazards and exposure limits
Dichloroacetic Acid hazard summary
Critical Effects include upper respiratory tract; CNS; male reproductive effects; developmental toxicity; and cancer. [ACGIH] Corrosive to eyes, skin, and respiratory tract; Inhalation of high concentrations can cause pulmonary edema; [CHEMINFO]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Dichloroacetic Acid carcinogenicity classification
There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of dichloroacetic acid. There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of dichloroacetic acid. Overall evaluation: Dichloroacetic acid is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Dichloroacetic Acid properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Dichloroacetic Acid boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 193 °C (379.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| 193.89 °C (381 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| 194 °C (381.2 °F) | ICSC |
Dichloroacetic Acid melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 12 °C (53.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 9.72 °C (49.5 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) | ICSC |
Dichloroacetic Acid density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.56 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 1.5634 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.563 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
Dichloroacetic Acid solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Miscible with water | HSDB | |
| Miscible with ethanol, diethyl ether; soluble in acetone; slightly soluble in carbon tetrachloride | HSDB | ||
| Solubility in water: miscible | ICSC |
Dichloroacetic Acid vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0.1425 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC |
| 0.179 mmHg | at 25 °C, extrapolated | HSDB | |
| 1 mmHg | at 43.89 °C | CAMEO |
Dichloroacetic Acid flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 113 °C (235.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| 112.78 °C (235 °F) | above this value | CAMEO |
Dichloroacetic Acid vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 4.45 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 4.4 (air = 1) | CAMEO |
Dichloroacetic Acid odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Odor Threshold Low: 0.04 [ppm] | Haz-Map | |
| Recognition odor threshold from CHEMINFO | Haz-Map |
Dichloroacetic Acid corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Highly corrosive liquid that gives off acidic vapors. | HSDB | |
| Corrosive to metals and tissues | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Dichloroacetic Acid fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Dichloroacetic Acid fire potential
This chemical is a combustible liquid, but does not readily ignite.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Dichloroacetic Acid storage and handling
Dichloroacetic Acid safe storage
Separated from metals, combustible substances, reducing agents, strong oxidants, strong bases and food and feedstuffs. Well closed. Ventilation along the floor.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Dichloroacetic Acid storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Recommended storage temperature 2-8 °C. Handle and store under inert gas.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Dichloroacetic Acid incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Strong oxidizing agents, strong bases, strong reducing agents.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Dichloroacetic Acid reactivity
DICHLOROACETIC ACID is probably hygroscopic. This chemical reacts with water or steam. It is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong bases and strong reducing agents. (NTP, 1992)
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Dichloroacetic Acid in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Dichloroacetic Acid UN number and transport classification
Transport classification is a separate system from the GHS classification above. It decides how a package is marked and how a load may be carried; it does not follow from the workplace label, and the workplace label does not follow from it. The entries below are linked by CAS number, never by name.
Dichloroacetic Acid under UN 1764 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DICHLOROACETIC ACID | 8 | C3 | II | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 8 is “Corrosive substances” (ADR 2.1.1.1).
United States · 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
| Proper shipping name (column 2) | Class or division | PG | Labels (column 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dichloroacetic acid | 8 | II | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 8 is “Corrosive material” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Dichloroacetic Acid — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Dichloroacetic Acid?
The CAS number of Dichloroacetic Acid is 79-43-6. Its EC number is 201-207-0.
What is the chemical formula of Dichloroacetic Acid?
The molecular formula of Dichloroacetic Acid is C2H2Cl2O2 and its molecular weight is 128.94 g/mol.
What does a Dichloroacetic Acid label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Dichloroacetic Acid carries the pictograms Corrosion and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Dichloroacetic Acid flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Dichloroacetic Acid no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it. The flash point reported for it is 113 °C (235.4 °F) (HSDB).
Is Dichloroacetic Acid a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Dichloroacetic Acid. Annex VI is a list of agreed classifications, not a list of substances found safe, so this is an absence of a classification rather than a clean bill of health. IARC places it in Group 2B: possibly carcinogenic to humans.
What is the boiling point of Dichloroacetic Acid?
The boiling point reported for Dichloroacetic Acid is 193 °C (379.4 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Dichloroacetic Acid?
The melting point reported for Dichloroacetic Acid is 12 °C (53.6 °F) (HSDB).
How should Dichloroacetic Acid be stored?
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Recommended storage temperature 2-8 °C. Handle and store under inert gas. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Dichloroacetic Acid
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