Substance profile
Phosphorus pentachloride
Phosphorus pentachloride is a white to pale yellow crystalline mass with a pungent, unpleasant odor.
01 · Identification
What Phosphorus pentachloride is
Phosphorus pentachloride is a white to pale yellow crystalline mass with a pungent, unpleasant odor. Its molecular formula is Cl5P and its molecular weight is 208.2 g/mol. It boils at 160 °C, melts at 161 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
02 · Identifiers
Phosphorus pentachloride identifiers and molecular data
Phosphorus pentachloride CAS number and EC number
Phosphorus pentachloride molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Phosphorus pentachloride hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Phosphorus pentachloride pictograms and signal word
Phosphorus pentachloride hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H330 | GHS06 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 1A or 1B or 1C | H314 | GHS05 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure GHS chapter 3.9 | Category 2 | H373 | GHS08 |
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.
Phosphorus pentachloride hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H373 | May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
Phosphorus pentachloride supplemental EU statements (EUH)
| Code | Statement |
|---|---|
| EUH014 | Reacts violently with water. |
| EUH029 | Contact with water liberates toxic gas. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Phosphorus pentachloride. 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 Phosphorus pentachloride
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 Phosphorus pentachlori… 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
Phosphorus pentachloride precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 11 precautionary statements to Phosphorus pentachloride. 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.
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
Phosphorus pentachloride 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 | фосфорен пентахлорид |
| Spanish español | Pentacloruro de fósforo |
| Czech čeština | chlorid fosforečný |
| Danish dansk | phosphorpentachlorid |
| German Deutsch | Phosphorpentachlorid |
| Estonian eesti | fosforpentakloriid |
| Greek ελληνικά | πενταχλωριούχος φωσφόρος |
| English English | phosphorus pentachloride |
| French français | pentachlorure de phosphore |
| Croatian hrvatski | fosforov pentaklorid |
| Italian italiano | pentacloruro di fosforo |
| Latvian latviešu | fosfora pentahlorīds |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | fosforo pentachloridas |
| Hungarian magyar | foszfor-pentaklorid |
| Maltese Malti | pentaklorur tal-fosforu |
| Dutch Nederlands | fosforpentachloride |
| Polish polski | pentachlorek fosforu |
| Portuguese português | pentacloreto de fósforo |
| Romanian română | pentaclorură de fosfor |
| Slovak slovenčina | chlorid fosforečný |
| Slovenian slovenščina | fosforjev pentaklorid |
| Finnish suomi | fosforipentakloridi |
| Swedish svenska | fosforpentaklorid |
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
Phosphorus pentachloride GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Phosphorus pentachloride, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Phosphorus pentachloride
- Fatal if inhaled.
- Harmful if swallowed.
- May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- Reacts violently with water.
- Contact with water liberates toxic gas.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF INHALED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell.
- Rinse mouth.
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Phosphorus pentachloride in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Phosphorus pentachloride health hazards and exposure limits
Phosphorus pentachloride hazard summary
Eye irritation and acute bronchitis have been reported after occupational exposures. Hydrogen chloride is released upon contact with water. [ACGIH] Toxic to the liver in chronic animal studies; [Desai, H. Phosphorus and Phosphorus Compounds. In: Sullivan J, Krieger G (eds).Hazardous Materials Toxicology.Baltimore:Williams & Wilkins,1992;939] A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Phosphorus pentachloride occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 1.0 [mg/m3] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | TWA 1 mg/m3 | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | TWA 1 mg/m3 | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 70 mg/m3 (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 70.0 [mg/m3] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 70 mg/cu m | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Phosphorus pentachloride 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.
Phosphorus pentachloride boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 160 °C (320 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
| 159 °C (318.2 °F) | sublimes, sublimes | HSDB | |
| Sublimes | sublimes | NIOSH |
Phosphorus pentachloride melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 160.5 °C (320.9 °F) | freezing point | HSDB |
| 148 °C (298.4 °F) | sublimes, under pressure | HSDB | |
| 162.22 °C (324 °F) | sublimes | NIOSH |
Phosphorus pentachloride density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 3.6 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 2.114 g/cm³ | at 25.15 °C | HSDB |
Phosphorus pentachloride solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Hygroscopic | HSDB | |
| Sol in carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride | HSDB | ||
| Reacts with water; soluble in carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride | HSDB |
Phosphorus pentachloride vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0.012 mmHg | at 20 °C | HSDB |
| 1 mmHg | at 55.5 °C | HSDB |
Phosphorus pentachloride lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | Noncombustible Solid | NIOSH |
Phosphorus pentachloride vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 7.2 (air = 1) | HSDB |
Phosphorus pentachloride critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 372 °C (701.6 °F) | HSDB |
Phosphorus pentachloride corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Corrosive | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Phosphorus pentachloride 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.
Phosphorus pentachloride fire potential
MODERATE, BY CHEMICAL REACTION. REACTS VIOLENTLY WITH MOISTURE.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Fire and explosion
The residue from interaction of the chloride and anilide in benzene after removal of solvent and phosphoryl chloride under vacuum exploded violently on admission of air.
Source: HSDB
A solution of phosphorus pentachloride in nitrobenzene is stable at 110 °C but begins to decompose with acceralating violence above 120 °C, with evolution of nitrous fumes.
Source: HSDB
10 · Handling and storage
Phosphorus pentachloride storage and handling
Phosphorus pentachloride safe storage
Separated from food and feedstuffs and incompatible materials. See Chemical Dangers. Dry. Well closed.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Phosphorus pentachloride storage conditions
Store in a glass bottle with a ground glass stopper and keep the bottle tightly closed. Protect against physical damage.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Phosphorus pentachloride incompatible materials
Hydrolyzed by water to form phosphoric acid & hydrogen chloride.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Phosphorus pentachloride reactivity
PHOSPHORUS PENTACHLORIDE is a lightly yellow, fuming crystalline material, highly caustic, corrosive and toxic. Flammable by chemical reaction. Violent exothermic reaction with water or steam. When heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of chlorides and oxides of phosphorus. Explosive reaction with alkaline metals (sodium, potassium), urea. Ignites on contact with fluorine. Violent reaction with aluminum, chlorine trioxide, hydroxylamine, magnesium oxide, nitrobenzene, phosphorus(III) oxide, potassium. Carbamates form explosive products [Bretherick, 5th ed., 1995, p. 1360]. Reaction with the mixture of chlorine and chlorine dioxide causes explosion [Mellor, 1941, vol. 2, p. 281; 1940, vol. 8, p. 1013].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Phosphorus pentachloride in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Phosphorus pentachloride 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.
Phosphorus pentachloride under UN 1806 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHOSPHORUS PENTACHLORIDE | 8 | C2 | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus pentachloride | 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
Phosphorus pentachloride — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Phosphorus pentachloride?
The CAS number of Phosphorus pentachloride is 10026-13-8. Its EC number is 233-060-3.
What is the chemical formula of Phosphorus pentachloride?
The molecular formula of Phosphorus pentachloride is Cl5P and its molecular weight is 208.2 g/mol.
What does a Phosphorus pentachloride label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Phosphorus pentachloride carries the pictograms Skull and crossbones, Health hazard and Corrosion and the signal word is Danger.
Is Phosphorus pentachloride flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Phosphorus pentachloride 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.
Is Phosphorus pentachloride a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Phosphorus pentachloride. 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.
What is the exposure limit for Phosphorus pentachloride?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Phosphorus pentachloride is 1.0 [mg/m3] (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of Phosphorus pentachloride?
The boiling point reported for Phosphorus pentachloride is 160 °C (320 °F), at 760 mmHg (CAMEO).
What is the melting point of Phosphorus pentachloride?
The melting point reported for Phosphorus pentachloride is 160.5 °C (320.9 °F), freezing point (HSDB).
How should Phosphorus pentachloride be stored?
Store in a glass bottle with a ground glass stopper and keep the bottle tightly closed. Protect against physical damage. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Phosphorus pentachloride
Keep going: substances starting with P, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.