Substance profile
Trichloroacetonitrile
Trichloroacetonitrile is a colorless liquid.
01 · Identification
What Trichloroacetonitrile is
Trichloroacetonitrile is a colorless liquid. Its molecular formula is C2Cl3N and its molecular weight is 144.38 g/mol. It boils at 85.7 °C, melts at -42 °C, is practically insoluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger.
02 · Identifiers
Trichloroacetonitrile identifiers and molecular data
Trichloroacetonitrile CAS number and EC number
Trichloroacetonitrile molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Trichloroacetonitrile hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Trichloroacetonitrile pictograms and signal word
Trichloroacetonitrile hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H301 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H311 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H331 | GHS06 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 2 | H411 | GHS09 |
Trichloroacetonitrile hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H311 | Toxic in contact with skin. |
| H301 | Toxic if swallowed. |
| H411 | Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Trichloroacetonitrile. 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 Trichloroacetonitrile
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 Trichloroacetonitrile 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
Trichloroacetonitrile precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 13 precautionary statements to Trichloroacetonitrile. 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
Trichloroacetonitrile 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 | трихлороацетонитрил |
| Spanish español | Tricloroacetonitrilo |
| Czech čeština | trichloracetonitril |
| Danish dansk | trichloracetonitril |
| German Deutsch | Trichloracetonitril |
| Estonian eesti | trikloroatsetonitriil |
| Greek ελληνικά | τριχλωροακετονιτρίλιο |
| English English | trichloroacetonitrile |
| French français | trichloroacétonitrile |
| Croatian hrvatski | trikloracetonitril |
| Italian italiano | tricloroacetonitrile |
| Latvian latviešu | trihloracetonitrils |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | trichloracetonitrilas |
| Hungarian magyar | triklóracetonitril |
| Maltese Malti | trikloroaċetonitril |
| Dutch Nederlands | trichlooracetonitril |
| Polish polski | trichloroacetonitryl nitryl kwasu trichlorooctowego |
| Portuguese português | tricloroacetonitrilo |
| Romanian română | tricloroacetonitril |
| Slovak slovenčina | trichlóracetonitril |
| Slovenian slovenščina | trikloroacetonitril |
| Finnish suomi | triklooriasetonitriili |
| Swedish svenska | trikloracetonitril |
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
Trichloroacetonitrile GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Trichloroacetonitrile, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Trichloroacetonitrile
- Toxic if inhaled.
- Toxic in contact with skin.
- Toxic if swallowed.
- Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- 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.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF INHALED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Rinse mouth.
- Wash with plenty of water/…
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Trichloroacetonitrile in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Trichloroacetonitrile health hazards and exposure limits
Trichloroacetonitrile hazard summary
Toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption; [eChemPortal: ESIS] A strong skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; A lachrymator; [CAMEO] An irritant; Can be absorbed through skin; Effects in high-dose animal studies include lacrimation; [MSDSonline]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Trichloroacetonitrile carcinogenicity classification
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
Trichloroacetonitrile 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.
Trichloroacetonitrile boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 85.7 °C (186.3 °F) | HSDB | |
| 83.33 °C (182 °F) | range, midpoint shown, at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Trichloroacetonitrile melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -42 °C (-43.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| -42.22 °C (-44 °F) | CAMEO |
Trichloroacetonitrile density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.4403 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Trichloroacetonitrile solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Insoluble in water | HSDB | |
| less than 1 mg/mL at 70.7 °F (NTP, 1992) | at 21.5 °C | CAMEO |
Trichloroacetonitrile vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 74.1 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
| 74.1 mmHg | Haz-Map |
Trichloroacetonitrile flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 195 °C (383 °F) | closed cup | HSDB |
| 74.17 °C (165.5 °F) | CAMEO |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Handling and storage
Trichloroacetonitrile storage and handling
Trichloroacetonitrile storage conditions
Keep tightly closed.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Trichloroacetonitrile reactivity
May be sensitive to light and heat. This compound may react with water, steam, acid or acid fumes. It may hydrolyze under acidic or alkaline conditions. (NTP, 1992). The reaction of benzene and trichloroacetonitrile evolves toxic chloroform and HCl gases. (Hagedorn, F., H.-P. Gelbke, and Federal Republic of Germany. 2002. Nitriles. In Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Trichloroacetonitrile in the storage compatibility matrix →
10 · Questions
Trichloroacetonitrile — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Trichloroacetonitrile?
The CAS number of Trichloroacetonitrile is 545-06-2. Its EC number is 208-885-7.
What is the chemical formula of Trichloroacetonitrile?
The molecular formula of Trichloroacetonitrile is C2Cl3N and its molecular weight is 144.38 g/mol.
What does a Trichloroacetonitrile label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Trichloroacetonitrile carries the pictograms Skull and crossbones and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Trichloroacetonitrile flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Trichloroacetonitrile 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 195 °C (383 °F), closed cup (HSDB).
Is Trichloroacetonitrile a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Trichloroacetonitrile. 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 3: not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.
What is the boiling point of Trichloroacetonitrile?
The boiling point reported for Trichloroacetonitrile is 85.7 °C (186.3 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Trichloroacetonitrile?
The melting point reported for Trichloroacetonitrile is -42 °C (-43.6 °F) (HSDB).
How should Trichloroacetonitrile be stored?
Keep tightly closed. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Trichloroacetonitrile
Keep going: substances starting with T, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.