Chloropicrin
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| Chloropicrin | |
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| IUPAC name | trichloro(nitro)methane |
| Other names | PS |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | [] |
| SMILES | ClC(Cl)(Cl)[N+]([O-])=O |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | CCl3NO2 |
| Molar mass | 164.375 |
| Appearance | colorless liquid |
| Melting point |
-69.2 °C |
| Boiling point |
112 °C (dec) |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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Chloropicrin is a slightly oily, colorless or faintly yellow liquid of the formula CCl3NO2. Its freezing point is -69.2 °C and its boiling point is 112 °C, where it partially decomposes to phosgene and nitrosyl chloride. It is denser than water. It is more toxic than chlorine but less than phosgene.
Chloropicrin vapor is highly poisonous if inhaled. Chloropicrin was used in World War I as a chemical weapon, called PS by British, Aquinite by French, and Klop (green cross) by Germans. See also Use of poison gas in World War I. After WW II, however, the importance of Chloropicrin for military use decreased and, today, has vanished. In the chemical industry, it is widely used for organic synthesis, in fumigants, in fungicides and insecticides, and for the extermination of rats. Chloropicrin is a relatively stable liquid that is prepared by the reaction of picric acid with calcium hypochlorite, by the addition of nitrogen to chlorinated hydrocarbons, or by chlorinating nitromethane. In environment it undergoes photolysis.
Chloropicrin is used for fumigation, to sterilize soil and seed.
As a chemical warfare agent it is a powerful irritant from the group of pulmonary agents. It causes lachrymation, vomiting, bronchitis, and pulmonary edema; the lung injury can be fatal. Very low concentrations cause burning sensation of the eyes, which may serve as a warning. Because of its relative inertness and the small size of its molecule, chloropicrin penetrates gas mask filters. It then causes vomiting, which makes the victim remove the gas mask. For this reason, it is often mixed with other chemical weapons. Contrary claims have been made to the effect that filters do a wonderful job of removing chloropicrin and it is really phosgene oxime that is a vomit inducing agent.
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| Blood agents: | Cyanogen chloride (CK) – Hydrogen cyanide (AC) | |
| Blister agents: | Lewisite (L) – Sulfur mustard gas (HD, H, HT, HL, HQ) – Nitrogen mustard gas (HN1, HN2, HN3) | |
| Nerve agents: | G-Agents: Tabun (GA) – Sarin (GB) – Soman (GD) – Cyclosarin (GF) – GV | V-Agents: VE – VG – VM – VX | Novichok agents | |
| Pulmonary agents: | Chlorine – Chloropicrin (PS) – Phosgene (CG) – Diphosgene (DP) | |
| Incapacitating agents: | Agent 15 (BZ) – KOLOKOL-1 | |
| Riot control agents: | Pepper spray (OC) – CS gas – CN gas (mace) – CR gas | |
