Page 266 - Handbook of Hazardous Chemical Properties

256 METHYL CHLOROFORMATE

Decomposition: Not pertinent.
Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment: Approved canister
mask; leather or vinyl gloves; goggles or face shield; Symptoms Following Exposure: Inhalation causes
nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, emotional disturbances; high concentrations cause mental
confusion, eye disturbances, muscular tremors, cyanosis, convulsions. Contact of liquid with skin may
cause frostbite; General Treatment for Exposure: Remove to fresh air. Call a doctor and have patient
hospitalized for observation of slowly developing symptoms; Toxicity by Inhulation (Threshold Limit
Value): 100 ppm; Short-Term Inhalation Limits: 100 ppm for 5 min.; Toxicity by Ingestion: Not
pertinent; Late Toxicity: None; Vapor (Gas) Im‘tant Characteristics: Vapors are nonirritating to eyes
and throat; Liquid or Solid Irritant characteristics: No appreciable hazard. Practically harmless to the
skin because it is very volatile and evaporates quickly. May cause frostbite; Odor Zlreshold: Data not
available.
Fire Hazards - Flash Point (deg. F): < 32 CC; Flammable Limits in Air (%): 8.1 - 17.2; Fire
Extinguishing Agents: Dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Stop flow of gas; Fire Extinguishing Agents Not
To Be Used: Not pertinent; Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic and irritating gases are
generated in fires; Behavior in Fire: Containers may explode; Ignition Temperature (deg. F): 1170;
Electrical Hazard: Not pertinent; Burning Rate: 2.2 mmlmin.
Chemical Reactivity - Reactivity with Water: No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: Reacts
with zinc, aluminum, magnesium, and their alloys; reaction is not violent; Stability During Transport:
Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent;
Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.

METHYL CHLOROFORMATE
Chemical Designations - Synonyms: Chlorocarbonic acid, methyl ester; Chloroformic acid, methyl
ester; Methyl chlorocarbonate; Chemical Formula: ClCOOCH,,
Observable Characteristics - Physical State (as shipped): Liquid; Color: Colorless to light yellow;
Odor: Acrid.
Physical and Chemical Properties - Physical State at 15 “c and I a&n. : Liquid; Molecular Weight:
94.5; Boiling Point at I atm.: 160, 71, 344; Freezing Point: <-114, <-81, <192; Critical
Temperature: Not pertinent; Critical Pressure: Not pertinent; Specijic Gravity: 1.22 at 20 “C (liquid);
Vapor (Gas) Specific Gravity: 3.25; Ratio of Spec@c Heats of Vapor (Gas): 1.1544; Latent Heat of
Vaporization: (est.) 153, 85, 3.6; Heat of Combustion: -4,690, -2,600, -109; Heat ofDecomposition:
Not pertinent.
Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment: Acid- or organic-
canister mask or self-contained breathing apparatus; goggles or face shield; plastic gloves; Symptoms
Following Exposure: Inhalation of vapor irritates nose and throat and can cause delayed pulmonary
edema. Liquid irritates eyes and causes severe skin burns if allowed to remain. Ingestion causes burns
of mouth and stomach; General Treatment for Exposure: INHALATION: remove victim from
exposure; if breathing has stopped, administer artificial respiration; call physician. EYES: irrigate with
copious amounts of water for at least 15 rnin.; call a physician if needed. SKIN: flush with water for
15 min.; get medical attention for burns. INGESTION: give large amount of water; do NOT induce
vomiting; get medical attention; Toxicity by Inhulat$on (Threshold Limit Value): Data not available;
Short-Term Inhalation Limits: Data not available; Toxicity by Ingestion: Grade 4, oral LD,, < 50 mg/kg
(rat); Late Toxicity: Data not available; Vapor (Gas) Im’tant Characteristics: Data not available; Liquid
or Solid Irritant Characteristics: Data not available; Odor Threshold Data not available.
Fire Hazards - Flash Point (deg. F): 76 OC; 73 CC; Flammable Limits in Air (%): LEL = 6.7; Fire
Extinguishing Agents: Water, dry chemical, foam, carbon dioxide; Fire Extinguishing Agents Not To
Be Used: Not pertinent; Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Irritating and toxic hydrogen
chloride and phosgene may be formed; Behavior in Fire: Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a
considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back; Ignition Tempemre : Data not available;
Electrical Hazard: Data not available; Burning Rate: 2.0 mm/min.
Chemical Reactivity - Reactivity with Water: Reacts slowly, evolving hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric