Dichloromethane (MDC)
Dichloromethane is an organochlorine compound with the formula CH2Cl2. This colorless, volatile liquid with a chloroform-like, sweet odour is widely used as a solvent. Although it is not miscible with water, it is slightly polar, and miscible with many organic solvents.
| Properties | |
|---|---|
| Chemical formula | CH2Cl2 |
| Molar mass | 84.93 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Odor | Faint, chloroform-like |
| Density | 1.3266 g/cm3 (20 °C) |
| Melting point | −96.7 °C (−142.1 °F; 176.5 K) |
| Boiling point | 39.6 °C (103.3 °F; 312.8 K) decomposes at 720 °C 39.75 °C (103.55 °F; 312.90 K) at 760 mmHg |
| Solubility in water | 25.6 g/L (15 °C) 17.5 g/L (25 °C) 15.8 g/L (30 °C) 5.2 g/L (60 °C) |
| Solubility | Miscible in ethyl acetate, alcohol, hexanes, benzene, CCl4, diethyl ether, CHCl3 |
| Hazards | |
|---|---|
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
| Eye hazards | Irritant |
| GHS labelling: | |
| Pictograms |  |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H315, H319, H335, H336, H351, H373 |
| Precautionary statements | P261, P281, P305+P351+P338 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) |  |
USE : MDC volatility and ability to dissolve a wide range of organic compounds makes it a useful solvent for many chemical processes. In the food industry, it is used to decaffeinate coffee and tea as well as to prepare extracts of hops and other flavourings.[15][16] Its volatility has led to its use as an aerosol spray propellant and as a blowing agent for polyurethane foams.
Safety : Even though DCM is the least toxic of the simple chlorohydrocarbons, it has serious health risks. Its high volatility makes it an acute inhalation hazard. It can also be absorbed through the skin. Symptoms of acute overexposure to dichloromethane via inhalation include difficulty concentrating, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, headaches, numbness, weakness, and irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes. More severe consequences can include suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and death.