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Carbon tetrachloride, also known as tetrachloromethane, is a colorless liquid used as an organic solvent, fuel additive, catalyst, coolant, or metal degreaser. It can be harmful to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Its production involves reacting chlorine with methane or chlorinating compounds. Its historical applications have declined due to environmental and health risks. Modern applications distance the user from the chemical. It is a hepatotoxin and a suspected carcinogen, causing symptoms such as gastric problems, anorexia, headaches, depressive symptoms, and dizziness.
Carbon tetrachloride is a colorless organic compound with the chemical formula CCl4. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name for this chemical is tetrachloromethane. Carbon tetrachloride is often used as an organic solvent, fuel additive, catalyst, coolant or metal degreaser. Prolonged exposure to this chemical can be harmful to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system.
At room temperature, carbon tetrachloride is a colorless liquid. Its molecular weight is 153.8 grams per mole. The melting point of this compound is minus -9.4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus -23 degrees Celsius) and the boiling point is 170 degrees Fahrenheit (76.7 degrees Celsius). Carbon tetrachloride is soluble in organic solvents such as acetone, ethanol, benzene and carbon disulfide. Shows a slight degree of solubility in water.
Structurally, this compound has a carbon atom at its center, surrounded by four chlorine atoms. This arrangement gives the compound a tetrahedral shape. There are many other names this chemical could be known by, including carbon chloride, tet carbon, freon 10, halon-104, or tetrachlorocarbon.
The most common method of producing carbon tetrachloride is by reacting chlorine with methane. Hydrochloric acid, HCl, is formed as a byproduct of the reaction. This is the most common method of producing CCl4, but it can also be achieved by chlorinating compounds such as chloroform or dichloromethane.
Historically, carbon tetrachloride has been used in various applications, from dry cleaning fluid to fire extinguishers. It was often used to make refrigerants, but this practice has declined since the late 1980s when many countries started adopting certain regulations to protect the environment. The refrigerants in question have been found to be harmful to the ozone layer. Use in other commercial applications has also declined due to the health risks associated with the chemical.
Unlike many of its historical applications, modern applications of carbon tetrachloride tend to distance the user from the chemical itself. These applications are generally limited to use in chemical processes such as catalysis or use as an organic solvent. The non-polar structure of the chemical makes it an excellent industrial degreaser for metals.
Toxicity reports for carbon tetrachloride confirm it as a hepatotoxin, which means it can cause liver damage. Prolonged exposure could also cause damage to the central nervous system and kidneys. Symptoms of high exposure include general gastric problems, anorexia, headaches, depressive symptoms and dizziness. Carbon tetrachloride is also a suspected carcinogen and should be handled with care.
