Arsenic trifluoride

Synonyms

Arsenic fluoride; Arsenic fluoride (AsF3); Arsenous fluoride; Arsenous trifluoride; TL 156; Trifluoroarsine; [ChemIDplus] Arsenic (III) fluoride; [MSDSonline] UN1556

Category

Arsenic Compounds, Inorganic

Description

Liquid; Fumes in air; [Merck Index]

Sources/Uses

Used as a dopant and to make arsenic pentafluoride, hexaflouroarsonite compounds, and graphite intercalated compounds; Also used as a fluorinating agent and catalyst; [HSDB]

Comments

Extremely toxic; [Merck Index] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; [HSDB] An irritant; Toxic by ingestion or inhalation; [MSDSonline] Trivalent arsenic compounds (arsenic trioxide, trifluoride, and trichloride) are more toxic that the pentavalent compounds because the former are more water soluble. [Ullmann] See "Arsenic" and the linked occupational diseases.

Biomedical References

Inorganic arsenic plus methylated metabolites in urine = 35 ug As/L; end of workweek; Fluorides in urine = 2 mg/L prior to shift or 3 mg/L at end of shift; (Repeated measurements recommended.)

0.01 mg/m3, as As (2.5 mg/m3, as F)

0.01 mg/m3, as As (2.5 mg/m3, as F)

1 mg/m3, inhalable fraction, as F

5 mg/m3, as As

LCLo (mice) = 2,000 mg/m3/10min

Explanatory Notes

VP = 100 mm Hg at 13.2 deg C; [HSDB] The Guide in the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Arsenic compound, liquid, n.o.s., inorganic."

Aplastic anemia

Sensorimotor

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Established

Human carcinogen

Confirmed Human

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Arsenic, chronic toxic effect