Thionyl chloride
Agent Name
Thionyl chloride
CAS Number
7719-09-7
Formula
Cl2-O-S
Major Category
Toxic Gases & Vapors
Synonyms
Sulfinyl chloride; Sulfur chloride oxide (Cl2SO); Sulfur oxychloride; Sulfurous dichloride; Sulfurous oxychloride; Thionyl dichloride; [ChemIDplus] UN1836
Category
Acid Halides
Description
Colorless to yellow to reddish liquid with a pungent odor like sulfur dioxide. [Note: Fumes form when exposed to moist air.]; [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
Used to make herbicides, surfactants, drugs, dyes, and plastics; Also used as an electrolyte in lithium batteries; [ACGIH]
Comments
Can cause pneumonitis; [ACGIH] Toxicity is comparable to hydrogen chloride; liquid may cause severe skin burns; [HSDB] Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] A lachrymator; [HSDB] A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] Sulfur chlorides release HCl, SO2, and H2S when spilled in water; [ERG 2016] Thionyl chloride is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans.
Reference Link #1
Biomedical References
Exposure Assessment
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Insufficient data
TIH
Yes
Dangerous When Wet
Yes
Ceiling (ACGIH)
0.2 ppm
Vapor Pressure
119 mm Hg
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (rat) = 500 ppm/1h
Explanatory Notes
Some “Water Reactive Materials” are also TIH materials themselves: Thionyl chloride; [ERG 2016] VP from HSDB;
NFPA
will not burn
ERPG-1
0.2 ppm
ERPG-2
2 ppm
ERPG-3
10 ppm
Adverse Effects
Lachrymator
Yes
Toxic Pneumonitis
Yes
Fibrogenic
Yes
Dermatotoxin
Skin burns
Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: