Thionyl chloride

Agent Name
Thionyl chloride
CAS Number
7719-09-7
Formula
Cl2-O-S
Major Category
Toxic Gases & Vapors
Thionyl chloride formula graphical representation
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.
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: