Carbon tetrachloride is an organic chemical compound from the group of chlorocarbons, which is often also called tetrachloromethane. The molecule of the substance is derived from methane, in which all four H atoms are replaced by chlorine atoms.
In the carbon tetrachloride molecule, the four chlorine atoms are positioned symmetrically at the corners of a tetrahedron and are connected to the central carbon via covalent bonds; due to this symmetrical geometry, CCl4 is nonpolar. The C-Cl bond length is 175 pm and the Cl-C-Cl angle is 109.5 °.
Other names, synonyms
Tetrachloromethane; Benziform; Benzinoform; Carbon chloride; Methane tetrachloride
Trade names; preparations
R-10; Carbon tet; Halon-104; Refrigerant-10; Freon-10; Tetrasol; Tetraform; TCM
Molecular formula and structural formula of Carbon tetrachloride:
CCl4
Mr = 153.811 g/mol
SMILES: C(Cl)(Cl)(Cl)Cl
In its pure state, carbon tetrachloride is a clear, colorless, light-refracting, slightly volatile, unpleasantly sweet-smelling, poisonous, non-flammable even at temperatures below 982 °C, water-insoluble, stable liquid.
Mass-related elemental composition and isotope proportions of the compound Carbon tetrachloride - CCl4 - calculated based on molecular mass.
*) The third column lists the atomic masses or isotope masses of the elements involved and - in square brackets - the natural isotope composition.
The molar mass is M = 153.811 grams per mole.
The amount of substance in one kilogram of the substance is n = 6.501 mol.
The amount of substance in one gram of the substance is n = 0.007 mol.
Monoisotopic mass: 151.87541076 Da - related to 12C35Cl4.
Carbon tetrachloride was first synthesized in 1839 by the French chemist Henri Victor Regnault by reacting chloroform with chlorine. Today, this chemical, which does not occur in nature, is mainly produced from methane:
CH4 + 4 Cl2 → CCl4 + 4 HCl.
The substance is also often a by-product of other chlorination reactions, for example in the syntheses of dichloromethane and chloroform. Higher chlorinated hydrocarbons also undergo chlorolysis:
C2Cl6 + Cl2 → 2 CCl4.
Before the 1950s, carbon tetrachloride was produced by chlorinating carbon disulfide at 105 to 130 °C:
CS2 + 3 Cl2 → CCl4 + S2Cl2.
Carbon tetrachloride production has declined sharply since the 1980s due to environmental concerns and reduced demand for CFCs derived from carbon tetrachloride. In 1992, production in the United States, Europe, and Japan combined was estimated at 720,000 tonnes.
- Solvent for oils and fats.
- Formerly used agent in dry cleaning.
- Agent for thermodynamic heat pump or refrigeration circuits.
- Refrigerant in air conditioning systems, freezers and refrigerators.
- Formerly used as a fumigant in agriculture.
- Formerly used as an active ingredient against nematodes.
- Formerly used as an extinguishing agent in fire extinguishers.
There is a special application for stamp collectors in philately: In order to identify a watermark on a stamp and thus check its authenticity without damaging it, a small amount of carbon tetrachloride was put on the back and the stamp was placed on a black glass or in an obsidian bowl. The watermark - if present - was then clearly visible.
(General information without guarantee of accuracy and completeness! The information does not replace the chemical safety data sheet or a risk assessment, but rather provides a general overview of the risk posed by the hazardous substance.
Signal word: Danger
GHS hazard statements (H phrases):
Carbon tetrachloride is suspected of being carcinogenic (C).
Labeling in the EU: See ECHA Substance Infocard 100.000.239.
WHO IARC group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans! See there under monograph 20, Sup 7, 71, (1999).
For toxicology and occupational safety when handling Carbon tetrachloride as well as measures to be taken in case of danger, see: Hazardous Substances Information System GESTIS, ZVG-Nr. 001480.
The table below lists producers and suppliers of Carbon tetrachloride as a commercial chemical for laboratories, research, industry and production with the corresponding contact details.
[0] - Specialist and research articles in scientific journals via PubMed: Carbon_tetrachloride.
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