Substance profile
Chloral Hydrate
Chloral Hydrate is colorless or white crystals with an aromatic, penetrating and slightly acrid odor.
01 · Identification
What Chloral Hydrate is
Chloral Hydrate is colorless or white crystals with an aromatic, penetrating and slightly acrid odor. It boils at 97.5 °C, melts at 57 °C, is very soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
Other names for Chloral Hydrate
- 2,2,2-trichloroethane-1,1-diol
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H301 | Toxic if swallowed. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
Precautionary statements: P264, P270, P280, P301, P302, P305, P310, P313, P330, P332, P337, P338, P352
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Chloral Hydrate properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 97.5 °C (207.5 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
| 96 °C (204.8 °F) | decomposes, decomposes | HSDB | |
| 98 °C (208.4 °F) | DrugBank | ||
| Melting point | 57 °C (134.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 57.22 °C (135 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Density | 1.9 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 1.9081 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in acetone, methyl ethyl ketone. Moderately or sparingly soluble in turpentine, petroleum ether, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene. | HSDB | |
| Very soluble in benzene, ethyl ether, and ethanol. | HSDB | ||
| In water, 7.93X10+5 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Vapor pressure | 15 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
| 5 mmHg | at 10 °C | CAMEO | |
| Vapor density | 5.1 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| Corrosivity | ... Corrosive to the skin and mucous membrane unless well diluted | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Chloral Hydrate
Storage conditions
Chloral hydrate oral solution should be stored in tight, light-resistant containers. Chloral hydrate capsules should be stored at 15-30 °C.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
CHLORAL HYDRATE is incompatible with alkalis, alkaline earth metals, alkali carbonates and soluble barbiturates. It is decomposed by sodium hydroxide. It reduces ammoniacal silver nitrate. It liquefies when triturated with an equal quantity of menthol, camphor or thymol. (NTP, 1992). Reaction of chloral hydrate with hydroxylamine produces toxic hydrogen cyanide gas, Org. Synth., 1941, Vol. 1, 377.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Chloral Hydrate in the storage compatibility matrix →