Substance profile
Colchicine
Colchicine is pale yellow scales or powder; pale yellow needles when crystallized from ethyl acetate and is odorless.
01 · Identification
What Colchicine is
Colchicine is pale yellow scales or powder; pale yellow needles when crystallized from ethyl acetate and is odorless. Its molecular formula is C22H25NO6 and its molecular weight is 399.4 g/mol. It boils at 407 °C, melts at 146 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as teratogens.
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 |
|---|---|
| H340 | May cause genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H300 | Fatal if swallowed. |
Precautionary statements: P201, P270, P280, P301, P308, P310, P313, P330
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Colchicine 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 | 407 °C (764.6 °F) | at 760 mmHg | DOE PAC |
| 522.37 °C (972.3 °F) | DrugBank | ||
| Melting point | 146 °C (294.8 °F) | range, midpoint shown | HSDB |
| 146.11 °C (295 °F) | range, midpoint shown | CAMEO | |
| 155 °C (311 °F) | range, midpoint shown | DrugBank | |
| Solubility | 1 g dissolves in 22 mL water, 220 mL ether, 100 mL benzene; freely sol in alcohol or chloroform; practically insoluble in petroleum ether | HSDB | |
| SOL IN METHANOL; SLIGHTLY SOL IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE | HSDB | ||
| At 25 °C, 4.5 g/100 g water | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Vapor pressure | 0.00001 mmHg | at 25 °C | DOE PAC |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Colchicine
Reactivity
COLCHICINE darkens on exposure to light. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. Also incompatible with mineral acids (NTP, 1992).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Colchicine in the storage compatibility matrix →