Chlorine gas toxicity

Shroff, C.P., M.V.Khade, and M.Srinivasan. 1988. Respiratory cytopathology in chlorine gas toxicity A study in 28 subjects. Diagn. Cytopathol. 4(1) 28—32. 

Traub StJ, Hoffman RS, and Nelson LS (2002) Case report and literature review of chlorine gas toxicity. Vet Human Toxicol 44 235-239. 

Toxicity of Chlorine Sanitizers. Chlorine-based swimming-pool and spa and hot-tub sanitizers irritate eyes, skin, and mucous membranes and must be handled with extreme care. The toxicities are as follows for chlorine gas, TLV = 1 ppm acute inhalation LC q = 137 ppm for 1 h (mouse) (75). The acute oral LD q (rats) for the Hquid and soHd chlorine sanitizers are NaOCl (100% basis) 8.9 g/kg (76), 65% Ca(OCl)2 850 mg/kg, sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate 735 mg/kg, and trichloroisocyanuric acid 490 mg/kg. Cyanuric acid is essentially nontoxic based on an oral LD q > 20 g/kg in rabbits. Although, it is mildly irritating to the eye, it is not a skin irritant. A review of the toxicological studies on cyanuric acid and its chlorinated derivatives is given in ref. 77. 

The modem history of the military use of toxic chemical agents (1,3—5) dates from the first full-scale (chlorine) gas attack on April 22, 1915, near Ypres, Belgium in World War I. There were a few reports of the limited use of toxic chemicals since that time. The Italians employed mustard, a bUster agent, during the Ethiopian war in 1935 and 1936 the Japanese used toxic chemicals in a number of small-scale engagements in the early years of their war with China and Iraq purportedly employed both mustard and nerve gases in the 1980s. 

Household ammonia should never be mixed with chlorine bleach, because a redox reaction occurs that generates toxic chlorine gas and hydrazine NH3 + OCl —> CI2 + N2 H4 (unbalanced) Balance this equation. 

The interplay between the chemical and biological properties of the threat agent, on the one hand, and the specific attack scenario, on the other, can influence the lethality of the attack. Table 2-2 shows the relative respiratory toxicities (expressed as the lethal concentration of toxin at which 50 percent of test animals are killed, or LCT50, in milligrams per minute per cubic meter) of a variety of toxic gases compared with chlorine gas, which was used as a chemical weapon in World War I. According to Table 2-2, the nerve agent sarin (GB) has a respiratory toxicity approximately 100 times that of chlorine, while sulfur mustard (HD) is about 7 times more toxic. However, the lethality of an attack... 

The Alcoa chlorine process uses about 30% as much electrical energy as the Hall-Heroult process. A1C13 melts at a much lower temperature than the Al203/Na3[AlF6] mixture, so less energy is required to heat the electrolysis container. The product, chlorine gas, is recycled in the Alcoa chlorine process, which keeps the cost down. Also the electrodes do not have to be replaced, as they do in the Hall-Heroult process. However, the main disadvantage is that the Alcoa chlorine process is more dangerous to workers since chlorine is a toxic gas. 

But if we accept that plutonium is chemically toxic, then we must also recognize that the extent of its toxicity will depend on how the plutonium is bonded chemically, i.e. in what redox and chemical form it is present. As an example, note how soldiers were poisoned with chlorine gas during the First World War (when it was called Mustard Gas), but chloride in table salt is vital for life. Some plutonium compounds are more toxic than others. 

Phosgene, COCl2(g), is an extremely toxic gas. It was used during World War I. Today it is used to manufacture pesticides, pharmaceuti cals, dyes, and polymers. It is prepared by mixing carbon monoxide and chlorine gas. 

Contact with water generates hi jily toxic fumes HC1, chlorine gas, S02 and H2S. 

Baxter PJ, Davies PC, Murray V Medical planning for toxic releases into the community The example of chlorine gas. Br J Ind Met/ 46 277-285, 1989... 

Toxic or potentially toxic agents may be inhaled into the respiratory tract where they may cause localized effects such as irritation (e.g., ammonia, chlorine gas), inflammation, necrosis, and cancer. Chemicals may also be absorbed by the lungs into the circulatory system, thereby leading to systemic toxicity (e.g., CO, lead). 

Chlorine (Cl) Chlorine, like bromine, is a diatomic molecule, Cl2. Chlorine is a toxic green gas that has excellent disinfectant properties. Chlorine gas dissolves in sodium hydroxide to give sodium hypoclorite (NaOCl), which you probably know as Clorox . 

There have been severe criticisms about the extended use of chlorine gas in industry, owing to concern primarily derived from its ability to form toxic chlorinated organic compounds. In order to avoid its co-production during the electrolytic production of sodium hydroxide, a process has been developed in which a sodium carbonate (soda ash) solution is used as the anolyte in an electrochemical reactor divided by an ion-exchange membrane. Hydrogen gas is produced at the cathode and sent to a gas diffusion anode. Assuming no by-products in the liquid phase and only one by-product in the gas phase ... 

Yellowish, toxic chlorine gas (Cl2) is called a diatomic molecule. Looking at its Lewis structure, you can see why it needs to be diatomic in order to have octet stability. This is an example of a nonpolar covalent bond because the electronegativity difference is zero. 

Mercury contaminated foodstuffs and water supplies are a concern because of the extreme toxicity of the element and its compounds. Elemental mercury is used in the production of chlorine gas, and organomercury compounds formerly found use as pesticides and fungicides. Alkyl mercury compounds are of greatest concern since they do not degrade readily, and methyl mercury compounds concentrate in fish lipid tissue [9]. Pregnant women are at greatest risk since methyl mercury readily crosses the placenta, affecting the fetus [6]. 

Sodium hydroxide forms fused solid pieces, granules, rods, or powder. It rapidly absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide from the air. Solutions of sodium hydroxide are very corrosive to animal tissue, and aluminum. It has a melting point of 318 Celsius. Sodium hydroxide is very soluble in water and alcohol. It generates large amounts of heat when dissolving in water, or when mixed with acid. Sodium hydroxide is toxic. Handle sodium hydroxide with care. Sodium hydroxide is a widely available commercial chemical, which is sold under a variety of names such as Lye . Sodium hydroxide is prepared on an industrial scale in a procedure called the chloro-alkali process. In the chloro-alkali process, a sodium chloride solution is electrolysized in a special cell composed of two compartments separated by a porous membrane. Chlorine gas is produced at the positive anode, and sodium hydroxide forms at cathode. 

Hazards Use caution when handling chlorine gas, which is toxic—avoid inhalation of the fumes. Extinguish all flames before using hexane, which is highly flammable. 

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