Chlorine, reaction with alkali metals

A powerful oxidizer. Explosive reaction with acetaldehyde, acetic acid + heat, acetic anhydride + heat, benzaldehyde, benzene, benzylthylaniUne, butyraldehyde, 1,3-dimethylhexahydropyrimidone, diethyl ether, ethylacetate, isopropylacetate, methyl dioxane, pelargonic acid, pentyl acetate, phosphoms + heat, propionaldehyde, and other organic materials or solvents. Forms a friction- and heat-sensitive explosive mixture with potassium hexacyanoferrate. Ignites on contact with alcohols, acetic anhydride + tetrahydronaphthalene, acetone, butanol, chromium(II) sulfide, cyclohexanol, dimethyl formamide, ethanol, ethylene glycol, methanol, 2-propanol, pyridine. Violent reaction with acetic anhydride + 3-methylphenol (above 75°C), acetylene, bromine pentafluoride, glycerol, hexamethylphosphoramide, peroxyformic acid, selenium, sodium amide. Incandescent reaction with alkali metals (e.g., sodium, potassium), ammonia, arsenic, butyric acid (above 100°C), chlorine trifluoride, hydrogen sulfide + heat, sodium + heat, and sulfur. Incompatible with N,N-dimethylformamide. 

DOT CLASSIFICATION 6.1 Label Poison SAFETY PROFILE Poison by inhalation and intravenous routes. Moderately toxic by ingestion and subcutaneous routes. An irritant. Questionable carcinogen with experimental carcinogenic data. Flammable when exposed to heat or flame. Moderately explosive by spontaneous chemical reaction. To fight fire, use water, CO2, dry chemical. Dehalogenation by reaction with alkalies, metals, etc., will produce spontaneously explosive chloroacetylenes. Violent reaction with NaK aUoy + bromoform. Mixtures with potassium are very shock-sensitive explosives. When heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of Cl". See also CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS, ALIPHATIC. 

MERCURIO (Italian, Spanish) (7439-97-6) Violent reaction with alkali metals, aluminum, acetylenic compounds, azides, boron phosphodiiodide (vapor explodes), bromine, 3-bromopropyne, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ethylene oxide, lithium, metals, methyl silane (when shaken in air), nitromethane, peroxyformic acid, potassium, propargyl bromide, rubidium, sodium, sodium carbide. Forms sensitive explosive products with acetylene, ammonia (anhydrous), chlorine, picric acid. Increases the explosive sensitivity of methyl azide. Mixtures with hot sulfuric acid can be explosive. Incompatible with calcium, sodium acetylide, nitric acid. Reacts with copper, silver, and many other metals (except iron), forming amalgams. 

Ethylene chlorohydrin vapors form an explosive mixture with air the LEE and UEL values are 4.9% and 15.9% by volume of air, respectively. Among the hazardous reaction products are ethylene oxide, formed by internal displacement of the chlorine atom by the alkoxide ion, ethylene glycol formed by hydrolysis with sodium bicarbonate at 105°C (221°F), and ethylene cyanohydrin resulting from the reaction with alkali metal cyanides. 

Reactions with most metals yield metal chlorides. Alkali metals are obviously most reactive. With metals that exhibit varying oxidation states, the nature of the product depends on the amount of chlorine. For example, iron reacts with a limited amount of chlorine to produce iron(II) chloride, while in excess chlorine the product is iron(III) chloride ... 

This test is performed to determine the amount of cyanide in the sample that would react with chlorine. Not all cyanides in a sample are amenable to chlorination. While HCN, alkali metal cyanides, and CN- of some complex cyanides react with chlorine, cyanide in certain complexes that are tightly bound to the metal ions are not decomposed by chlorine. Calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, and chloramine are some of the common chlorinating agents that may be used as a source of chlorine. The chlorination reaction is performed at a pH between 11 and 12. Under such an alkaline condition, cyanide reacts with chlorine to form cyanogen chloride, a gas at room temperature, which escapes out. Cyanide amenable to chlorination is therefore calculated as the total cyanide content initially in the sample minus the total cyanide left in the sample after chlorine treatment. 

SAFETY PROFILE A poison. Flammable by chemical reaction an oxidizer. Explosive reaction with hydrogen peroxide, chlorine + ethylene. Reacts violently with molten potassium, molten sodium, S, (H2S + BaO + air). Forms explosive mixtures with nonmetals [e.g., phosphorus (impact-sensitive), sulfur (friction-sensitive)]. Incompatible with alkali metals, reducing materials. Dangerous when heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of Hg. See also MERCURY COMPOUNDS, INORGANIC. 

ANTIMONIC CHLORIDE (7647-18-9) Decomposes on contact with acids, water, or other forms of moisture, producing fumes of hydrogen chloride and antimony pentoxide. Violent reaction with alkalis, ammonia. Decomposes in heat above 171°F/77°C, forming chlorine and antimony trichloride. Attacks many metals in the presence of moisture, forming explosive hydrogen gas. Reacts with air, forming heavier-than-air corrosive vapors. 

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