Carbon tetrachloride is a colorless, non-flammable liquid with a sweet odor. Its molecular formula is CCl₄, featuring a central carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms in a tetrahedral configuration. It has a molecular weight of 153.82 g/mol, a boiling point of 76.7°C, and a melting point of -23°C. The molecule is non-polar and has excellent solvent properties due to its symmetrical structure. First synthesized in 1839 by French chemist Henri Victor Regnault, carbon tetrachloride was initially produced by reacting chloroform with chlorine.
Industrially, it was traditionally manufactured by reacting carbon disulfide1 with chlorine2 at high temperatures. By the early 20th century, it became a widely used chemical in various industrial and commercial applications, particularly as a cleaning solvent, fire extinguishing agent, and in refrigeration technologies. Carbon tetrachloride found extensive applications across multiple sectors. It was widely used as a cleaning solvent for machinery and metals, a key ingredient in fire extinguishers, and a component in refrigeration systems.
The chemical was particularly valued in dry cleaning, metal degreasing, and as a fumigant for grain storage. In the early 20th century, it was also used in pharmaceutical preparations and as a parasite medication. Historically, carbon tetrachloride was employed in medical contexts as an anesthetic and antiparasitic agent. Physicians used it to treat intestinal parasites and as a component in some medical treatments.
However, its use in medical applications was dramatically reduced due to its significant toxicity and potential for severe liver and kidney damage. Carbon tetrachloride is highly toxic and carcinogenic. Exposure can cause severe liver and kidney damage, central nervous system depression, and potential long-term health effects.
Acute exposure can lead to symptoms including headache, dizziness, and in severe cases, organ failure. By the 1970s, most of its industrial and consumer applications were phased out due to its substantial health risks. The chemical was gradually eliminated from most commercial and industrial processes due to its environmental toxicity and potential for ozone depletion.
Regulatory agencies worldwide implemented strict controls on its production, use, and disposal. The Montreal Protocol and subsequent environmental regulations effectively banned most uses of carbon tetrachloride in consumer and industrial applications. Several infamous cases of carbon tetrachloride poisoning occurred throughout the 20th century.
Industrial workers were most at risk, particularly in manufacturing and cleaning industries. Numerous occupational exposure cases led to significant health complications and fatalities.
Deaths
From Wikipedia
- Evalyn Bostock (1917–1944), British actress who died from accidentally drinking carbon tetrachloride after mistaking it for her drink while working in a photographic darkroom.
- Harry Edwards (1887–1952), an American director who died from carbon tetrachloride poisoning shortly after directing his first television production.
- Zilphia Horton (1910–1956), American musician and activist who died from accidentally drinking a glass full of carbon tetrachloride-based typewriter cleaning fluid that she mistook for water.
- Margo Jones (1911–1955), American stage director who was exposed to the fumes of carbon tetrachloride that was used to clean off paint from a carpet. She died a week later from kidney failure.
- Jim Beck (1919–1956), American record producer, died after exposure to carbon tetrachloride fumes while cleaning recording equipment.
- Tommy Tucker (1933–1982), an American blues singer, died after using carbon tetrachloride to refinish the floor.
Footnotes
- Carbon disulfide (CS₂) is a colorless, volatile, and highly flammable liquid with a sweet, pleasant odor that is toxic and potentially hazardous to human health. It is primarily used in industrial processes, such as the production of carbon tetrachloride, as a solvent for sulfur, phosphorus, bromine, iodine, fats, resins, and rubber, and in the manufacture of viscose rayon, cellophane, and carbon tetrachloride. In chemical synthesis, carbon disulfide serves as an important intermediate for creating various organic compounds, including pesticides, flotation agents in mineral processing, and as a raw material in the rubber and paint industries. The compound is naturally produced in small quantities by volcanic eruptions, marshes, and certain biological processes, but most commercial carbon disulfide is synthesized through the reaction of methane and sulfur at high temperatures [1, 2]. Workers in industries involving carbon disulfide production or use must exercise extreme caution due to its neurotoxic properties and potential for causing long-term health effects with repeated exposure ↩︎
- Chlorine is a chemical element with the symbol Cl and atomic number 17, classified as a halogen in the periodic table. It is a highly reactive, greenish-yellow gas at room temperature, known for its pungent and irritating odor. Discovered in 1774 by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, chlorine plays a crucial role in various industrial and domestic applications, including water treatment, as a disinfectant, and in the production of many everyday products like PVC plastics, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. In nature, chlorine is found primarily in ionic form as chloride in seawater and salt deposits. It is an essential component of chloride salts and has significant importance in biological systems, being a key electrolyte in maintaining cellular balance and nerve function. However, in its pure elemental form, chlorine can be toxic and was even used as a chemical weapon during World War I, highlighting its potent chemical properties ↩︎
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tetrachloride
- Pub Chem https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Carbon-Tetrachloride
- ATSDR https://wwwn.cdc.gov/tsp/substances/ToxSubstance.aspx?toxid=35
- EPA https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/carbon-tetrachloride.pdf
- NIST https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=56-23-5
- Cameo Chemicals https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/2828
- Science Direct https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/carbon-tetrachloride
