1,1,2-Trichloroethane stands out as a clear, colorless liquid with a slightly sweet odor, often used in chemical industries. Anyone who handled potent solvents in an industrial environment can pick out this substance by its smell and weight. Its molecular formula, C2H3Cl3, and molar mass about 133.4 g/mol, make it a small but heavy compound in the world of organochlorides. Its structure includes two carbon atoms with three chlorine atoms, which influences both its physical and hazardous characteristics. Products with this compound rarely take solid or powder forms; usually, they arrive as a dense, volatile liquid for handling, transport, and industrial blending. You can measure its density at around 1.44 g/cm3 at 20°C, so it feels notably heavier than water when poured. Under normal storage temperatures, it remains liquid, but improper storage could unlock more serious solidification risks if cooled below −35°C, its freezing point. For import and export or regulatory reviews, this chemical uses the HS Code 29031200, which should be checked in customs documents and material registries.
Chemical manufacturers and process engineers often treat 1,1,2-Trichloroethane with respect because of how quickly it evaporates and its toxic nature. Its boiling point sits near 113°C, so steam and vapor are concerns in workshops without proper air handling. Flash point lies around 31°C, raising risk when open flames or high temperatures exist nearby. Anyone spraying, blending, or extracting with this solvent quickly learns about its fire hazard and the urgent need for safe handling practices. The vapor forms a heavy blanket in low areas, replacing breathable air with a harmful mist that can irritate eyes, skin, or lungs on short contact and damage liver and kidneys after chronic exposure. I once saw a facility manager executing a serious on-site decontamination after a container leak; cleanup suited up in full respirators and gloves, showing that underestimating exposure leads to costly mistakes or injuries. The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) lays out these risks, including long-term carcinogenicity tied to the substance, confirmed by scientific research. This background pushes every operator to prepare properly.
1,1,2-Trichloroethane often gets used as a solvent or intermediate in manufacturing. The chemical industry relies on its power to dissolve oils, fats, waxes, and resins, so it finds a place in specialty adhesives, precision cleaning, degreasers, and even extraction work for active pharmaceutical ingredients. Protection is not optional here; splash-proof goggles, impermeable gloves, and ventilation are requirements, not afterthoughts, during production runs or equipment cleaning. Chlorinated solvents, especially this one, have fallen out of favor for small-scale or non-industrial use because of toxicity, yet industrial sites stick to it for reactions that need strong, fast-acting solvents. The controversy over hazardous material transport always arises because leaks, spills, or improper disposal create real risks for workers, groundwater, and communities. From a personal perspective, waste containment efforts, such as robust storage drums and secondary sealing, reduce most of the direct hazards. Experience shows that substituting 1,1,2-Trichloroethane in sensitive environments with less toxic alternatives pays dividends, both for employee wellbeing and compliance.
Most suppliers deliver this chemical in steel drums or bulk tankers, emphasizing tight seals and chemical-tolerant lining. Because 1,1,2-Trichloroethane remains a liquid under ordinary demand, its form remains consistent across lots, though impurities and water content can shift its qualities and reactivity. Industrial catalogs rarely list it as flakes, crystals, pearls, powder, or solid. Material reliability increases when the product stays dry and shielded from heat or sparks. Typical packaging holds 250 kg in closed drums due to vapor pressure and spill control requirements. Diligence in product inspection, along with clear label information on density, concentration, and the hazard class, helps any plant avoid delivery surprises. In my own experience, taking a sample at receipt and running quick purity and density checks means no batch starts with off-spec or dangerous contamination. Buyers routinely refer to the product specification sheet for allowable levels of chlorinated byproducts, color, acidity, and appearance.
Industrial practice underscores the necessity of robust personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls in handling 1,1,2-Trichloroethane. Emergency plans for spills or exposure, including eyewash stations, chemical showers, and spill kits, need to sit close to work areas. Facilities not only post safety posters but also run regular drills since hazardous materials like these don’t offer second chances. Trained operators know to measure levels of vapor in the air with sensors and confirm containment after any incident. Chemical engineers and safety managers look to invest in closed loop systems for delivery and recycling to avoid manual transfer, which helps cut accident rates and limits personal exposure. At the systemic level, the debate continues over the right mix of regulatory restriction, substitution, and industrial hygiene. Some progressive facilities swap out 1,1,2-Trichloroethane with safer alternatives wherever feasible, such as pentane or hydrocarbons with lower toxicity profiles, though performance sometimes lags behind the chemical power of chlorinated solvents. In my years working with raw materials procurement and EHS, the best outcomes always followed strict adherence to regulatory guidelines, continuous training, and updated chemical process design.
Formula: C2H3Cl3
Molecular Mass: 133.4 g/mol
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid
Density: 1.44 g/cm3 (20°C)
Melting Point: −35°C
Boiling Point: 113°C
HS Code: 29031200
Hazard Class: Acute inhalation, skin absorption hazard, suspected carcinogen
Packaging: Steel drums, tankers (liquid only)
Main Use: Solvent, chemical intermediate
Regulatory: Heavily restricted, requires special waste management.
