Chloroacetic acid

 

Chloroacetic acid

Chemical formula	ClCH2COOH
OTP appearance	colorless/white crystals
Index of refraction	1.4351
Molar Mass(g/mol)	94.49
Density(g/cc)	1.58
Melting Point(°C)	63
Boiling Point(°C)	189
Solubility in water(g/L)	858
NFPA 704	1 3 0

Uses

Other

• Key chemical intermediate related to chloroacetyl chloride

Natural occurrence

• does not occur naturally

Hazards

• Toxic by skin exposure, inhalation, ingestion. Hospitalization likely

Production

Synthesis

• Combine acetic acid and chlorine gas in a catalytic solution of acetic anhydride

  CH₃COOH + Cl₂

  {(CH₃CO)₂O

  →

  }

  ClCH₂COOH + HCl

• Hydrolyze trichloroethylene using 75% sulfuric acid

  C₂HCl₃ + 2 H₂O

  {H₂SO₄

  →

  130-140°C}

  ClCH₂COOH + 2 HCl

See Also

• Chloroacetyl chloride
• Acetyl chloride