Ethenone

 

Ethenone

Chemical formula	CH2CO
OTP appearance	colorless gas
Index of refraction	1.4355
Molar Mass(g/mol)	42.037
Density(g/cc)	1.93
Melting Point(°C)	-150.5
Boiling Point(°C)	-56.1
Immediate Danger to Life and Health	5ppm
NFPA 704	0 4 0

Uses

Primary

• "Heavy lifting" precursor in the production of acetic anhydride and chloroacetyl chloride

Natural occurrence

• does not occur naturally

Hazards

Extreme hazard. This is arguably the single most hazardous material we detail. Ethenone has similar toxicity to dichlorocarbonyl and hydrogen cyanide. Death from pulmonary edema is quite rapid. IDLH is 5ppm.

Production

Synthesis

• Heat acetone in the absence of oxygen, producing ethenone and methane

  CH₃C(O)CH₃(v)

  {

  →

  700°C}

  CH₂CO + CH₄ // also ethylene and carbon monoxide

Storage

• ethenone dimerizes at room temperature, thus ethenone should not be stored for long periods.

Disposal

• Can be burned, or reacted with water