Trichloroethylene
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a carcinogenic halocarbon with the formula C2HCl3, commonly used as an industrial degreasing solvent. It is a clear, colourless non-flammable liquid with a chloroform-like pleasant and pungent smell. The IUPAC name is trichloroethene. Industrial abbreviations include TCE, trichlor, Trike, Tricky and tri. It should not be confused with the similar 1,1,1-trichloroethane, which is commonly known as chlorothene. It has been sold under a variety of trade names. Under the trade names Trimar and Trilene, trichloroethylene was used as a volatile anesthetic and as an inhaled obstetrical analgesic in millions of patients.
Groundwater and drinking water contamination from industrial discharge including trichloroethylene is a major concern for human health and has precipitated numerous incidents and lawsuits in the United States.
Application
Extensively used in metal degreasing, as an extraction solvent for oils, fats and waxes, solvent drying, dry cleaning as a refrigerant and heat exchange liquid, in organic synthesis, as a fumigant, medicine (anesthetic) and in cleaning and drying of electronic parts.
| Chemical formula | C2HCl3 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 131.38 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
| Odor | pleasant and pungent, chloroform- and acetone-like |
| Density | 1.46 g/cm3 at 20 °C |
| Melting Point | −84.8 °C (−120.6 °F; 188.3 K) |
| Boiling Point | 87.2 °C (189.0 °F; 360.3 K) |
| Solubility In Water | 1.280 g/L |
| Solubility | Ether, ethanol, chloroform |
| log P | 2.26 |
| Vapor Pressure | 58 mmHg (0.076 atm) at 20 °C |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | −65.8·10−6 cm3/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.4777 at 19.8 °C |
| Viscosity | 0.532 mPa·s |
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