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ChemicalIdentifiers | Hazards | ResponseRecommendations |PhysicalProperties |RegulatoryInformation | AlternateChemicalNames
Chemical Identifiers
What is this information?
The Chemical Identifier fields include common identification numbers, theNFPA diamond U.S. Department of Transportation hazard labels, and a general description of the chemical. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
| CAS Number | UN/NA Number | DOT Hazard Label | USCG CHRIS Code |
|---|---|---|---|
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| NIOSH Pocket Guide | International Chem Safety Card | ||
Chlorine | |||
NFPA 704
| Diamond | Hazard | Value | Description | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  Health | 4 | Can be lethal. | |||||||||
 Flammability | 0 | Will not burn under typical fire conditions. | ||||||||||
 Instability | 0 | Normally stable, even under fire conditions. | ||||||||||
 Special | OX | Possesses oxidizing properties. |
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
A greenish yellow gas with a pungent suffocating odor. Toxic by inhalation. Slightly soluble in water. Liquefies at -35°C and room pressure. Readily liquefied by pressure applied at room temperature. Contact with unconfined liquid can cause frostbite by evaporative cooling. Does not burn but, like oxygen, supports combustion. Long-term inhalation of low concentrations or short-term inhalation of high concentrations has ill effects. Vapors are much heavier than air and tend to settle in low areas. Contact CHEMTREC to activate chlorine response team 800-424-9300. Used to purify water, bleach wood pulp, and to make other chemicals.
Rate of onset: Immediate to hours
Persistence: Minutes to hours
Odor threshold: 3.5 ppm
Source/use/other hazard: Cleaner/disinfectant in many industries; water treatment; WWI war gas; irritating corr fumes heavier than air.
Hazards
What is this information?
The Hazard fields include special hazard alerts air and water reactions, fire hazards, health hazards, a reactivity profile, and details about reactive groups assignments and potentially incompatible absorbents. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Reactivity Alerts
- Strong Oxidizing Agent
- Water-Reactive
Air & Water Reactions
Water dissolves about twice its volume of chlorine gas, forming a mixture of hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acids. Will be corrosive due to acidity and oxidizing potential.
Fire Hazard
May ignite other combustible materials (wood, paper, oil, etc.). Mixture with fuels may cause explosion. Container may explode in heat of fire. Vapor explosion and poison hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers. Hydrogen and chlorine mixtures (5-95%) are exploded by almost any form of energy (heat, sunlight, sparks, etc.). May combine with water or steam to produce toxic and corrosive fumes of hydrochloric acid. Emits highly toxic fumes when heated. Avoid plastics and rubber. Avoid heat and contact with hydrogen gas or powdered metals. (EPA, 1998)
Health Hazard
Poisonous; may be fatal if inhaled. Contact may cause burns to skin and eyes. Bronchitis or chronic lung conditions. (EPA, 1998)
Reactivity Profile
CHLORINE reacts explosively with or supports the burning of numerous common materials. Ignites steel at 100°C in the presence of soot, rust, carbon, or other catalysts. Ignites dry steel wool at 50°C. Reacts as either a liquid or gas with alcohols (explosion), molten aluminum (explosion), silane (explosion), bromine pentafluoride, carbon disulfide (explosion catalyzed by iron), 1-chloro-2-propyne (excess chlorine causes an explosion), dibutyl phthalate (explosion at 118°C), diethyl ether (ignition), diethyl zinc (ignition), glycerol (explosion at 70-80°C), methane over yellow mercury oxide (explosion), acetylene (explosion initiated by sunlight or heating), ethylene over mercury, mercury(I) oxide, or silver(I) oxide (explosion initiated by heat or light), gasoline (exothermic reaction then detonation), naphtha-sodium hydroxide mixture (violent explosion), zinc chloride (exothermic reaction), wax (explosion), hydrogen (explosion initiated by light). Reacts as either a liquid or gas with carbides of iron, uranium and zirconium, with hydrides of potassium sodium and copper, with tin, aluminum powder, vanadium powder, aluminum foil, brass foil, copper foil, calcium powder, iron wire, manganese powder, potassium, antimony powder, bismuth, germanium, magnesium, sodium, and zinc. Causes ignition and a mild explosion when bubbled through cold methanol. Explodes or ignites if mixed in excess with ammonia and warmed. Causes ignition in contact with hydrazine, hydroxylamine, and calcium nitride. Forms explosive nitrogen trichloride from biuret contaminated with cyanuric acid. Readily forms an explosive N-chloro derivative with aziridine. Ignites or explodes with arsine, phosphine, silane, diborane, stibine, red phosphorus, white phosphorus, boron, active carbon, silicon, arsenic. Ignites sulfides at ambient temperature. Ignites (as a liquid) synthetic and natural rubber. Ignites trialkylboranes and tungsten dioxide.
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
- Oxidizing Agents, Strong
- Halogenating Agents
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents
Use caution: Liquids with this reactive group classification have been known to react with the absorbents listed below. More info about absorbents, including situations to watch out for...
- Cellulose-Based Absorbents
- Mineral-Based & Clay-Based Absorbents
- Expanded Polymeric Absorbents
- Dirt/Earth
Response Recommendations
What is this information?
The Response Recommendation fields include isolation and evacuation distances, as well as recommendations for firefighting, non-fire response, protective clothing, and first aid. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from ERG Guide 124 [Gases - Toxic and/or Corrosive - Oxidizing]:
IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions.
SPILL: See ERG Tables 1 and 3 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances on the UN/NA 1017 datasheet.
FIRE: If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2024)
Firefighting
Evacuate area endangered by gas. Stay upwind; keep out of low areas. Wear positive pressure breathing apparatus and full protective clothing. Move container from fire area if you can do so without risk. Spray cooling water on containers that are exposed to flames until well after fire is out. If it is necessary to stop the flow of gas, use water spray to direct escaping gas away from those effecting shut-off.
Will not burn, but most combustible materials will burn in chlorine as they do in oxygen; flammable gases will form explosive mixtures with chlorine. Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray, fog or foam. (EPA, 1998)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from ERG Guide 124 [Gases - Toxic and/or Corrosive - Oxidizing]:
Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basem*nts or confined areas. Isolate area until gas has dispersed. Ventilate the area. (ERG, 2024)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Chlorine:
Skin: FROSTBITE - Compressed gases may create low temperatures when they expand rapidly. Leaks and uses that allow rapid expansion may cause a frostbite hazard. Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent the skin from becoming frozen.
Eyes: FROSTBITE - Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact with the liquid that could result in burns or tissue damage from frostbite.
Wash skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for washing the substance from the skin (either immediately or at the end of the work shift).
Remove: No recommendation is made specifying the need for removing clothing that becomes wet or contaminated.
Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the workshift.
Provide: FROSTBITE WASH - Quick drench facilities and/or eyewash fountains should be provided within the immediate work area for emergency use where there is any possibility of exposure to liquids that are extremely cold or rapidly evaporating. (NIOSH, 2024)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
Fabric legend, testing details, and a caution from DuPont
Tychem® Fabric Legend
| QS = Tychem 2000 SFR |
| QC = Tychem 2000 |
| SL = Tychem 4000 |
| C3 = Tychem 5000 |
| TF = Tychem 6000 |
| TP = Tychem 6000 FR |
| RC = Tychem RESPONDER® CSM |
| TK = Tychem 10000 |
| RF = Tychem 10000 FR |
Testing Details
The fabric permeation data was generated for DuPont by a third party laboratory. Permeation data for industrial chemicals is obtained per ASTM F739. Normalized breakthrough times (the time at which the permeation rate exceeds 0.1 μg/cm2/min) are reported in minutes. All chemicals have been tested between approximately 20°C and 27°C unless otherwise stated. All chemicals have been tested at a concentration of greater than 95% unless otherwise stated.
Chemical warfare agents (Lewisite, Sarin, Soman, Sulfur Mustard, Tabun and VX Nerve Agent) have been tested at 22°C and 50% relative humidity per military standard MIL-STD-282. "Breakthrough time" for chemical warfare agents is defined as the time when the cumulative mass which permeated through the fabric exceeds the limit in MIL-STD-282 [either 1.25 or 4.0 μg/cm2].
A Caution from DuPont
This information is based upon technical data that DuPont believes to be reliable on the date issued. It is subject to revision as additional knowledge and experience are gained. The information reflects laboratory performance of fabrics, not complete garments, under controlled conditions. It is intended for informational use by persons having technical skill for evaluation under their specific end-use conditions, at their own discretion and risk. It is the user's responsibility to determine the level of toxicity and the proper personal protective equipment needed. Anyone intending to use this information should first verify that the garment selected is suitable for the intended use. In many cases, seams and closures have shorter breakthrough times and higher permeation rates than the fabric. If fabric becomes torn,abraded or punctured, or if seams or closures fail, or if attached gloves, visors, etc. are damaged, end user should discontinue use of garment to avoid potential exposure to chemical. Since conditions of use are outside our control, DuPont makes no warranties, express or implied, including, without limitation, no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use and assume no liability in connection with any use of this information. This information is not intended as a license to operate under or a recommendation to infringe any patent, trademark or technical information of DuPont or others covering any material or its use.
| Chemical | CAS Number | State | QS | QC | SL | C3 | TF | TP | RC | TK | RF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (-70°C, liquid) | 7782-50-5 | Liquid | >480 | 441 | >480 | >480 | |||||
| Chlorine (20 ppm) | 7782-50-5 | Vapor | >480⁸ | ||||||||
| Chlorine (gaseous) | 7782-50-5 | Vapor | imm | >480 | imm | >480 | >480 | >480 | >480 | >480 |
> indicates greater than.
"imm" indicates immediate; having a normalized breakthrough time of 10 minutes or less.
⁸ indicates actual breakthrough time; normalized breakthrough time is not available.
Special Warning from DuPont: Tychem® and Tyvek® fabrics should not be used around heat, flames, sparks or in potentially flammable or explosive environments. Only...
More Info...
...Tychem® ThermoPro, Tychem® Reflector® and Tychem® TK styles 600T/601T (with aluminized outer suit) garments are designed and tested to help reduce burn injury during escape from a flash fire. Users of Tychem® ThermoPro, Tychem® Reflector® and Tychem® TK styles 600T/601T (with aluminized outer suit) garments should not knowingly enter an explosive environment. Tychem® garments with attached socks must be worn inside protective outer footwear and are not suitable as outer footwear. These attached socks do not have adequate durability or slip resistance to be worn as the outer foot covering.
(DuPont, 2024)
First Aid
Warning: Effects may be delayed. Caution is advised. Chlorine is corrosive and may be converted to hydrochloric acid in the lungs.
Signs and Symptoms of Acute Chlorine Exposure: Signs and symptoms of acute exposure to chlorine may include tachycardia (rapid heart rate), hypertension (high blood pressure) followed by hypotension (low blood pressure), and cardiovascular collapse. Pulmonary edema and pneumonia are often seen. The eyes, nose, throat, and chest may sting or burn following exposure to chlorine. Cough with bloody sputum, a feeling of suffocation, dizziness, agitation, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting are common. Dermal exposure may result in sweating, pain, irritation, and blisters.
Emergency Life-Support Procedures: Acute exposure to chlorine may require decontamination and life support for the victims. Emergency personnel should wear protective clothing appropriate to the type and degree of contamination. Air-purifying or supplied-air respiratory equipment should also be worn, as necessary. Rescue vehicles should carry supplies such as chlorine-resistant plastic sheeting and disposable bags to assist in preventing spread of contamination.
Inhalation Exposure:
1. Move victims to fresh air. Emergency personnel should avoid self-exposure to chlorine.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
4. Transport to a health care facility.
Dermal/Eye Exposure:
1. Remove victims from exposure. Emergency personnel should avoid self- exposure to chlorine.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Remove contaminated clothing as soon as possible.
4. If eye exposure has occurred, eyes must be flushed with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.
5. Wash exposed skin areas for at least 15 minutes with soap and water.
6. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
7. Transport to a health care facility.
Ingestion Exposure: No information is available. (EPA, 1998)
Physical Properties
What is this information?
The Physical Property fields include properties such as vapor pressure and boiling point, as well as explosive limits and toxic exposure thresholds The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Note: For Vapor Density and Specific Gravity, comparing the value to 1.0 can tell you if the chemical will likely sink/rise in air or sink/float in fresh water (respectively). Short phrases have been added to those values below as an aid. However, make sure to also consider the circ*mstances of a release. The Vapor Density comparisons are only valid when the gas escaping is at the same temperature as the surrounding air itself. If the chemical is escaping from a container where it was pressurized or refrigerated, it may first escape and behave as a heavy gas and sink in the air (even if it has a Vapor Density value less than 1). Also, the Specific Gravity comparisons are for fresh water (density 1.0 g/mL). If your spill is in salt water (density about 1.027 g/mL), you need to adjust the point of comparison. There are some chemicals that will sink in fresh water and float in salt water.
| Chemical Formula: |
|
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: Not flammable(USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: -150°F(EPA, 1998)
Vapor Pressure: 7600 mmHgat 86°F(EPA, 1998)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): 2.49 (EPA, 1998)- Heavier than air; will sink
Specific Gravity: 1.424 at 59°F(pressurized liquid)(USCG, 1999)- Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point: -30.3°Fat 760 mmHg(EPA, 1998)
Molecular Weight: 70.91 (EPA, 1998)
Water Solubility: 0.7 %(NIOSH, 2024)
Ionization Energy/Potential:11.48 eV(NIOSH, 2024)
IDLH: 10 ppm(NIOSH, 2024)
AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)
| Exposure Period | AEGL-1 | AEGL-2 | AEGL-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 0.5 ppm | 2.8 ppm | 50 ppm |
| 30 minutes | 0.5 ppm | 2.8 ppm | 28 ppm |
| 60 minutes | 0.5 ppm | 2 ppm | 20 ppm |
| 4 hours | 0.5 ppm | 1 ppm | 10 ppm |
| 8 hours | 0.5 ppm | 0.71 ppm | 7.1 ppm |
(NAC/NRC, 2024)
ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)
| Chemical | ERPG-1 | ERPG-2 | ERPG-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (7782-50-5) | 1 ppm  | 3 ppm | 20 ppm |
indicates that odor should be detectable near ERPG-1.
(AIHA, 2022)
PACs (Protective Action Criteria)
| Chemical | PAC-1 | PAC-2 | PAC-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (7782-50-5) | 0.5 ppm | 2 ppm | 20 ppm |
(DOE, 2024)
Regulatory Information
What is this information?
The Regulatory Information fields include information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Title III Consolidated List of Lists, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Standard List (see more about these data sources).
EPA Consolidated List of Lists
| Regulatory Name | CAS Number/ 313 Category Code | EPCRA 302 EHS TPQ | EPCRA 304 EHS RQ | CERCLA RQ | EPCRA 313 TRI | RCRA Code | CAA 112(r) RMP TQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | 7782-50-5 | 100 pounds | 10 pounds | 10 pounds | 313 | 2500 pounds |
(EPA List of Lists, 2024)
CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
| RELEASE | THEFT | SABOTAGE | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical of Interest | CAS Number | Min Conc | STQ | Security Issue | Min Conc | STQ | Security Issue | Min Conc | STQ | Security Issue |
| Chlorine | 7782-50-5 | 1.00 % | 2500 pounds | toxic | 9.77 % | 500 pounds | WME | |||
- WME = weapons of mass effect.
(CISA, 2007)
OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List
| Chemical Name | CAS Number | Threshold Quantity (TQ) |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | 7782-50-5 | 1500 pounds |
(OSHA, 2019)
Alternate Chemical Names
What is this information?
This section provides a listing of alternate names for this chemical, including trade names and synonyms.
- BERTHOLITE
- CHLORINE
- CHLORINE MOL.
- CHLORINE MOLECULE (CL2)
- DIATOMIC CHLORINE
- DICHLORINE
- MOLECULAR CHLORINE
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