 Chemical diagram | |
 Spacefill model | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name Bromo(dichloro)methane | |
| Other names Bromodichloromethane Dichlorobromomethane | |
| Identifiers | |
| |
3D model (JSmol) | |
| 1697005 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider |
|
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.779 |
| EC Number |
|
| 25941 | |
| KEGG |
|
| RTECS number |
|
| UNII | |
| UN number | 2810 3082 |
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| CHBrCl2 | |
| Molar mass | 163.8 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
| Density | 1.980 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | −57 °C (−71 °F; 216 K) |
| Boiling point | 90 °C (194 °F; 363 K) |
| 4.5 g/L at 20 °C | |
| −66.3·10−6 cm3/mol | |
Refractive index (nD) | 1.4964 |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
  | |
| Danger | |
| H302,H315,H319,H335,H350 | |
| P201,P202,P261,P264,P270,P271,P280,P281,P301+P312,P302+P352,P304+P340,P305+P351+P338,P308+P313,P312,P321,P330,P332+P313,P337+P313,P362,P403+P233,P405,P501 | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Bromodichloromethane is atrihalomethane withformulaCHBrCl2. It is a colorless, nonflammable liquid which will dissolve in water, or evaporate in air.[1] Most of the chemical is produced through thechlorine disinfection process,[1] and as a result it can occur in municipally-treated drinking water.[2] It is also produced in small quantities by oceanic algae.[1] According to the CDC, levels normal in drinking water are not known to cause health problems, but it has been classified by theUS EPA as a probable human carcinogen.
Bromodichloromethane has formerly been used as aflame retardant, and asolvent forfats andwaxes and for mineral ore separation. Now it is only used as areagent orintermediate inorganic chemistry.[3] In the US it is only produced in small quantities, which are used for these chemical reasons.[1] For example, it can be used to producephenyl(bromodichloromethyl)mercury, which is widely used in the production ofdichlorocarbene.[4] It can be prepared by treating a mixture ofchloroform andbromoform withtriethyl-benzylammonium chloride andsodium hydroxide.[4]
According to the CDC, as of 2020[update], levels that it is normal to be exposed to in drinking water are lower than levels known to cause health problems.[1] A small number of studies have examined the effects of low levels of bromodichloromethane on people, but most were also exposed to other chemicals, so it may not be the only cause of reported health problems.[1] Studies in animals with much higher levels of the chemical than what humans are normally exposed to have resulted in health problems.[1] The effects of the chemical on children are unknown but expected to be the same as on adults.[1]
As of 2020[update], the chemical (in sufficient quantities) is considered by theUS Department of Health and Human Services to be reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, and by theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be a probable human carcinogen.[1] No standards regulating its presence in drinking water currently exist in the United States, though a limit of 80ppb exists for the total amount of trihalomethanes in general.[5]
