Phosgene

Phosgene is an organic chemical compound with the formula COCl2. It is a toxic, colorless gas; in low concentrations, its musty odor resembles that of freshly cut hay or grass. It can be thought of chemically as the double acyl chloride analog of carbonic acid, or structurally as formaldehyde with the hydrogen atoms replaced by chlorine atoms. Phosgene is a valued and important industrial building block, especially for the production of precursors of polyurethanes and polycarbonate plastics.

"COCl2" redirects here. For the compound CoCl2, see Cobalt(II) chloride.
Not to be confused with phosphine, phosphene, oxalyl chloride, or phosgene oxime.
Phosgene

A sample case of toxic gases used in chemical warfare; the leftmost contains phosgene in a sealed capillary
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Carbonyl dichloride
Other names
  • Carbon dichloride oxide
  • Carbon oxychloride
  • Carbonyl chloride
  • CG
  • Chloroformyl chloride
  • Collongite
  • Dichloroformaldehyde
  • Dichloromethanal
  • Dichloromethanone
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.792
EC Number
  • 200-870-3
RTECS number
  • SY5600000
UNII
UN number 1076
  • InChI=1S/CCl2O/c2-1(3)4 Y
    Key: YGYAWVDWMABLBF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  • InChI=1/CCl2O/c2-1(3)4
    Key: YGYAWVDWMABLBF-UHFFFAOYAH
  • ClC(Cl)=O
Properties
COCl2
Molar mass 98.91 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless gas
Odor Suffocating, like musty hay or grass
Density 4.248 g/L (15 °C, gas)
1.432 g/cm3 (0 °C, liquid)
Melting point −118 °C (−180 °F; 155 K)
Boiling point 8.3 °C (46.9 °F; 281.4 K)
Insoluble, reacts
Solubility Soluble in benzene, toluene, acetic acid
Decomposes in alcohol and acid
Vapor pressure 1.6 atm (20°C)
−48·10−6 cm3/mol
Structure
Trigonal planar
1.17 D
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Danger
H280, H314, H330
P260, P280, P303+P361+P353+P315, P304+P340+P315, P305+P351+P338+P315, P403, P405
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
4
0
1
Flash point Non-flammable
0.1 ppm (1 ppm = 4 mg/m3)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
  • 500 ppm (human, 1 min)
  • 340 ppm (rat, 30 min)
  • 438 ppm (mouse, 30 min)
  • 243 ppm (rabbit, 30 min)
  • 316 ppm (guinea pig, 30 min)
  • 1022 ppm (dog, 20 min)
  • 145 ppm (monkey, 1 min)
  • 1 ppm is 4 mg/m3
  • 3 ppm (human, 2.83 h)
  • 30 ppm (human, 17 min)
  • 50 ppm (mammal, 5 min)
  • 88 ppm (human, 30 min)
  • 46 ppm (cat, 15 min)
  • 50 ppm (human, 5 min)
  • 2.7 ppm (mammal, 30 min)
  • 1 ppm is 4 mg/m3
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 TWA 0.1 ppm (0.4 mg/m3)
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 0.1 ppm (0.4 mg/m3) C 0.2 ppm (0.8 mg/m3) [15-minute]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 2 ppm
1 ppm = 4 mg/m3
Safety data sheet (SDS)
Related compounds
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Phosgene is extremely poisonous and was used as a chemical weapon during World War I, where it was responsible for 85,000 deaths. It is a highly potent pulmonary irritant and quickly filled enemy trenches due to it being a heavy gas.

It is classified as a Schedule 3 substance under the Chemical Weapons Convention. In addition to its industrial production, small amounts occur from the breakdown and the combustion of organochlorine compounds, such as chloroform.

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