Acrolein
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| Acrolein | |
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| General | |
| Systematic name | 2-Propenal |
| Other names | Acraldehyde Acrylic Aldehyde Allyl Aldehyde Ethylene Aldehyde |
| Molecular formula | C3H4O |
| Molar mass | 56.06 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless to yellow liquid. Irritating odor. |
| CAS number | 107-02-8 |
| Properties | |
| Vapor density (air=1) | 1.94 |
| Solubility in water | Appreciable (> 10%) |
| Melting point | -88 °C (-126 °F) |
| Boiling point | 53 °C (127 °F) |
| Hazards | |
| MSDS | External MSDS[1] |
| Main hazards | Highly poisonous. Causes severe irritation to exposed membranes. Extremely flammable liquid and vapor. |
| NFPA 704 |
3
3
2
|
| Flash point | -26°C |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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In organic chemistry, acrolein or propenal is the simplest unsaturated aldehyde.
Acrolein is described as having a piercing, disagreeable, acrid smell. Skin exposure causes serious damage. Acrolein concentrations of 2 ppm are immediately dangerous to life. Acrolein may be easily produced by the action of approximately 1 part sodium bisulfate on 3 parts glycerine by weight.
Acrolein is such a severe pulmonary irritant and lacrimating agent that it has been used as a chemical weapon during World War I. It is, however, not outlawed by the Chemical Weapons Convention.
When glycerol is heated to 280 °C, it decomposes into acrolein.[2]
Acrolein is also a metabolite of the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide, and is associated with hemorrhagic cystitis.
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[edit] Cancer link
Acrolein is a suspected human carcinogen.[3] [4] In October 2006, Dr. Moon-shong Tang, and researchers at New York University, found major connections between acrolein in tobacco cigarettes and certain cooking oils and the risk of lung cancer.
[edit] Acrolein test
Acrolein test is a test for the presence of glycerin or fats. A sample is heated with potassium bisulfate, and acrolein is released if the test is positive.[5] When a fat is heated strongly in the presence of a dehydrating agent such as KHSO4, the glycerol portion of the molecule is dehydrated to form the unsaturated aldehyde, acrolein (CH2=CH-CHO), which has the peculiar odor of burnt grease.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| Blood agents: | Cyanogen chloride (CK) – Hydrogen cyanide (AC) | |
| Blister agents: | Lewisite (L) – Sulfur mustard gas (HD, H, HT, HL, HQ) – Nitrogen mustard gas (HN1, HN2, HN3) | |
| Nerve agents: | G-Agents: Tabun (GA) – Sarin (GB) – Soman (GD) – Cyclosarin (GF) – GV | V-Agents: VE – VG – VM – VX | Novichok agents | |
| Pulmonary agents: | Chlorine – Chloropicrin (PS) – Phosgene (CG) – Diphosgene (DP) | |
| Incapacitating agents: | Agent 15 (BZ) – KOLOKOL-1 | |
| Riot control agents: | Pepper spray (OC) – CS gas – CN gas (mace) – CR gas | |
