What is Toluene? Toluene is a clear, colourless liquid with a distinctive sweet odour. It is an aromatic hydrocarbon that occurs naturally in crude oil and the tolu tree and is also produced during the process of making gasoline. Chemically, toluene is a methylbenzene, the simplest member of the toluene family. It is insoluble in […]
What is Vinyl Chloride? Vinyl chloride (also called vinyl chloride monomer, or VCM) is an organochloride with the formula H₂C=CHCl. It is a colourless gas at room temperature and pressure, with a faintly sweet odour. Vinyl chloride is highly toxic, flammable, and carcinogenic. This compound is one of the most important industrial feedstocks, used primarily […]
What is Diazomethane? Diazomethane (CH₂N₂) is the simplest diazo compound. In its pure form at room temperature, it is an extremely explosive yellow gas. Even solutions containing concentrated diazomethane can detonate violently. It has a musty odour, is soluble in ether and dioxane, and decomposes slowly in these solvents. The presence of water or alcohols […]
What is Disulfoton? Disulfoton is a synthetic pesticide used to control a wide variety of insects that attack crops such as grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and ornamental plants. It does not occur naturally. Pure disulfoton is a colourless oil with no odour or taste, while the technical-grade product is dark yellowish with an aromatic smell. […]
What is glutaraldehyde? Glutaraldehyde, also known as 1,5-pentanedial, is a dialdehyde with the formula CH₂(CH₂CHO)₂. It is a colourless, oily liquid with a strong pungent odour and is slightly acidic in nature. Glutaraldehyde is soluble in water and organic solvents, and its aqueous solutions remain stable for long periods. What is glutaraldehyde used for? Glutaraldehyde […]
What is Tetrachloroethylene? Tetrachloroethylene (CAS No. 127-18-4), also known as perchloroethylene, tetrachloroethene, or simply PERC, is a clear, colourless liquid with an ether-like odour. Its molecular formula is C₂Cl₄, and its molar mass is 165.8 g/mol. At room temperature, it is non-flammable and only sparingly soluble in water, but it evaporates easily into the air. […]
What is MOCA? 4,4′-Methylenebis(2-chloroaniline), commonly known as MOCA, is an aromatic amine with the formula C₁₃H₁₂Cl₂N₂. It is primarily used as a curing agent in the manufacture of castable polyurethane products. MOCA facilitates chemical reactions that bond molecules into stable structures, producing tough, abrasion-resistant polymers. Pure MOCA is a colourless crystalline solid, but in practice […]
What is Chlorine Dioxide? Chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) is a synthetic, yellow-green gas with a chlorine-like, irritating odour. Unlike elemental chlorine, it has distinct chemical properties and behaviour. It is a volatile, reactive molecule that readily dissociates into chlorine gas, oxygen, and heat. Highly soluble in cold water—around 10 times more than chlorine—it remains a dissolved […]
What is Pentachlorophenol? Pentachlorophenol is a manufactured chemical with the molecular formula C₆HCl₅O. It does not occur naturally. Pure form: Colourless crystals Impure form (technical grade, most common at hazardous waste sites): Dark grey to brown dust, beads, or flakes. Humans are most often exposed to the impure form. What is Pentachlorophenol used for? In […]
What is Ethylene Oxide? Ethylene oxide, also called oxirane, is an organic compound with the formula C₂H₄O. It is a cyclic ether consisting of an alkane with an oxygen atom bonded to two carbon atoms, forming a ring. This colourless, flammable gas has a faintly sweet odour at room temperature and is the simplest epoxide—a […]
