| Physical Description |
Cyanogen chloride, stabilized appears as a colorless gas or liquid with a strong acrid/pungent odor. Boils at 60 °F. Liquid density 10.0 lb / gal. Shipped as a liquid confined under its own vapor pressure. A highly toxic lachrymator. Has been used as a tear gas. Vapor is heavier than air. Prolonged exposure of the container to fire or intense heat may cause violent rupturing and rocketing. |
| Color/Form |
Colorless volatile liquid or gas |
| Odor |
Acrid, choking odor |
| Boiling Point |
55.6 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999) |
| Melting Point |
20 °F (USCG, 1999) |
| Flash Point |
Not Applicable. Not flammable. (USCG, 1999) |
| Solubility |
7 % (NIOSH, 2023) |
| Density |
1.222 at 32 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink |
| Vapor Density |
2.1 (USCG, 1999) - Heavier than air; will sink (Relative to Air) |
| Vapor Pressure |
704.36 mmHg at 50 °F (USCG, 1999) |
| Stability/Shelf Life |
Tends to form polymers on storage. |
| Autoignition Temperature |
Not Applicable. Not flammable. (USCG, 1999) |
| Decomposition |
When heated to decomposition ... it will ... produce highly toxic and corrosive fumes such as /hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides/. |
| Corrosivity |
Corrosive |
| Heat of Vaporization |
26.75 kJ/mL |
| Surface Tension |
24.6 dynes/cm = 0.0246 N/m at 10 °C |
| Ionization Potential |
12.49 eV |
| Polymerization |
Cyanogen chloride may polymerize violently if contaminated with chlorine. |
| Odor Threshold |
Odor Threshold Low: 1.0 [mg/m3] The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "cyanogen chloride, inhibited." Detection odor threshold |
| Relative Evaporation Rate |
Volatility Rate = 2600 g/cu m at 12.8 C |
| Other Experimental Properties |
When heated to decomposition or brought into contact with water or steam, cyanogen chloride produces fumes of chloride ions, cyanide ions and nitrous oxides |
| Chemical Classes |
Toxic Gases & Vapors -> Cyanides |
