White camphor oil

Chemical properties

Camphor is a colorless glassy solid. Penetrating, characteristic odor.

Chemical properties

White camphor oil is the first distillation fraction (about 20% of the crude camphor oil). It is a colorless or almost colorless liquid with a cineole-like odor. d²⁵₂₅ 0.855–0.875; n²⁰_D 1.4670–1.4720; α_D +16° to +28°; solubility: 1 vol in 1 vol of 95% ethanol; solutions usually become cloudy on further dilution. In addition to monoterpene hydrocarbons, this oil contains up to 35% 1,8-cineole.

Chemical properties

The oil is produced by fractional distillation of the crude camphor oil after the camphor has been crystallized. It is obtained from the bark and tree. The white oil contains cineole as the principal component along with monoterpenes.

Physical properties

A white viscous liquid.

Definition

Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Cinnamomum camphora, Lauraceae, hon-sho.

General Description

A colorless liquid with a characteristic odor. Flash point 125°F. Insoluble in water and generally less dense than water. Vapors heavier than air.

Air & Water Reactions

Flammable. Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

White camphor oil containing ether can act as bases. They form salts with strong acids and addition complexes with Lewis acids. The complex between diethyl ether and boron trifluoride is an example. Ethers may react violently with strong oxidizing agents. In other reactions, which typically involve the breaking of the carbon-oxygen bond, ethers are relatively inert.

Health Hazard

Within 5 to 90 minutes after swallowing, the following may be noted: nausea and vomiting; feeling of warmth; headache; confusion, vertigo, excitement, restlessness, delirium, and hallucinations; increased muscular excitability, tremors, and jerky movements; epileptiform convulsions, followed by depression (convulsions sometimes occur early in the syndrome and may be severe, but they do not have the grave prognosis of strychnine convulsions); coma; central nervous depression may at times be the primary clinical response; death results from respiratory failure or from status epilepticus; slow convalescence (days or weeks), often with persistent gastric distress.

Fire Hazard

Behavior in Fire: The solid often evaporates without first melting.

Safety Profile

A human poison by ingestion. Human systemic effects by ingestion: convulsions, tremors, and unspecified respiratory system effects. A skin irritant. Flammable liquid when exposed to heat or flame; can react with oxidzing materials. To fight fire, use foam, CO2, dry chemical, mist, fog. See also SAFROL and CAMPHOR.

Potential Exposure

Camphor, a natural product, is used as a plasticizer for cellulose esters and ethers; it is used in lacquers and varnishes; and in explosives and pyrotechnics formulations. It is used as a moth repellent and as a medicinal.

Shipping

UN2717 Camphor, synthetic, Hazard Class: 4.1; Labels: 4.1-Flammable solid. UN1130 camphor oil, Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3-Flammable liquid

Incompatibilities

May form explosive mixture with air. Violent, possibly explosive, reaction with strong oxidizers, especially chromic anhydride, potassium permanganate. May accumulate static electrical charges, and may cause ignition of its vapors.

Waste Disposal

ncineration of a solution in a flammable solven.