Chemical Properties
Disulfur dichloride is a fuming, oily liquid with a yellowish-red to amber color and a suffocating odor. Soluble in alcohol, ether, benzene, carbon disulfide, and amyl acetate; decomposes on contact withwater. Combustible. It has an added hazard since it oxidizes and hydrolyzes to sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride.
Definition
Disulfur dichloride is a red fuming liquid with a strong smell. It is prepared by passing chlorine over molten sulfur and is used to harden rubber.
General Description
Sulfur monochloride appears as a yellow-red, oily, fuming liquid with a sharp odor. Contact or ingestion causes irritation or chemical burns to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Also poisonous by inhalation of vapors.
Health Hazard
Sulfur monochloride is an irritant
of the eyes, mucous membranes, and skin.
On contact with water, it decomposes to
form hydrogen chloride and sulfur dioxide;
because this occurs rapidly, it acts primarily as
an upper respiratory irritant and does not ordinarily
reach the lungs. However, exposure to
high concentrations may cause pulmonary
edema.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Potential Exposure
Sulfur chloride finds use as a chlorinating agent, catalyst, and as an intermediate in the manufacture of organic chemicals; carbon tetrachloride; sulfur dyes; insecticides, synthetic rubber; and pharmaceuticals. Exposure may also occur during the extraction of gold, purification of sugar juice; finishing and dyeing textiles; processing vegetable oils; hardening wood; and vulcanization of rubber. Has been used as a military poison.
Shipping
UN1828 Sulfur chlorides, Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material, Potential Inhalation Hazard (Special Provision 5)
Purification Methods
It isa pungent, irritating golden yellow liquid. When impure its colour is orange to red due to SCl2 formed. It fumes in moist air and liberates HCl, SO2 and H2S in the presence of H2O. Distil it and collect the fraction boiling above 137o at atmospheric pressure. Fractionate this fraction over sulfur at ca 12mm using a ground glass apparatus (b 29-30o). Alternatively purify it by distillation below 60o from a mixture containing sulfur (2%) and activated charcoal (1%), under reduced pressure (e.g. 50mm). It is soluble in EtOH, *C6H6, Et2O, CS2 and CCl4. Store it in a closed container in the dark in a refrigerator. [Fehér in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 371 1963.] HARMFUL VAPOURS.
Incompatibilities
Decomposes violently in water, forming hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide; sulfur, sulfite, thiosulfate, and hydrogen sulfide. Reacts with oxidizers, strong bases; peroxides, phosphorus oxides; organics, antimony, antimony sulfide; arsenic sulfide; mercury oxide; tin, alkenes, terpenes, unsaturated glycerides; chromyl chloride; methyl sulfoxide; dimethylformamide, acetone, and other compounds; causing fire and explosion hazard. Corrosive to many metals in presence of water. Attacks some plastics, rubber and coatings.
Waste Disposal
Wearing protective equipment, spray carefully onto sodium ash/slaked lime mixture. Then spray with water, dilute, neutralize and flush to drain.
Precautions
Sulfur monochloride is minimally corrosive to carbon steel and iron when dry. When wet, it behaves like hydrochloric acid and attacks steel, cast iron, aluminum, stainless steels, copper and copper alloys, and many nickel-based materials.
