chloropicrin

[‚klȯr·ō′pik·rən]

(inorganic chemistry)

CCl₃NO₂ A colorless liquid with a sweet odor whose vapor is very irritating to the lungs and causes vomiting, coughing, and crying; used as a soil fumigant. Also known as nitrochloroform; trichloronitromethane.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Chloropicrin

(also trichloronitromethane), CCl₃NO₂, a colorless, oily liquid, with a pungent odor. Chloropicrin has a melting point of –64°C, a boiling point of 112.3°C, and a density of 1.6539 g/cm³ (at 20°C). A strong lacrimator, it is practically insoluble in water but is readily soluble in organic solvents. It is not hydrolyzed by water and alkaline aqueous solutions and may be steam-distilled. Alkaline alcohol solutions and aqueous alcohol solutions of Na₂S rapidly and quantitatively decompose chloropicrin, which at 400°C decomposes into phosgene and ClNO. Chloropicrin is produced by the chlorination of picric acid and its salts.

The minimal active concentration of chloropicrin is 0.002 mg/liter, and the intolerable concentration, 0.05 mg/liter (for 2 min); in large concentrations, it has an asphyxiating effect. Chloropicrin was used as a poison gas during World War I (1914–18). Presently it is used for checking gas masks and as a war gas for military training.

R. N. STERLIN

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References in periodicals archive

Buffer zone regulations for the fumigant chloropicrin are designed to limit human exposure.

Revised chloropicrin use requirements impact strawberry growers unequally

She's working with plants growing in nonfumigated soil and those growing in beds fumigated with methyl iodide or chloropicrin, for instance.

Strawberry Growers Test Methyl Bromide Alternatives

The fumigants used in this study were chloropicrin (Pic 99, active ingredient [a.i.] 99%, Niklor-Tri-Cal Inc., Mojave, California), Pic-Clor 60 (57% Pic:37% 1,3-D, Tri-Cal Inc., Hollister, California), DMDS:Pic (79% DMDS:21% Pic, United Phosphorus Inc., King of Prussia, Pennsylvania), Tri-Con (50% MBr:50% Pic, Tri-Cal Inc., Hollister, California), Midas (MI, a.i.

Fumigant dosages below maximum label rate control some soilborne pathogens

Acute symptoms in persons residing near a field treated with the soil fumigants methyl bromide and chloropicrin. West J Med 147:95-98 (1987).

Community exposures to airborne agricultural pesticides in California: ranking of inhalation risks

TIF also increased residual chloropicrin in soil, but the concentration was generally an order of magnitude lower than that of 1,3-D.

Totally impermeable film (TIF) reduces emissions in perennial crop fumigation

More importantly, many nursery producers are very concerned about the consequences of soilborne diseases that are currently controlled with methyl bromide or methyl bromide and chloropicrin combinations.

Preplant 1,3-D treatments test well for perennial crop nurseries, but challenges remain

Pic-Clor 60: fumigant product containing 60% chloropicrin and 39% 1,3-D

GLOSSARY: Methyl bromide terminology

Currently about 68% of the California strawberry acreage is fumigated with alternatives to methyl bromide, primarily drip-applied mixtures of 1,3-D plus chloropicrin (InLine, Pic-Clor 60) or chloropicrin emulsified formulation (Pic-EC) (CADPR 2011).

TIF film, substrates and nonfumigant soil disinfestation maintain fruit yields

Chloropicrin use, since December 2012, is restricted by U.S.

Fumigant emission reductions with TIF warrant regulatory changes

Chloropicrin formulated with methyl bromide (98:2, 67:33 or 50:50 MB:Pic) has been part of the operational fumigant standard for decades in most industrial forest nurseries.

Forest nurseries face critical choices with the loss of methyl bromide fumigation

Alternative fumigants permitted for use in California strawberries are 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), chloropicrin and, as of December 2010, methyl iodide.

Totally impermeable film retains fumigants, allowing lower application rates in strawberry

In this report, we describe field-trial results with an ampule-based chloropicrin formulation compared with application of liquid chloropicrin over a 4-year period in western Oregon.

Performance of an Encapsulated Chloropicrin System for Remedial Treatment of Utility Poles