An examination of the physical and physiological properties of tetrachlorethane and trichlorethylene

Introductory :- Within the last few years chloroderivatives of the aliphatic hydrocarbons, other than the familiar chloroform, have been used for various purposes, occasionally with fatal results. It would, therefore, appear desirable to apply physiological tests, in the first instance, to such compounds to ascertain whether they might reasonably be scheduled as poisons, before they are entrusted to the hands of unskilled and ignorant persons. As two such substances, namely (1) one of the isomeric tetrachlorethanes, and (2) trichlorethylene, came into my hands through Dr. Willcox, they were compared with chloroform (taken as a standard) by the muscle method; further, as the physical data at least of the latter compound have been curiously overlooked, the opportunity was taken of determining certain of these by instruments, calibrated for previous investigations. Historical .-Symmetrical tetrachlorethane, sometimes called acetylene perchloride, CHCl 2 . CHCl 2 , was first obtained by Berthelot and Jungfleisch from acetylene and chlorine gases in presence of antimony chloride; the substance is described as a liquid, b. p. 147, soluble in alcohol, insoluble in water. These writers also showed that when this compound is heated with alcohlic potash, one molecular proportion of hydrochloric acid is removed with formation of trichlorethylene, CHCl : CCl 2 , a liquid, b. p. 88, of chloroform-like odour.