A colorless liquid with a faint ethereal smell
Molecular Formula	C2H5ClO	Molecular Weight	80
Boiling Point	129°C	Melting Point	-89°C
Vapor Density	2.78	Liquid Density	1.201
Vapor pressure	13.3 kPa at 20°C
Flammable

Also refer to 2000 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2000) Guide 131.

Health Hazards

2-chloroethanol is very toxic and may be fatal by inhalation, swallowing, or absorbed through the skin. It can be irritating to eyes skin and lungs, but irritation is weak and is not strong enough to warn of a potentially fatal exposure. Exposure can cause damage to the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and kidneys and liver. It decomposes in fires to yield hydrogen chloride and phosgene, which are irritating and toxic. It reacts violently with oxidants and is a fire and explosion hazard; with water or steam to produce toxic and corrosive fumes, and with strong bases to produce ethylene oxide, which is toxic and a fire hazard.

Risk and Safety Phrases.

INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL USES

The primary use of 2-chloroethanol has been as a precursor for ethylene oxide, which is a widely used organic chemical (US production in 2002 was 3.4 million tons.) It is also used in a number of synthetic reactions including the manufacture of certain dyes, pharmaceuticals, crop protection chemicals, and plasticizers.

COMMENTS

Preparation of 2-chloroethanol is relatively straightforward. The classical preparation is by the reaction of ethylene with hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Hypochlorous acid is in essence a solution of chlorine gas in water. Ethylene is manufactured on a massive scale (US production in 2002 was 23.6 million tons) as is chlorine (US production in 2002 was 11.5 million tons) and the two are relatively easy to make. Any country with a chemical industry has ethylene and chlorine production facilities. There is relatively little trade in 2-chloroethanol because it is easier to make it as needed than to buy and store it. The primary use of 2-chloroethanol in chemical weapons is as a precursor for thiodiglycol, which is in turn a precursor for mustard gas. The conversion is relatively simple: by the reaction of 2-chloroethanol with sodium sulfide. The crude product can be relatively easily converted to mustard.