Thallium(I) sulfate: Difference between revisions
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==Disposal== |
==Disposal== |
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Due to the toxic effects and indiscriminate appearance, careful transportation and disposal of those containers must be done with care. Full protection should be taken when transporting canisters. The containers themselves should be disposed of by burning or burial below soil level. They should not be reused. |
Due to the toxic effects and indiscriminate appearance, careful transportation and disposal of those containers must be done with care. Full protection should be taken when transporting canisters. The containers themselves should be disposed of by burning or burial below soil level after rinsing and diluting Tl<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>. They should not be reused. |
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==Availability== |
==Availability== |
Revision as of 07:26, 27 March 2006
Thallium(I) sulfate | |
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Thallium(I) sulfate | |
Other names | Thallous sulfate |
Molecular formula | Tl2SO4 |
Molar mass | 504.83 g/mol |
CAS number | [7446-18-6] |
Density | 6.77 g/cm3 |
Solubility (water) | Soluble |
Melting point | 632 °C |
Boiling point | ? °C |
EU classification | Highly toxic (T+) Dangerous for the environment (N) |
R-phrases | Template:R28, Template:R38, Template:R48/25, Template:R51/53 |
S-phrases | Template:S1/2, Template:S13, Template:S36/37, Template:S45, Template:S61 |
Disclaimer and references |
Thallium(I) sulfate is Tl2SO4. This salt is colorless, odorless, tasteless but highly toxic.
During the last two centuries, Tl2SO4 had been used for various medical treatments but was abondoned. In the latter 1900's it found use mainly for rodenticides. These applications were prohibited in 1975 in the US due to the nonselective nature of its toxicity. Thallium(I) sulfate inhibits the growth of plants by preventing germination. Tl2SO4 is mostly used today as a source of Tl+ in the research laboratory. It is a precursor to thallium sulfide, which exhibits high electrical conductivity when exposed to infrared light.
Structure
Thallium(I) Sulfate has a C2 symmetry.
Toxicity
Thallium(I) Sulfate is soluable in water. Its toxic effects are derived form this dissociation. Since thallium sulfate is a simple powder with indistinctive properties as mentioned above, it is easily mistaken for other chemicals. It can enter the body by ingestion, inhalation, or through contact with the dermis. Once in the body, the salt dissolves. Thallium contains an oxidation state of (+1), identical to potassium and sodium, which are subsequently used by the body. Disolved thallium substitutes itself inplace of sodium or potassium in the sodium/potassium pump. This occurs by a rather simple mechanism.
Tl2SO4 + 2K+ K2SO4 + 2Tl+
Tl2SO4 + 2Na+ Na2SO4 + 2Tl+
After accessing the cell, many processes that utilize the potassium and sodium are massively disrupted. Because of the ease and simplicity of these reactions, many western countries have banned the use of thallium sulfate in any products used for home use. Many companies have stopped using this compound all together.
A dosage in excess of 500 mg is reported as fatal. Thallium sulfate, after entering the body, concentrates itself in the kidneys, liver, brain, muscle tissue and other tissue in the body.
Thallium sulfate was used in Isreal to control the rodent population. This resulted in the disappearance of the Brown Fish Owl in Isreal and the surrounding areas in the 1950's.
Disposal
Due to the toxic effects and indiscriminate appearance, careful transportation and disposal of those containers must be done with care. Full protection should be taken when transporting canisters. The containers themselves should be disposed of by burning or burial below soil level after rinsing and diluting Tl2SO4. They should not be reused.
Availability
Despite the dangerous nature of this compound, it can still be purchased. Manufatures include but are not limited to:
-Kinmet Group--- Guangxi, China
-Umicore Marketing Services--- North Carolina, USA
-NOAH Technologies Corporation--- Texas, USA
-Tinfos Nizi--- Luxembourg, Luxembourg
-Atlantic Equipment Engineers--- New Jersey, USA
Many of these firms supply chemicals to universities for research purposes.