1,2-Difluoroethane

When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of /fluorine/.

Under certain conditions, fluorocarbon vapors may decompose on contact with flames or hot surfaces, creating potential hazard of inhalation of toxic decomposition products. /Fluorocarbons/

616.0 [mmHg]

616 mm Hg at 25 °C /from experimentally-derived coefficients/

Dipole moment = 2.67 debye

Hydroxy radical reaction rate constant = 1.12X10-13 cu cm/molec-sec at 2t °C

Danger

H224 (100%): Extremely flammable liquid and vapor [Danger Flammable liquids]

P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P271, P280, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P317, P370+P378, P403+P235, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 2 reports by companies from 2 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

/GUIDE 115: GASES - FLAMMABLE (INCLUDING REFRIGERATED LIQUIDS)/ Fire or Explosion: EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Will form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. ... Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Cylinders exposed to fire may vent and release flammable gas through pressure relief devices. Containers may explode when heated. Ruptured cylinders may rocket. /Difluoroethane/

/GUIDE 115: GASES - FLAMMABLE (INCLUDING REFRIGERATED LIQUIDS)/ Health: Vapors may cause dizziness or asphyxiation without warning. Some may be irritating if inhaled at high concentrations. Contact with gas or liquefied gas may cause burns, severe injury and/or frostbite. Fire may produce irritating and/or toxic gases. /Difluoroethane/

/GUIDE 115: GASES - FLAMMABLE (INCLUDING REFRIGERATED LIQUIDS)/ Public Safety: CALL Emergency Response Telephone Number... As an immediate precautionary measure, isolate spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet ) in all directions. Keep unauthorized personnel away. Stay upwind. Many gases are heavier than air and will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Keep out of low areas. /Difluoroethane/

/GUIDE 115: GASES - FLAMMABLE (INCLUDING REFRIGERATED LIQUIDS)/ Protective Clothing: Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Structural firefighters' protective clothing will only provide limited protection. Always wear thermal protective clothing when handling refrigerated/cryogenic liquids. /Difluoroethane/

For more DOT Emergency Guidelines (Complete) data for 1,2-Difluoroethane (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

All fluorocarbons will undergo thermal decomposition when exposed to flame or red-hot metal. Decomposition products of the chlorofluorocarbons will include hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid along with smaller amounts of phosgene and carbonyl fluoride. The last compound is very unstable to hydrolysis and quickly changes to hydrofluoric acid and carbon dioxide in the presence of moisture. /Fluorocarbons/

In contact with open flame or very hot surface fluorocarbons may decomp into highly irritant and toxic gases: chlorine, hydrogen fluoride or chloride, and even phosgene. /Fluorocarbon refrigerant and propellants/

No person may /transport,/ offer or accept a hazardous material for transportation in commerce unless that person is registered in conformance ... and the hazardous material is properly classed, described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in condition for shipment as required or authorized by ... /the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR 171-177)./

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code lays down basic principles for transporting hazardous chemicals. Detailed recommendations for individual substances and a number of recommendations for good practice are included in the classes dealing with such substances. A general index of technical names has also been compiled. This index should always be consulted when attempting to locate the appropriate procedures to be used when shipping any substance or article.

UN 1030; Difluoroethane

IMO 2.1; Difluoroethane

If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped. Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. /Difluoroethane/

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving this material. Approach fire with caution. If fire becomes uncontrollable or container is exposed to direct flame consider evacuation of one-half (1/2) mile radius. /Difluoroethane/

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Because of recent discovery of potential ozone decomposition in the stratosphere by fluorotrichloromethane, this material should be released to the environment only as a last resort. Waste material should be /recovered and/ returned to the vendor, or to licensed waste disposal company.

SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants. Ensure that the local ventilation moves the contaminant away from the worker.

If material not on fire and not involved in fire: Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. Keep material out of water sources and sewers. Attempt to stop leak if without undue personnel hazard. Use water spray to knock-down vapors. /Difluoroethane/

Personel protection: Avoid breathing vapors. Keep upwind. Do not handle broken packages unless wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. If material leaking (not on fire) consider evacuation from downwind area based on amount of material spilled, location and weather conditions. /Difluoroethane/

Sufficient exhaust and general ventilation should be provided to keep vapor concn below recommended levels. /Fluorocarbons/

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 40(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that 1,2-difluoroethane is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of 1,2-difluoroethane from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 0.39 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), using a fragment constant estimation method(3). 1,2-Difluoroethane is expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 616 mm Hg(4). Highly fluorinated compounds such as 1,2-difluoroethane are not expected to biodegrade rapidly(5).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 40(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that 1,2-difluoroethane is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 0.39 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(4). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 2.4 hours and 3.2 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 3(SRC), from an estimated log Kow of 1.2(6) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Hydrolysis is not expected to be an important process(SRC) based on estimated hydrolysis half-lives of 6.2X10+8 and 6.2X10+7 years at pHs 7 and 8, respectively(8). Highly fluorinated compounds such as 1,2-difluoroethane are not expected to biodegrade rapidly(9).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), 1,2-difluoroethane, which has a vapor pressure of 616 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase 1,2-difluoroethane is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 140 to 180 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constants of 1.12X10-13(3) to 9.1X10-14(4) cu cm/molecule-sec. 1,2-Difluoroethane does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(5) and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

... Main factor affecting fate of fluorocarbons is body fat, where they are concentrated and slowly released into blood at concn that should not cause any risk of cardiac sensitization. /Fluorocarbons/

There is a significant accumulation of fluorocarbons in brain, liver, and lung compared to blood levels, signifying a tissue distribution of fluorocarbons similar to that of chloroform. /Fluorocarbons/

Abosrption of fluorocarbons is much lower after oral ingestion (35-48 times) than after inhalation. ... The lung generally has the highest fluorocarbon concentrations on autopsy. /Fluorocarbons/

Although fluorocarbons cause cardiac sensitization in certain animal species, rapid elimination prevents the development of cardiotoxic concentrations from aerosol bronchodilator use except at exceedingly high doses (12 to 24 doses in 2 minutes). /Fluorocarbons/

Fluorocarbon compounds are lipid-soluble and thus are generally well absorbed through lung. Absorption after ingestion is 35 to 48 times lower than after inhalation ... Fluorocarbons are eliminated by way of lung. /Fluorocarbon compounds/

Used for refrigeration and air conditioning; [HSDB]

Mechanical vapor compression systems use fluorocarbons for refrigeration and air conditioning and account for ... majority of refrigeration capability in US ... Fluorocarbons are used as refrigerants in home appliances, mobile air conditioning units, retail food refrigeration systems and ... chillers. /Fluorocarbons/

Manufacturing processes use hydrofluoric acid from fluorospar in production of all fluorocarbons. Some processes use carbon tetrachloride from carbon disulfide, or as co-product of perchloroethylene and chlorination of propylene, or chloroform from chlorination of methanol. The major hazards relate primarily to the inadvertent release of hydrofluoric acid or carbon tetrachloride, rather than to the manufactured fluorocarbons. /Fluorocarbons/