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Cupric Acetate
Description: Copper forms two series of compounds: copper (I/cuprous) and copper (II/cupric) compounds. Three of the most common copper compounds are copper (II) acetate (CAS #142-71-2), copper (II) chloride (CAS #7447-39-4), and copper (I) cyanide (CAS #544-92-3). Copper acetate takes the form of dark green, monoclinic crystals. It is used as a fungicide, catalyst for organic reactions, pigment for ceramics, insecticide, mildew preventive, preservative for cellulosic materials, stabilizer for polyurethanes and nylons, corrosion inhibitor, and fuel additive. It is used in textile dyeing, anti-fouling paints, electrolysis and electroplating processes, flameproofing, printing and photocopying, and pyrotechnics. It is also used as a "shark chaser," or repellent, developed as part of survival equipment for military personnel who fly over shark-infested waters. Copper chloride is a yellow to brown microcrystalline powder. It is used as a catalyst for organic and inorganic reactions, mordant for dyeing and printing textiles, pigment for glass and ceramics, wood preservative, disinfectant, insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide, and as a catalyst in the production of chlorine from hydrogen chloride. It is also used in the petroleum industry as a purifying agent; in the manufacture of indelible, invisible, and laundry marking inks; in metallurgy to recover mercury from ores; in refining copper, silver and gold; in tinting baths for iron and tin; in photography; in pyrotechnics; and to remove lead compounds from gasoline and oils. Copper cyanide is a white to cream-colored powder, colorless or dark green crystals, or dark red monoclinic crystals. It is used in silver, brass, and copper-tin alloy plating; and as an insecticide, fungicide, and anti-fouling agent. Chemical properties: Copper acetate is odorless and efflorescent. It is soluble in alcohol and slightly soluble in ether and glycerol. Copper chloride is odorless. It is corrosive to aluminum. It is soluble in hot sulfuric acid, water, methanol, ethanol, and dilute acids; moderately soluble in acetone and ethyl acetate; and slightly soluble in ether. It is deliquescent in moist air and efflorescent in dry air. Copper cyanide is soluble in ammonium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, potassium cyanide, and alkali cyanide; and practically insoluble in water, alcohol, and cold dilute acids. It decomposes at its boiling point, and in nitric acid and boiling dilute hydrochloric acid. Synonyms of Cupric Acetate are acetate cuivrique (DOT French); Acetato cuprico (DOT Spanish); acetic acid cupric salt; acetic acid, cupric salt; copper acetate; copper acetate (CU(C2H3O2)2); copper acetate (CU(MCO2)2); copper acetate (CU(OAC)2); copper diacetate; copper (2+) acetate; copper (2+) diacetate; copper (II) acetate; crystallized verdigris; crystals of venus; cupric acetate monoydrate; cupric diacetate; neytral verdigris; and venus copper. Identification: Health effects: The systemic toxic effects of exposure to copper and its compounds include widespread capillary damage, kidney and liver injury, central nervous excitation, jaundice, pain over the liver, and depression. Circulatory shock and intravascular hemolysis may lead to renal tubular injury and death in renal failure. Severe copper intoxication may lead to lethargy, coma, and refractory hypotension. Exposure to copper compound dusts can cause dermatitis, discoloring of the skin, and irritation of the nose and throat. Exposure to copper compound fumes can cause metal fume fever, which results in headache, dyspnea, chills, fever, nausea, gastrointestinal distress, and metallic taste. Massive doses of copper cyanide can cause sudden loss of consciousness and prompt death from respiratory arrest. High exposure can cause convulsions, paralysis, blindness, and damage to the optic nerves and retina. Lesser exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, anxiety, confusion, vertigo, stiffness of the lower jaw, hyperpnea, dyspnea, depression of the central nervous system, and bright coloration of the skin. The copper cyanide plating bath used in electroplating of copper can cause severe burns on the eye, skin rashes, and dermatitis. Economics: U.S. manufacturers of copper acetate are CP Chemicals Inc., Sewaren, NJ; International Minerals and Chemical Corp., St. Louis, MO; and Procter and Gamble Co., Phillipsburg, NJ. U.S. manufacturers of copper chloride are Calabrian International Corp., Port Neches, TX; CP Chemicals Inc., Sante Fe Springs, CA, Garland, TX, and Union, IL; and Harshaw/Filtrol Partnership, Elyria, OH. The only U.S. manufacturer of copper cyanide is CP Chemicals Inc., Sewaren, NJ. Regulation: Copper compounds are regulated under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund); Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and National Primary Drinking Water Regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act. If there is a release of copper acetate, copper chloride, or copper cyanide from a vessel or facility, the National Response Center must be notified. Copper acetate and copper chloride are designated as hazardous substances and are regulated under the Clean Water Act. The level of copper cyanide determined to be immediately dangerous to life or health by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is 50 mg/m3. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets a permissible exposure limit for copper cyanide of 5 mg/m3, time-weighted average. Copper cyanide is defined as a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, releases of more than one pound of copper compounds must be reported annually and entered into the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). In 1995, releases of copper compounds were 43,628,455 pounds, which were the 16th largest releases of the TRI’s 643 chemicals. Those releases were 10,437,157 pounds more than 1988 (baseline) releases, which were 33,191,298 pounds, representing a 31.4 percent increase; that increase was the largest of the TRI’s chemicals from 1988-1995. The 1995 releases were a decrease from 1994 releases, which were 47,320,341 pounds, and 1993 releases, which were 47,605,964 pounds. Of those releases by 1,396 facilities, 1,496,420 pounds were fugitive or nonpoint air emissions; 1,183,482 pounds were stack or point emissions; 79,792 pounds were surface water discharges; 264,102 pounds were released by underground injection; and 40,604,659 pounds were released to land. National Overview of 1998 Toxics Release Inventory See EPA's Toxic Release Inventory. Notations: The NIOSH recommended exposure limits (RELs) are time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations for up to a 10-hour workday during a 40-hour workweek. A short-term exposure limit (STEL) is designated by "ST" preceding the value; unless noted otherwise, the STEL is a 15-minute TWA exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a workday. A ceiling REL is designated by "C" preceding the value. Any substance that NIOSH considers to be a potential occupational carcinogen is designated by the notation "Ca." The OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL) are found in Tables Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3 of the OSHA General Industry Air Contaminants Standard (29 CFR 1910.1000). Unless noted otherwise, PEL are TWA concentrations that must not be exceeded during any 8-hour workshift of a 40-hour workweek. A STEL is designated by "ST" preceding the value and is measured over a 15-minute period unless noted otherwise. OSHA ceiling concentrations (designated by "C" preceding the value) must not be exceeded during any part of the workday; if instantaneous monitoring is not feasible, the ceiling must be assessed as a 15-minute TWA exposure. In addition, there are a number of substances from Table Z-2 (e.g., beryllium, ethylene dibromide, etc.) that have PEL ceiling values that must not be exceeded except for specified excursions. For example, a "5-minute maximum peak in any 2 hours" means that a 5-minute exposure above the ceiling value, but never above the maximum peak, is allowed in any 2 hours during an 8-hour workday. Information Sources:
Originally published in Environment Writer by the National Safety Council. Reprinted with permission. Environment Writer Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Office of Marine Programs Narragansett, RI 02882 Tel: 401-874-6211; Fax: 401-874-6485 Disclaimer * Copyright 2002-2006 * All rights reserved. * University of Rhode Island |