1,3,5-Trioxane
1,3,5-Trioxane, sometimes also called trioxane or trioxin, is a chemical compound with molecular formula C3H6O3. It is a white, highly water-soluble solid with a chloroform-like odor. It is a stable cyclic trimer of formaldehyde, and one of the three trioxane isomers; its molecular backbone consists of a six-membered ring with three carbon atoms alternating with three oxygen atoms.
| |||
Names | |||
---|---|---|---|
Preferred IUPAC name
1,3,5-Trioxane | |||
Other names
s-Trioxane; 1,3,5-Trioxacyclohexane; Trioxymethylene; Metaformaldehyde; Trioxin | |||
Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol) |
|||
102769 | |||
ChEBI | |||
ChEMBL | |||
ChemSpider | |||
ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.466 | ||
EC Number |
| ||
2230 | |||
PubChem CID |
|||
RTECS number |
| ||
UNII | |||
UN number | 1325 | ||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
|||
| |||
| |||
Properties | |||
C3H6O3 | |||
Molar mass | 90.078 g·mol−1 | ||
Appearance | White crystalline solid | ||
Density | 1.17 g/cm3 (65 °C)[1] | ||
Melting point | 62 °C (144 °F; 335 K)[1] | ||
Boiling point | 115 °C (239 °F; 388 K)[1] | ||
221 g/L[1] | |||
Hazards | |||
GHS labelling: | |||
Warning | |||
H228, H335, H361d | |||
P201, P202, P210, P240, P241, P261, P271, P280, P281, P304+P340, P308+P313, P312, P370+P378, P403+P233, P405, P501 | |||
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |||
Flash point | 45[1] °C (113 °F; 318 K) | ||
Related compounds | |||
Related compounds |
|||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references |
Production
Trioxane can be obtained by the acid-catalyzed cyclic trimerization of formaldehyde in concentrated aqueous solution.[2]
Uses
Trioxane is often used interchangeably with formaldehyde and with paraformaldehyde.[3][4] It is a precursor for the production of polyoxymethylene plastics, of which about one million tons per year are produced.[2] Other applications exploit its tendency to release formaldehyde. As such it is used as a binder in textiles, wood products, etc. Trioxane is combined with hexamine and compressed into solid bars to make hexamine fuel tablets, used by the military and outdoorsmen as a cooking fuel.
In the laboratory, trioxane is used as an anhydrous source of formaldehyde.[5]
References
- Record in the GESTIS Substance Database of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- Reuss, Günther; Disteldorf, Walter; Gamer, Armin Otto; Hilt, Albrecht (2000). "Formaldehyde". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a11_619.
- K. Chen; C. S. Brook; A. B. Smith, III (1998). "6,7-Dihydrocyclopenta-1,3-Dioxin-5(4H)-One". Organic Syntheses. 75: 189. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.075.0189.
- D. S. Connor; G. W. Klein; G. N. Taylor; R. K. Boeckman, Jr; J. B. Medwid (1972). "Benzyl Chloromethyl Ether". Organic Syntheses. 52: 16. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.052.0016.
- W. O. Teeters; M. A. Gradsten (1950). "Hexahydro-1,3,5-Tripropionyl-s-Triazine". Organic Syntheses. 30: 51. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.030.0051.