Chlorosulfuric acid

Chlorosulfuric acid (IUPAC name: sulfurochloridic acid) is the inorganic compound with the formula HSO3Cl. It is also known as chlorosulfonic acid, being the sulfonic acid of chlorine. It is a distillable, colorless liquid which is hygroscopic and a powerful lachrymator. Commercial samples usually are pale brown or straw colored.[2]

Chlorosulfuric acid
Structural formula of chlorosulfuric acid
Ball-and-stick model of the chlorosulfuric acid molecule
Names
IUPAC name
Sulfurochloridic acid
Other names
Chlorosulfuric acid,
Chlorosulfonic acid,
Chlorosulphonic acid,
Chlorinesulfonic acid,
Chlorinesulphonic acid,
Chloridosulfonic acid,
Chloridosulphonic acid,
Sulfuric chlorohydrin
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.304
EC Number
  • 232-234-6
RTECS number
  • FX5730000
UNII
UN number 1754
  • InChI=1S/ClHO3S/c1-5(2,3)4/h(H,2,3,4) checkY
    Key: XTHPWXDJESJLNJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/ClHO3S/c1-5(2,3)4/h(H,2,3,4)
    Key: XTHPWXDJESJLNJ-UHFFFAOYAO
  • ClS(=O)(=O)O
Properties
HSO3Cl
Molar mass 116.52 g mol−1
Appearance colorless liquid, but commercial samples usually are pale brown
Density 1.753 g cm−3
Melting point −80 °C (−112 °F; 193 K)
Boiling point 151 to 152 °C (304 to 306 °F; 424 to 425 K) (755 mmHg or 100.7 kPa)
hydrolysis
Solubility in other solvents reacts with alcohols
soluble in chlorocarbons
1.433
Structure
tetrahedral
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS05: CorrosiveGHS07: Exclamation mark
Danger
H314, H335
P260, P261, P264, P271, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P312, P321, P363, P403+P233, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Safety data sheet (SDS) ICSC 1039
Related compounds
Related compounds
Sulfuryl chloride
Sulfuric acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Salts and esters of chlorosulfuric acid are known as chlorosulfates.

Structure and properties

Chlorosulfuric acid is a tetrahedral molecule. The formula is more descriptively written SO2(OH)Cl, but HSO3Cl is traditional. It is an intermediate, chemically and conceptually, between sulfuryl chloride (SO2Cl2) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4).[3] The compound is rarely obtained pure. Upon standing with excess sulfur trioxide, it decomposes to pyrosulfuryl chlorides:[4]

2 ClSO3H + SO3 → H2SO4 + S2O5Cl2

Synthesis

The industrial synthesis entails the reaction of hydrogen chloride with a solution of sulfur trioxide in sulfuric acid:[4]

HCl + SO3 → ClSO3H

It can also be prepared by chlorination of sulfuric acid, written here for pedagogical purposes as HSO3(OH), vs. the usual format H2SO4:

PCl5 + HSO3(OH) → HSO3Cl + POCl3 + HCl

The latter method is more suited for laboratory-scale operations.

Applications

ClSO2OH is used to prepare alkyl sulfates, which are useful as detergents and as chemical intermediates:

ROH + ClSO3H → ROSO3H + HCl

An early synthesis of saccharin begins with the reaction of toluene with ClSO2OH to give the ortho- and para-toluenesulfonyl chloride derivatives:

CH3C6H5 + 2 ClSO2OH → CH3C6H4SO2Cl + H2SO4 + HCl

Oxidation of the ortho isomer gives the benzoic acid derivative that then is cyclized with ammonia and neutralized with base to afford saccharin.

Reaction with hydrogen peroxide is used to produce peroxydisulfuric acid ("persulfuric acid") and peroxydisulfates. These are used as oxidizing agents and for initiating free radical polymerization, for example to produce polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon).

Chlorosulfonic acid has been used as an anti-contrail agent in Ryan Model 147 reconnaissance drones,[5] and to produce smoke screens.[6][7]

Safety

ClSO3H reacts violently with water to yield sulfuric acid and hydrogen chloride, commonly seen as vapors fuming from the liquid:

ClSO3H + H2O → H2SO4 + HCl

Precautions, such as proper ventilation, associated with HCl should be observed.

References

  1. "New Environment Inc. - NFPA Chemicals".
  2. Cremlyn, R. J. (2002). Chlorosulfonic Acid. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 978-0-85404-498-6.
  3. Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. (2001). Inorganic Chemistry. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 549–550.
  4. Maas, J.; Baunack, F. (2002). "Chlorosulfuric Acid". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a07_017. ISBN 3527306730.
  5. Method and apparatus for suppressing contrails (PDF). United States Patent and Trademark Office. 1970.
  6. The Royal Navy at War (DVD). London: Imperial War Museum. 2005.
  7. Amos, Jonathan (2018-04-11). "Nazi legacy found in Norwegian trees". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
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