Chloromethane

Chloromethane (Methyl Chloride, CH₃Cl, CAS 74-87-3) is a colorless, flammable gas at ambient temperature and pressure, with a faint ethereal odor. It boils at -24.2 °C and has an explosive limit of 8.1%–17.4% in air. Slightly soluble in water but readily miscible with most organic solvents, chloromethane is primarily used as a key feedstock for producing methylchlorosilanes—the building blocks for silicone oils, rubbers, and resins. It also serves as a methylating agent in pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis. Due to its flammability and toxicity, strict safety controls including leak-proof pressurized cylinders, explosion-proof ventilation, and separation from oxidizers are mandatory during storage and handling.