Metaldehyde

Metaldehyde
Metaldehyde
Identifiers
CAS number 108-62-3 YesY
KEGG C18744 N
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula C8H16O4
Molar mass 176.212 g/mol
Density 1.27 g/cm³
Melting point

246°C

Boiling point

sublimes at 110-120 °C

 N (verify) (what is: YesY/N?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Metaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula (CH3CHO)4. It is commonly used as a pesticide against slugs, snails, and other gastropods. It is the cyclic tetramer of acetaldehyde.[1]

Contents

Production and properties

Metaldehyde is obtained in moderate yields by treatment of acetaldehyde with various acid catalysts, such as hydrogen bromide. The reaction is reversible, upon heating to about 80 °C, metaldehyde reverts to acetaldehyde. Metaldehyde exists as a mixture of stereoisomers, molecules that differ with respect to the relative orientation of the methyl groups on the 8-membered ring.

Uses

As a pesticide

It is sold under various trade names as a molluscicide, including Antimilice, Ariotox, Blitzem (in Australia), Cekumeta, Deadline, Halizan, Limatox, Limeol, Meta, Metason, Mifaslug, Namekil, Slug Fest Colloidel 25, and Slugit. Typically it is applied in the form of slug pellets, which normally include a wheat bait. Metaldehyde acts on the pest by contact or ingestion, and the aqueous environment inside the pest's cells readily hydrolyzes metaldehyde into acetaldehyde, the molecule associated with an alcohol hangover.

Metaldehyde-containing baits should be used with caution as they are toxic to dogs and cats.[2]

Other uses

Metaldehyde is also used as a camping fuel. It may be purchased in a tablet form to be used in small stoves, and for preheating of Primus type stoves. It is sold under the trade name of "META" by Lonza Group of Switzerland.

Safety

Metaldehyde has a toxicity profile identical to that for acetaldehyde, being mildly toxic and irritatant to breathing at the 50 ppm level.

References

  1. ^ Marc Eckert, Gerald Fleischmann, Reinhard Jira, Hermann M. Bolt, Klaus Golka “Acetaldehyde” in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2006, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a01_031.pub2.
  2. ^ "Pests in Gardens and Landscapes". University of California, Davis. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html. Retrieved 2010-08-03. 

External links

See also


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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • métaldéhyde — [ metaldeid ] n. m. ou f. • 1855; de méta et aldéhyde ♦ Chim. Composé solide de l aldéhyde, corps blanc inflammable. ⇒ méta. ● métaldéhyde nom masculin Dénomination courante du tétramère C8H16O4 de l acétaldéhyde, employé comme combustible sous… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Metaldehyde — Me*tal de*hyde, n. [Pref. met + aldehyde.] (Chem.) A white crystalline substance isomeric with, and obtained from, acetic aldehyde by polymerization, and reconvertible into the same. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • metaldehyde — metaldehidas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Ciklinis etanalio tetrameras. formulė (CH₃CHO)₄ atitikmenys: angl. metaldehyde rus. метальдегид …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • metaldehyde — noun Etymology: probably from meta + aldehyde Date: 1841 a crystalline compound (CH3CH0)4 that is a polymer of acetaldehyde and is used as a lure and poison for snails and slugs …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • metaldehyde — noun A cyclic tetramer of acetaldehyde, commonly used as a molluscicide …   Wiktionary

  • metaldehyde — A polymer of acetaldehyde. [meta + aldehyde] * * * met·al·de·hyde .met al də .hīd n a crystalline compound (C2H4O)n that is a cyclic oligomer of acetaldehyde used as a solid fuel for portable stoves and as a lure and poison for snails * * *… …   Medical dictionary

  • metaldehyde — [mɪ taldɪhʌɪd] noun Chemistry a solid made by polymerizing acetaldehyde, used in slug pellets and as fuel for portable stoves …   English new terms dictionary

  • metaldehyde — met·al·de·hyde …   English syllables

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