Properties
- Melting point:
- 303 °C(lit.)
- Boiling point:
- 1457 °C(lit.)
- Density
- 1.01 g/mL at 25 °C
- solubility
- insoluble in H2O; reacts with acid solutions
- form
- rod
- Specific Gravity
- 11.85
- color
- Clear colorless
- Resistivity
- 18 μΩ-cm, 20°C
- Water Solubility
- insoluble H2O; reacts with HNO3, H2SO4 [MER06]
- Merck
- 13,9327
- Exposure limits
- TLV-TWA 0.1 mg/m3 (thallium and its soluble
salts) (ACGIH, MSHA, and OSHA);
IDHL 10/mg/m3.
- Stability:
- Stable.
Safety Information
- Symbol(GHS)
GHS06,GHS08
- Signal word
- Danger
- Hazard statements
- H300+H330-H373-H413
- Precautionary statements
- P260-P264-P270-P273-P304+P340+P310-P314
- Hazard Codes
- Xn,T+,T
- Risk Statements
- 26/28-33-53-36/37/38-20/22-36/38-23/25
- Safety Statements
- 13-28-45-61-36/37/39-36/37-26
- RIDADR
- UN 3288 6.1/PG 2
- OEB
- D
- OEL
- TWA: 0.1 mg/m3
- WGK Germany
- 3
- RTECS
- XG3425000
- F
- 23
- TSCA
- Yes
- HazardClass
- 6.1
- PackingGroup
- II
- Toxicity
- A naturally occurring
metal used in organic syntheses, to form alloys with other
metals, as a rodenticide and in superconductor research.
Thallium was also used historically as a depilatory. Acute toxicity from thallium includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, polyneuritis, coma, convulsions, and death. Chronic toxicity
includes reddening of the skin, polyneuritis, alopecia, and cataracts. Neural, hepatic, and renal damage, as well as deafness
and loss of vision, have been documented after chronic exposure. The mechanism associated with such toxic effects is
thought to involve complexing of thallium with sulfhydryl
groups in mitochondria and consequent interference with oxidative phosphorylation. The oral LD50 in rats is about 30 mg/
kg, although 8-12 mg/kg is the estimated lethal dose in
humans. Thallium is also teratogenic in rats.
Use
Thallium is used mostly in manufacturing electronic devices, switches, and closures, primarily for the semiconductor industry. It also has limited use in the manufacture of special glass and for certain medical procedures.