. "Appendix B: Laboratory Chemical Safety Summaries." Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 1995.
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Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals
LABORATORY CHEMICAL SAFETY SUMMARY: TRIFLUOROACETIC ACID
Substance
Trifluoroacetic acid
(TFA, trifluoroethanoic acid)
CAS 76-05-1
Formula
CF3COOH
Physical Properties
Colorless liquid
bp 72 °C, mp -15 °C
Miscible with water
Odor
Sharp, pungent odor
Vapor Density
3.9 (air = 1.0)
Vapor Pressure
107 mmHg at 25 °C
Flash Point
Noncombustible
Toxicity Data
LD50 oral (rat)
200 mg/kg
LC50 inhal (rat)
2000 ppm (4 h)
Major Hazards
Corrosive to the skin and eyes; vapor or mist is very irritating and can be destructive to the eyes and respiratory system; ingestion causes internal irritation and severe injury.
Toxicity
Trifluoroacetic acid is a highly corrosive substance. Contact of the liquid with the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes can cause severe burns, and ingestion can result in serious damage to the digestive tract. TFA vapor is highly irritating of the eyes and respiratory tract, and inhalation of high concentrations can lead to severe destruction of the upper respiratory tract and may be fatal as a result of pulmonary edema. Symptoms of overexposure to TFA vapor include a burning feeling, coughing, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
Trifluoroacetic acid has not been found to be carcinogenic or to show reproductive or developmental toxicity in humans.
Flammability and Explosibility
Trifluoroacetic acid is not combustible. Nevertheless, the presence of trifluoroacetic acid at the site of a fire would be of great concern because of its high vapor pressure and extreme corrosiveness.
Reactivity and Incompatibility
Mixing trifluoroacetic acid and water evolves considerable heat
Storage and Handling
Trifluoroacetic acid should be handled in the laboratory using the "basic prudent practices" described in Chapter 5.C. In particular, trifluoroacetic acid should be stored in an acid cabinet away from other classes of compounds. Because of its high vapor pressure,
