Metam sodium

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Metam sodium [1]
Metham sodium.png
Metham sodium 3D ball.png
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Sodium methylcarbamodithioate
Other names
Metham sodium
Carbathion
Carbathione
Carbothion
Metamsodium
Metam-sodium
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.812 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
PubChem CID
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C2H5NS2.Na/c1-3-2(4)5;/h1H3,(H2,3,4,5);/q;+1/p-1 Yes check.svgY
    Key: AFCCDDWKHLHPDF-UHFFFAOYSA-M Yes check.svgY
  • [Na+].[S-]C(=S)NC
Properties
C2H4NNaS2
Molar mass 129.18 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Yes check.svgY  verify  (what is  Yes check.svgYX mark.svgN ?)

Metam sodium is an organosulfur compound with the formula CH3NHCS2Na. The compound is a sodium salt of a dithiocarbamate. The compound exists as a colorless dihydrate, but most commonly it is encountered as an aqueous solution. [2] It is used as a soil fumigant, pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide. It is one of the most widely used pesticides in the United States, with approximately 60 million pounds used in 2001. [3]

Contents

Preparation and properties

Metam sodium is prepared by combining methylamine, carbon disulfide, and sodium hydroxide: [2]

CH3NH2 + CS2 + NaOH → CH3NHCS2Na + H2O

It also arises from the reaction of methyl isothiocyanate and sodium thiolate. [1]

Upon exposure to the environment, metam sodium decomposes to methyl isothiocyanate and other sulfur compounds. [4]

Safety and environmental considerations

Metam sodium is nonpersistent in the environment since it decomposes on contact with water to form toxic methyl isothiocyanate and carbon disulfide. [4] In 1991 a tank car with 19,000 gallons of metam sodium spilled into Sacramento River above Lake Shasta. This killed all fish in a 41-mile stretch of the river. By 20 years later the rainbow trout population had recovered. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

Bromomethane, commonly known as methyl bromide, is an organobromine compound with formula CH3Br. This colorless, odorless, nonflammable gas is produced both industrially and biologically. It is a recognized ozone-depleting chemical. It was used extensively as a pesticide until being phased out by most countries in the early 2000s. From the chemistry perspective, it is one of the halomethanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbon disulfide</span> Neurotoxic compound with formula S=C=S

Carbon disulfide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula CS2 and structure S=C=S. It is also considered as the anhydride of thiocarbonic acid. It is a colorless, flammable, neurotoxic liquid that is used as a building block in organic synthesis. Pure carbon disulfide has a pleasant, ether- or chloroform-like odor, but commercial samples are usually yellowish and are typically contaminated with foul-smelling impurities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isothiocyanate</span> Chemical group (–N=C=S)

In organic chemistry, isothiocyanate is a functional group as found in compounds with the formula R−N=C=S. Isothiocyanates are the more common isomers of thiocyanates, which have the formula R−S−C≡N.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methylamine</span> Organic chemical compound

Methylamine is an organic compound with a formula of CH3NH2. This colorless gas is a derivative of ammonia, but with one hydrogen atom being replaced by a methyl group. It is the simplest primary amine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xanthate</span> Salt that is a metal-thioate/O-esters of dithiocarbonate

A xanthate is a salt or ester of a xanthic acid. The formula of the salt of xanthic acid is [R−O−CS2]M+. Xanthate also refers to the anion [R−O−CS2]. The formula of a xanthic acid is R−O−C(=S)−S−H, such as ethyl xanthic acid, while the formula of an ester of a xanthic acid is R−O−C(=S)−S−R', where R and R' are organyl groups. The salts of xanthates are also called O-organyl dithioates. The esters of xanthic acid are also called O,S-diorganyl esters of dithiocarbonic acid. The name xanthate is derived from Ancient Greek ξανθός (xanthos) meaning 'yellowish' or 'golden', and indeed most xanthate salts are yellow. They were discovered and named in 1823 by Danish chemist William Christopher Zeise. These organosulfur compounds are important in two areas: the production of cellophane and related polymers from cellulose and for extraction of certain sulphide bearing ores. They are also versatile intermediates in organic synthesis.

Iodomethane, also called methyl iodide, and commonly abbreviated "MeI", is the chemical compound with the formula CH3I. It is a dense, colorless, volatile liquid. In terms of chemical structure, it is related to methane by replacement of one hydrogen atom by an atom of iodine. It is naturally emitted by rice plantations in small amounts. It is also produced in vast quantities estimated to be greater than 214,000 tons annually by algae and kelp in the world's temperate oceans, and in lesser amounts on land by terrestrial fungi and bacteria. It is used in organic synthesis as a source of methyl groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methyl isothiocyanate</span> Chemical compound

Methyl isothiocyanate is the organosulfur compound with the formula CH3N=C=S. This low melting colorless solid is a powerful lachrymator. As a precursor to a variety of valuable bioactive compounds, it is the most important organic isothiocyanate in industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azinphos-methyl</span> Chemical compound

Azinphos-methyl (Guthion) is a broad spectrum organophosphate insecticide manufactured by Bayer CropScience, Gowan Co., and Makhteshim Agan. Like other pesticides in this class, it owes its insecticidal properties to the fact that it is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. It is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States as defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities which produce, store, or use it in significant quantities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate</span> Chemical compound

Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate is the organosulfur compound with the formula NaS2CN(C2H5)2. It is a pale yellow, water soluble salt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dithiocarbamate</span> Chemical group (>N–C(=S)–S–)

In organic chemistry, a dithiocarbamate is a functional group with the general formula R2N−C(=S)−S−R and structure >N−C(=S)−S−. It is the analog of a carbamate in which both oxygen atoms are replaced by sulfur atoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thiuram disulfide</span> Class of chemical compounds

Thiuram disulfides are a class of organosulfur compounds with the formula (R2NCSS)2. Many examples are known, but popular ones include R = Me and R = Et. They are disulfides obtained by oxidation of the dithiocarbamates. These compounds are used in sulfur vulcanization of rubber as well as in the manufacture of pesticides and drugs. They are typically white or pale yellow solids that are soluble in organic solvents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phenyl isothiocyanate</span> Chemical compound

Phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) is a reagent used in reversed phase HPLC. PITC is less sensitive than o-phthaldehyde (OPA) and cannot be fully automated. PITC can be used for analysing secondary amines, unlike OPA. It is also known as Edman's reagent and is used in Edman degradation.

Zineb is the chemical compound with the formula {Zn[S2CN(H)CH2CH2N(H)CS2]}n. Structurally, it is classified as a coordination polymer and a dithiocarbamate complex. This pale yellow solid is used as fungicide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammonium thiocyanate</span> Chemical compound

Ammonium thiocyanate is an inorganic compound with the formula [NH4]+[SCN]. It is an ammonium salt of thiocyanic acid. It consists of ammonium cations [NH4]+ and thiocyanate anions [SCN].

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maneb</span> Chemical compound

| GHS labelling: |-

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethylene thiourea</span> Chemical compound

Ethylene thiourea (ETU) is an organosulfur compound with the formula C3H6N2S. It is an example of an N,N-disubstituted thiourea. It is a white solid. It is synthesized by treating ethylenediamine with carbon disulfide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perchloromethyl mercaptan</span> Chemical compound

Perchloromethyl mercaptan is the organosulfur compound with the formula CCl3SCl. It is mainly used as an intermediate for the synthesis of dyes and fungicides (captan, folpet). It is a colorless oil, although commercial samples are yellowish. It is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. It has a foul, unbearable, acrid odor. Perchloromethyl mercaptan is the original name. The systematic name is trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride, because the compound is a sulfenyl chloride, not a mercaptan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dazomet</span> Chemical compound

Dazomet is a common soil fumigant that acts as a herbicide, fungicide, slimicide, and nematicide.

References

  1. 1 2 Merck Index , 11th Edition, 5860.
  2. 1 2 Hartwig, Jürgen; Sommer, Herbert; Müller, Franz (2008). "Nematicides". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a17_125.pub2. ISBN   978-3527306732.
  3. 2000-2001 Pesticide Market Estimates Archived 2009-02-07 at the Wayback Machine , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  4. 1 2 Bretaudeau Deguigne M, Lagarce L, Boels D, Harry P (2011). "Metam sodium intoxication: the specific role of degradation products--methyl isothiocyanate and carbon disulphide--as a function of exposure". Clin Toxicol (Phila). 49 (5): 416–22. doi:10.3109/15563650.2011.585472. PMID   21740140.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. "Largest chemical spill in California history". dtsc.ca.gov. Retrieved 2017-12-11.