4-Hydroxy-4'-chloro-benzophenone is an aromatic compound shaped by the presence of both a hydroxyl and a chlorine group attached to a benzophenone backbone. You usually run into this powdery substance in the world of specialty chemicals, often as a raw material in industrial settings and research labs. Every time I’ve handled phenone derivatives, safety stood as my top concern before giving much thought to their properties. Molecular structure here tells a lot—this compound joins two benzene rings by a carbonyl group (C=O), where one ring also carries a hydroxyl group at the para position, the other a chlorine atom at the corresponding spot, which means its behavior in reactions can get very specific. Its chemical formula is C13H9ClO2, giving it a molecular weight in the neighborhood of 232.66 g/mol, making it dense enough to settle quickly in most solvents.
Typical samples land as off-white to light yellow solids. Depending on how it’s processed, you’ll come across flakes, brittle crystalline bits, or even a soft powder, which feels dry and may clump if exposed to moisture. This solid does not flow like a liquid, nor does it dissolve freely in water; only some organic solvents will break it down, usually those with polar groups, such as acetone or ethanol. The density routinely measures around 1.28 g/cm3 at room temperature, enough to notice weight in a scoop or beaker. Crystals have a definite form under the microscope—angular shapes with clean, bright edges—a telltale sign that this isn’t a material that sneaks unnoticed into mixtures. Melting point falls close to 163°C, at which stage it turns into a viscous liquid before decomposing if you’re not careful with heating, which I’ve learned the hard way in thermal analysis runs.
4-Hydroxy-4'-chloro-benzophenone doesn’t just look neat under the light—its chemical properties bring serious considerations. The presence of both hydroxy and chlorinated groups makes it reactive toward bases and some nucleophiles; it can kick off either substitution or addition reactions depending on the partner and conditions. People involved in organic synthesis appreciate its flexibility. Still, handling this material calls for awareness. On skin or in the eyes, it acts as an irritant, and inhalation of dust leaves the throat scratchy. Every lab I’ve worked in demanded gloves, goggles, and a hood while weighing or dissolving it. Poisoning isn’t common, but chemical registries note harmful effects, so the MSDS is not just paperwork—it tells you how accidental spills or exposures turn hazardous. For waste, incineration or professional chemical disposal remains the only real choice, since regular trash isn’t an option.
Its main job lies as a raw material in the making of UV-filters, specialty polymers, and advanced pharmaceutical intermediates. Scientists use its benzophenone backbone to anchor other groups—for example, swapping out the halide or the hydroxy as a spot to install bulkier substituents. Unlike commodity chemicals, this isn’t something you’d find in retail products, but you might see it downstream in UV-stabilizers used in plastics or as a photoinitiator in paints and coatings that cure under ultraviolet light. Over the years, I’ve seen it used in academic research for synthesizing more complex aromatic compounds, since the hydroxy and chlorine give chemists two distinct pathways for further modification. Its purity and particle size sometimes draw scrutiny, especially in high-end applications; labs may ask for specifications including crystalline content, melting behavior, and presence of residual solvents.
Industrial suppliers describe 4-Hydroxy-4'-chloro-benzophenone with several key specs: molecular weight (232.66 g/mol), melting point (at least 162–164°C), density (1.28 g/cm3), solubility data (poor in water, good in DMF or DMSO), and appearance (from white to pale yellow). Bulk shipments arrive sealed inside thick plastic or metal-lined drums, usually as crystalline powder, with smaller orders in tightly capped glass bottles. I recall a storage room where humidity-control mattered just as much as temperature, since any moisture triggers slow agglomeration or loss of sample purity. The HS Code for import and export usually reads 291439, classing it with other benzophenone derivatives for tracking under global chemical trade.
Lab safety classes don’t gloss over chlorinated aromatics, and 4-Hydroxy-4'-chloro-benzophenone isn’t an exception. Every container should show a warning pictogram for irritation, sometimes with an “exclamation mark” for moderate hazards. Touch creates skin and eye redness, and inhaling dust leads to sneezing or coughing. I haven’t seen anyone become seriously ill from it, but chemical hygiene means always using masks when transferring a powdery solid. Fire risk runs low—its flash point stands high, though combustion releases toxic fumes, including hydrogen chloride. Disposal channels matter: it heads to licensed chemical waste centers. Regulatory forms for shipping may request details under the UN code 3077 (environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s.), reflecting its classification in transit. In research settings, an updated register of all containers helps track storage times, minimizing the risk of accidental degradation or mix-ups. All these steps make labs safer, reducing harmful exposure that could lead to health or regulatory problems.
Working with 4-Hydroxy-4'-chloro-benzophenone demands clear understanding of its properties and risks. Material like this brings value in advanced chemistry and manufacturing, but that value only gets realized if handlers know the substance—a point that goes for universities as much as commercial labs. Good practice means following safety sheets, maintaining precise documentation, and choosing disposal methods that don’t leave environmental traces. For teams scaling up to production, investing in proper containment equipment, dust extraction, and staff training holds up as the surest way to avoid accidents or regulatory breaches. Chemists and safety officers alike share responsibility, bridging technical details with practical protocols. Regulatory compliance and sound chemical stewardship go hand in hand, which builds trust and keeps workspaces clear from hazardous surprises.
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