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Benzalkonium chloride
Properties
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General
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| Name |
Benzalkonium chloride |
| Chemical formula |
Image:Benzalkonium chloride.png |
| Appearance |
white or yellow powder or gelatinous lumps colorless solution |
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Physical
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| Formula weight |
varies, it is a mixture of compounds |
| Melting point |
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| Boiling point |
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| Specific Gravity |
0.98 |
| Crystal structure |
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| Solubility |
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Thermochemistry
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| ΔfH0gas |
kJ/mol |
| ΔfH0liquid |
kJ/mol |
| ΔfH0solid |
kJ/mol |
| S0gas, 1 bar |
J/mol·K |
| S0liquid, 1 bar |
J/mol·K |
| S0solid |
J/mol·K |
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Safety
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| Ingestion |
Harmful |
| Inhalation |
Harmful |
| Skin |
Harmful |
| Eyes |
Harmful |
| More info |
Hazardous Chemical Database |
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SIunits were used where possible. Unless otherwise stated, standardconditions were used.
Disclaimer and references
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Benzalkonium Chloride is an organic compoundthat is used as an antisepticand spermicide. This product is a nitrogenous cationicsurface-acting agentbelonging to the quaternary ammoniumgroup. Benzalkonium chloride is a mixture of alkylbenzyl dimethylammonium chloridesof various alkyl chain lengths. The greatest bactericidal activity is associated with the C12-C14 alkyl derivatives.
It is one of the safest synthetic biocidesknown, and has a long history of efficacious use. Applications are extremely wide ranging, from disinfectant formulations to microbial corrosioninhibitionin the oilfield sector. It is deemed safe for human use, and is widely used in eyewashes, hand and face washes, mouthwashes, spermicidalcreams, and in various other cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants.
Benzalkonium chloride is readily soluble in water, alcohol, and acetone. Formulation requires great care as Benzalkonium can be inactivated by certain organic compounds, including soap, and must not be mixed with anionic surfactants. Hard watersalts can also reduce biocidal activity. Although newer formulations are more resistant to deactivation, as with any disinfectant, it is recommended that surfaces are rinsed well before disinfection.
Aqueous solutions of benzalkonium chloride are neutral to slightly alkaline, colorless, and nonstaining. Solutions foamprofusely when shaken, have a bitter taste, and a faint almond-like odour, which is only detectable in concentrated solutions.
The mechanism of bactericidal/microbicidal action is thought to be due to disruption of intermolecular interactions. This can cause dissociation of cellular membranebilayers, which compromises cellular permeability controls and induces leakage of cellular contents. Other biomolecular complexes within the bacterial cell can also undergo dissociation. Enzymes, which finely control a plethora of respiratory and metabolic cellular activities, are particularly susceptible to deactivation. Critical intermolecular interactions and tertiary structuresin such highly specific biochemical systems can be readily disrupted by cationic surfactants.
Benzalkonium chloride solutions are rapidly acting anti-infective agents with a moderately long duration of action. They are active against bacteriaand some viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Bacterial sporesare considered to be resistant. Solutions are bacteriostaticor bactericidalaccording to their concentration. Gram-positivebacteria are generally more susceptible than gram-negative. Activity is not greatly affected by pH, but increases substantially at higher temperatures and prolonged exposure times.
External links
- Contrary Opinions
- Nasal Saline Sprays - The Additives May Be the Problemde:Benzalkoniumchlorid
Categories: Chlorides| Amines| Surfactants| Antiseptics| Disinfectants
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzalkonium+chloride Wikipedia article Benzalkonium chloride.
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