2,2,2-trichloroethanol 2,2,2-trichloroethanol 2,2,2-trichloroethanol is the chemical compound with formula cl3c−ch2oh. its molecule can be described as that of ethanol, with the three hydrogen atoms at position 2 (the methyl group) replaced by chlorine atoms. it is a clear flammable liquid at room temperature, colorless when pure but often with a light yellow color. 2,2,2-trichloroethanol 2,2,2-trichloroethanol 2,2,2-trichloroethanol names preferred iupac name 2,2,2-trichloroethan-1-ol identifiers cas number 115-20-8 y 3d model (jsmol) interactive image beilstein reference 1697495 chebi chebi:28094 y chembl chembl1171 y chemspider 7961 y echa infocard 100.003.701 ec number 204-071-0 gmelin reference 2407 iuphar/bps 2293 kegg c07490 y pubchem cid 8259 unii aw835aj62n y comptox dashboard (epa) dtxsid1021950 inchi inchi=1s/c2h3cl3o/c3-2(4,5)1-6/h6h,1h2 ykey: kpwdgtgxuyrarh-uhfffaoysa-n yinchi=1/c2h3cl3o/c3-2(4,5)1-6/h6h,1h2key: kpwdgtgxuyrarh-uhfffaoyaw smiles clc(cl)(cl)co properties chemical formula c2h3cl3o molar mass 149.40 g/mol density 1.55 g/cm3 melting point 17.8 °c (64.0 °f; 290.9 k) boiling point 151 °c (304 °f; 424 k) hazards ghs labelling: pictograms signal word danger hazard statements h302, h315, h318, h336 precautionary statements p261, p264, p270, p271, p280, p301+p312, p302+p352, p304+p340, p305+p351+p338, p310, p312, p321, p330, p332+p313, p362, p403+p233, p405, p501 flash point 88 °c (190 °f; 361 k) safety data sheet (sds) except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °c , 100 kpa). y verify (what is yn ?) infobox references the pharmacological effects of this compound in humans are similar to those of its prodrug chloral hydrate, and of chlorobutanol. historically, it has been used as a sedative hypnotic. the hypnotic drug triclofos (2,2,2-trichloroethyl phosphate) is metabolized in vivo to 2,2,2-trichloroethanol. chronic exposure may result in kidney and liver damage. 2,2,2-trichloroethanol can be added to sds-page gels in order to enable fluorescent detection of proteins without a staining step, for immunoblotting or other analysis methods. use in organic synthesis 2,2,2-trichloroethanol is an effective protecting group for carboxylic acids due to its ease in addition and removal.