methyl chloride

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, poisonous gas, CH 3 Cl, used chiefly as a refrigerant, as a local anesthetic, and as a methylating agent in organic synthesis.

---

methyl chloride British  

noun

1. Systematic name: chloromethane.  a colourless gas with an ether-like odour, used as a refrigerant and anaesthetic. Formula: CH 3 Cl

---

Etymology

Origin of methyl chloride

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Eglin officials said on their Twitter account that the explosion happened Wednesday morning at the McKinley Climatic Lab near where methyl chloride was present.

From Washington Times

Officials say the source of the smoke has been identified as methyl chloride, and they are urging people to avoid contact with it.

From Seattle Times

For example, by substituting one atom of chlorine for one of hydrogen we produce methyl chloride: Take away three hydrogen atoms and substitute chlorine and we have the anesthetic chloroform: Substitute chlorine atoms for all of the hydrogen atoms and the result is carbon tetrachloride, the familiar cleaning fluid: In the simplest possible terms, these changes rung upon the basic molecule of methane illustrate what a chlorinated hydrocarbon is.

From Literature

"Refrigerants were flammable like hydrocarbons, toxic like ammonia, or flammable and toxic like methyl chloride. There were accidents and people died."

From BBC

They leaked toxic gases such as ammonia, methyl chloride and sulphur dioxide, which damaged the respiratory system and could easily lead to death.

From BBC