Carbon tetrachloride

Carbon tetrachloride, also called tetrachloromethane (CCl4), is a colourless liquid with a sweet smell. It is a very useful solvent for oils, fats and resins, and also serves as a convenient source of chlorine in the laboratory; industrially it is used as a cleaning agent. Carbon tetrachloride is highly toxic to the liver, and exposure to high concentrations of it can affect the central nervous system; it is suspected to be carcinogenic, and prolonged exposure may even cause death. Beyond its direct toxicity to humans, carbon tetrachloride is also a greenhouse gas, adding an environmental dimension to its hazard profile alongside its health effects -- much like the Freons discussed later …