Preservative , anti-bacterial for Pneumococcal,
Typhoid and Vaccinia (smallpox) vaccines
Toxicology: This material is a systemic
poison and constitues a serious health hazard. The risks of using it in the
laboratory must be fully assessed before work begins. Vesican.t TLV (Threshold limit
value) 5ppm. Acute poisoning by ingestion, inhalation or skin contact may lead to
death. Phenol is readily absorbed through the skin. Highly toxic by
inhalation. Causes burns
Protection: Safety glasses, gloves, good
ventaliztion.
phenol
<chemistry>
1. A white or pinkish crystalline substance, C6H5OH, produced by
the destructive distillation
of many organic bodies, as wood, coal, etc, and obtained from the heavy oil from coal tar.
It has a peculiar odour, somewhat resembling creosote, which is a complex mixture of phenol derivatives. It is of the type of alcohols, and is called also phenyl alcohol, but has acid properties, and hence is
popularly called carbolic
acid, and was formerly called phenic
acid. It is a powerful caustic poison, and in dilute solution has been used as an antiseptic.
2. Any one of the series of hydroxyl derivatives of which phenol proper is the type.
<chemistry> Glacial phenol, any one of a series of compounds having both phenol
and aldehyde properties. Phenol phthalein. See Phthalein.
Origin: Gr. To show + -ol: cf. F. Phenol.
Source: Websters Dictionary
(01 Mar 1998)
