Registration Dossier

Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets

Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Ecotoxicological information

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Currently viewing:

Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

EC50 48 h for Daphnia magna was reported to be pH= 5.3 equivalent to 0.492 mg/l of HCl (See SIDS Hydrogen Chloride 2002). Considering the stoichiometry of hydrolysis reaction of PCl5 (PCl5 +4H2O-> H3PO4 +5HCl) this concentration of HCl is calculated to be equivalent to 0.56 mg/l PCl5.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water invertebrates

Fresh water invertebrates
Effect concentration:
0.56 mg/L

Additional information

Phosphorus pentachloride decomposes on contact with water/moisture to form phosphoric acid and hydrochloric acid. The evaluation of short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates is conducted with the approach of weight of evidence considering one study about hydrochloric acid (EC50 48h is pH= 5.3 equivalent to 0.492 mg/l of HCl) and one study about phosphoric acid (EC50 48h > 376 mg/l). To extrapolate the value for EC50 48h related to PCl5 precautionary principle the lower value of EC50 48h considering values of HCl and H3PO4 is chosen: the value related to hydrochloric acid is so preferred to phosphoric acid. EC50 48 h was found to be pH= 5.3 equivalent to 0.492 mg/l of HCl. Considering the stoichiometry of hydrolysis reaction of PCl5 (PCl5 +4H2O-> H3PO4 +5HCl) this concentration of HCl is calculated to be equivalent to 0.56 mg/l PCl5. The hazard of hydrochloric acid for the environment is caused by the proton (pH effect). For this reason the effect of hydrochloric acid on the organisms depends on the buffer capacity of the aquatic ecosystem. Latest dossier for registration of HCl on ECHA website reports lower values for acute aquatic toxicity (Invertebrates and algae).

Categories Display