Bordeaux mixture

Endpoint summary

Additional information

The physical and chemical properties of dicopper chloride trihydroxide are summarised in the following table:

Property	Value	Remarks
Physical state at 20°C and 101.3 kPa	Solid.	Form: Powder. Colour: Light green. Odour: Odourless.
Melting/freezing point	Decomposition before melting point.	An endothermic event over the range 110°C to 190°C is attributed to dehydration of the molecule.
Boiling point	Not applicable.	No boiling point before decomposition.
Relative density	3.12 ± 0.00035 at 19.5°C.
Vapour pressure	Not applicable.	The substance is inorganic in nature and as such has negligible vapour pressure at environmentally relevant temperatures.
Surface tension	68.9 mN/m at 21°C at 1.43x10^-3g/L concentration.	The material is not surface active.
Water solubility	pH 2.9: >124 g/L (>33.1 g/L as Cu). pH 6.8: 2.20x10^-3g/L (5.87x10^-4g/L as Cu). pH 9.8: ≤ 1.1x10^-3g/L (≤ 2.94x10^-4g/L as Cu).	Determined at 20.0 ± 0.5°C.
Partition coefficient n-octanol/water (log value)	Not applicable.	The octanol:water partition coefficient, Pow, is defined as the ratio of the equilibrium concentrations of a dissolved substance in each of the phases in a two phase system consisting of octanol and water. It is usually expressed on a log scale. It is a key parameter in studies of the environmental fate of organic substances, indicating the potential for bioaccumulation and soil absorption. However, the mechanisms of absorption of Cu^2+into organic matter and living cells are understood to be different from those traditionally attributed to carbon-based substances and the parameter therefore has little relevance to ionic copper. The parameter is therefore not considered to be relevant to Bordeaux mixture.
Flash point	Not applicable.	Not required as the substance is solid.
Flammability	Not flammable.	Bordeaux mixture is an inorganic ionic substance in solid form. Wholly inorganic salts are not combustible or flammable and in addition, experience in use indicates that Bordeaux mixture is not flammable.
Explosive properties	Not explosive.	Bordeaux mixture consists, in essence, of a mixture of inorganic components or groupings bound together in a crystal lattice by electrostatic forces. None of these components or groupings are associated with explosive hazards. All are stable groupings in high oxidation states. It is unlikely therefore that Bordeaux mixture will have explosive properties. Explosive hazards can also occur if the exothermic energy of combustion is very high (>500J/g) and rapid. Bordeaux mixture is not reported to decompose in a rapid energetic fashion. DSC data obtained for Bordeaux mixture shows endothermic events only.
Self-ignition temperature	Not applicable.	Bordeaux mixture is an inorganic ionic substance with copper in a high oxidation state. As such this material is not likely to undergo self heating under bulk storage conditions and is unlikely to combust. It is therefore not likely to auto-ignite. Self heating or auto-ignition has not been observed where this substance has been in use for many years.
Oxidising properties	No oxidising properties.	The oxygen is bound up in very stable structural groupings with strong oxygen bonds. The decomposition temperature also indicates a high energy of activation. Bordeaux mixture is therefore considered inert under the conditions of oxidation.
Granulometry	Volume-rated particle size distribution by laser diffraction: D(v,0.1) 2.04 µm; D (v,0.5) 14.03 µm; D(v,0.9) 181.33 µm. Number-rated particle size distribution by laser diffraction: D(n,0.1) 0.530 µm; D (n,0.5) 0.832 µm; D(n,0.9) 1.813 µm.	Joint registrants that produce or import Bordeaux mixture corresponding to this specification are able to refer to the Lead Registrant's granulometry data for the purpose of REACH registration. The material does not fall under the category of nanomaterial (50% < 0.1 µm based on particle number). The Exposure Scenarios developed under REACH are based on the worst-case assumption that 100% of any material becoming airbourne is respirable.
Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products	Not applicable.	As stated in the REACH regulations, the study does not need to be conducted if the substance is inorganic.
Dissociation constant	Not applicable.	Copper is a poorly soluble metallic element that can only remain in solution in a totally dissociated ionic state; a non reversible process. Since its solubility is low and it does not exist in solution in an associated state, it does not therefore have a measurable dissociation constant.
Viscosity	Not applicable.	Not applicable to solids.
Auto flammability	Not applicable.	Bordeaux mixture is an inorganic ionic substance with copper in a high oxidation state. As such this material is not likely to undergo self heating under bulk storage conditions and is unlikely to combust. It is therefore not likely to auto-ignite. Self heating or auto-ignition has not been observed where this substance has been in use for many years.