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paraquat dichloride

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EntityQ409669· pop 32· linked from 357 articles

paraquat dichloride

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Also known as 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4' bipyridinium dichloride, N,N'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium dichloride, N,N'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride, methyl viologen dichloride, 4,4'-dimethyldipyridyl dichloride, 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-dipyridylium dichloride, Gramoxome, Paraquat

Paraquat (trivial name; ), or '''N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride (systematic name), also known as methyl viologen''', is a toxic organic compound with the chemical formula [(C6H7N)2]Cl2. It is classified as a viologen, a family of redox-active heterocycles of similar structure. It is one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide. It is quick-acting and non-selective, killing green plant tissue on contact.

Chemical data

Formula
C12H14Cl2N2
Molecular weight
257.16 g/mol
IUPAC name
1-methyl-4-(1-methylpyridin-1-ium-4-yl)pyridin-1-ium dichloride
SMILES
C[N+]1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC=[N+](C=C2)C.[Cl-].[Cl-]
InChIKey
FIKAKWIAUPDISJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L
Polar surface area
7.8 Ų
H-bond donors
0
H-bond acceptors
2
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

Research

255 papers

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Mass
256.053404
Has use
herbicide
Show 9 more facts
immediately dangerous to life or health
1
decomposition point
572
chemical formula
C₁₂H₁₄Cl₂N₂
NIOSH Pocket Guide ID
0478
density
1.24
vapor pressure
0.0000001
time-weighted average exposure limit
0.5
canonical SMILES
C[N+]1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC=[N+](C=C2)C.[Cl-].[Cl-]
Commons category
Paraquat
Sources (3)

via Wikidata · CC0

~21 min read

Encyclopedic overview

11 sections
Contents
  • Production and redox reactions
  • Herbicide use
  • Regulation in the United States
  • Reactivity and mode of action
  • Weed resistance management
  • Toxicity
  • "Paraquat pot"
  • Use in suicide and murder
  • Parkinson's disease
  • References
  • External links

Paraquat (trivial name; ), or '''N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride (systematic name), also known as methyl viologen''', is a toxic organic compound with the chemical formula [(C6H7N)2]Cl2. It is classified as a viologen, a family of redox-active heterocycles of similar structure. It is one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide. It is quick-acting and non-selective, killing green plant tissue on contact.

Paraquat is highly toxic to humans and other animals. The toxicity and lethality depends on the dose and how the herbicide is absorbed by the body. In humans, paraquat damages the mouth, stomach, and intestines if it is ingested orally. Once absorbed in the body, paraquat causes particular damage to the lungs, kidneys, and liver. Paraquat's lethality is attributed to its enhancing production of superoxide anions and human lung cells can accumulate paraquat. Paraquat exposure has been strongly linked to the development of Parkinson's disease.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “paraquat dichloride” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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