ContaminantDB: Uranium tetrachloride

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (1)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-06-19 21:58:23 UTC

Update Date

2026-04-05 19:11:54 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM000998

Identification

Common Name

Uranium tetrachloride

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Uranium tetrachloride is a chloride of uranium It is used as feed in the electromagnetic isotope separation (EMIS) process of uranium enrichment. Uranium is a chemical element that has the symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a normal part of rocks, soil, air, and water, and occurs in nature in the form of minerals. (5, 6, 7)

Contaminant Sources

T3DB toxins

Contaminant Type

Industrial/Workplace Toxin
Inorganic Compound
Pollutant
Radioactive
Synthetic Compound
Uranium Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Not Available

Chemical Formula

Cl₄U

Average Molecular Mass

379.841 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

377.926 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

10026-10-5

IUPAC Name

tetrachlorouranium

Traditional Name

uranium tetrachloride

SMILES

Cl[U](Cl)(Cl)Cl

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/4ClH.U/h4*1H;/q;;;;+4/p-4

InChI Key

HPICRATUQFHULE-UHFFFAOYSA-J

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as actinide chlorides. These are inorganic compounds in which the largest halogen atom is Chlorine, and the heaviest metal atom is an actinide.

Kingdom

Inorganic compounds

Super Class

Mixed metal/non-metal compounds

Class

Actinide salts

Sub Class

Actinide chlorides

Direct Parent

Actinide chlorides

Alternative Parents

Inorganic chloride salts

Substituents

Actinide chloride
Inorganic chloride salt
Inorganic salt

Molecular Framework

Not Available

External Descriptors

Not Available

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Exogenous

Cellular Locations

Membrane

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Not Available

Pathways

Not Available

Applications

Not Available

Biological Roles

Not Available

Chemical Roles

Not Available

Physical Properties

State

Solid

Appearance

Dark green solid.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	590°C
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	Not Available

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
logP	2.54	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	0 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	24.55 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	11.96 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	0	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-004i-0009000000-a53c770efaf402a046de	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-004i-0009000000-a53c770efaf402a046de	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-004i-0009000000-a53c770efaf402a046de	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-004i-0009000000-a2d46e283d0021a02a20	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-004i-0009000000-a2d46e283d0021a02a20	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-004i-0009000000-a2d46e283d0021a02a20	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Oral (6) ; inhalation (6) ; dermal (6)

Mechanism of Toxicity

Uranium is combined with either bicarbonate or a plasma protein in the blood but once in the kidney, it is released and forms complexes with phosphate ligands and proteins in the tubular wall, causing damage. Uranium may also inhibit both sodium transport-dependent and independent ATP utilization and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the renal proximal tubule. Uranium causes respiratory diseases by damaging alveolar epithelium type II cells in the lungs. Uranium induces c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) activation, which in turn induces tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion and generates and inflammatory response in the lungs. Studies have shown that the more soluble the uranium salt, the more toxic it is. Ionizing radiation produced by uranium damages the DNA, resulting in gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations. This can both both initiate and promote carcinogenesis, and interfere with reproduction and development. (6, 1)

Metabolism

Uranium is absorbed in low amounts via oral, inhalation, and dermal routes. Uranium in body fluids generally exists as the uranyl ion (UO2)2+ complexed with anions, such as citrate and bicarbonate, or plasma proteins. Uranium preferentially distributes to bone, liver, and kidney. The large majority of uranium that enters the body is not absorbed and is eliminated from the body via the urine and faeces. (5)

Toxicity Values

Not Available

Lethal Dose

Not Available

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

Uranium: Group 1, carcinogenic to humans (4)

Uses/Sources

Uranium tetrachloride is used as feed in the electromagnetic isotope separation (EMIS) process of uranium enrichment. (7)

Minimum Risk Level

Intermediate Inhalation: 0.0004 mg/m3 (Soluble uranium salts) (3) Chronic Inhalation: 0.0003 mg/m3 (Soluble uranium salts) (3) Intermediate Oral: 0.002 mg/kg/day (Soluble uranium salts) (3) Intermediate Inhalation: 0.008 mg/m3 (Insoluble uranium compounds) (3)

Health Effects

Uranium primarily damages the kidney, but may also damage the lungs, central nervous system, and immune system. Uranium's radioactivity is believed to damage the DNA, resulting in carcinogenic effects and reproductive and developmental damage. (5, 6)

Symptoms

Ingestion of uranium may cause vomiting and diarrhea. (5)

Treatment

EYES: irrigate opened eyes for several minutes under running water. INGESTION: do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth with water (never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person). Seek immediate medical advice. SKIN: should be treated immediately by rinsing the affected parts in cold running water for at least 15 minutes, followed by thorough washing with soap and water. If necessary, the person should shower and change contaminated clothing and shoes, and then must seek medical attention. INHALATION: supply fresh air. If required provide artificial respiration.

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

Not Available

HMDB ID

Not Available

FooDB ID

Not Available

Phenol Explorer ID

Not Available

KNApSAcK ID

Not Available

BiGG ID

Not Available

BioCyc ID

Not Available

METLIN ID

Not Available

PDB ID

Not Available

Wikipedia Link

Uranium tetrachloride

Chemspider ID

Not Available

ChEBI ID

Not Available

PubChem Compound ID

66210

Kegg Compound ID

Not Available

YMDB ID

Not Available

ECMDB ID

Not Available

References

Synthesis Reference

Not Available

MSDS

Not Available

General References

Not Available

Uranium tetrachloride (CHEM000998)

Structure for CHEM000998: Uranium tetrachloride