Dichloromethane (DCM or methylene chloride) is an organochloride compound with the formula CH2Cl2. This colorless, volatile liquid with a chloroform-like, sweet odour is widely used as a solvent. Although it is not miscible with water, it is polar, and miscible with many organic solvents.

Alternative Title: ethene. Ethylene (H2C=CH2), the simplest of the organic compounds known as alkenes, which contain carbon-carbon double bonds. It is a colourless, flammable gas having a sweet taste and odour.

It is named like methylene dichloride(Cl-CH2-Cl) because of having the -CH2- group which is known as methylene group. But its name in IUPAC system is dichloromethane. Here, the structure is not like CHCl rather the carbon atom is bridged between the two Cl-atoms via a -CH.

methyl chloride

since it is a gem dihalide, so its name should be methyledene and not methylene acc. to the rules… The IUPAC name of the compound CH2Cl2 is Dichloromethane. Its common name is methylene chloride. As a result, while naming this compound we can neither use geminal or vicinal.

CH2Cl2

Methylene chloride, also called dichloromethane, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a chloroform-like odor. Methylene chloride is used in various industrial processes, in many different industries including paint stripping, pharmaceutical manufacturing, paint remover manufacturing, and metal cleaning and degreasing.

The methylene chloride process is thought by some in the coffee industry to maintain coffee flavor better than other processes. Based on extensive research data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that methylene chloride is safe for use in coffee decaffeination.

When handling dichloromethane in the workplace, use the following safety precautions:

1. Wear protective clothing. Footwear should cover the entire foot.
2. Always wear PPE such as chemical splash goggles and safety gloves.
3. Work in a well-ventilated area (preferably in an environment with a fume extraction system).