Metam sodium[ 1]
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Sodium methylcarbamodithioate
Other names
Metham sodium Carbathion Carbathione Carbothion Metamsodium Metam-sodium
Identifiers
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard
100.004.812
UNII
InChI=1S/C2H5NS2.Na/c1-3-2(4)5;/h1H3,(H2,3,4,5);/q;+1/p-1
Y Key: AFCCDDWKHLHPDF-UHFFFAOYSA-M
Y
Properties
C2 H4 NNaS2
Molar mass
129.18 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their
standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Chemical compound
Metam sodium is an organosulfur compound with the formula CH3 NHCS2 Na . The compound is a sodium salt of a dithiocarbamate . The compound exists as a colorless dihydrate, but most commonly it is encountered as an aqueous solution.[ 2] It is used as a soil fumigant , pesticide , herbicide , and fungicide . It is one of the most widely used pesticides in the United States, with approximately 60 million pounds used in 2001.[ 3]
Preparation and properties
Metam sodium is prepared by combining methylamine , carbon disulfide , and sodium hydroxide :[ 2]
CH3 NH2 + CS2 + NaOH → CH3 NHCS2 Na + H2 O
It also arises from the reaction of methyl isothiocyanate and sodium thiolate .[ 1]
Upon exposure to the environment, metam sodium decomposes to methyl isothiocyanate and other sulfur compounds.[ 4]
Safety and environmental considerations
Metam sodium is nonpersistent in the environment since it decomposes rather quickly to toxic methyl isothiocyanate and carbon disulfide .[ 4] In 1991 a tank car with 19,000 gallons of a metam sodium based pesticide spilled into Sacramento River above Lake Shasta . This killed all fish in a 41-mile stretch of the river. 20 years later the rainbow trout population had recovered.[ 5]
See also
References
External links