Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene (TCE, IUPAC name: trichloroethene) is an organochloride with the formula C2HCl3, commonly used as an industrial degreaser. It is a clear, colourless, non-flammable, volatile liquid with a sweet chloroform-like pleasant mild smell and burning sweet taste. Trichloroethylene has been sold under a variety of trade names for various purposes. Under the trade names Trimar and Trilene, it was used as a volatile anesthetic and as an inhaled obstetrical analgesic in millions of patients. Industrial abbreviations include trichlor, Trike, Tricky and tri. Trichloroethylene is heavier than water and insoluble in water, therefore it sinks under water when spilt which causes it to migrate downward through soil and aquifers. It settles at the bottom of aquifers and forms persistent subsurface contamination that is difficult to detect and remediate.