Dieldrin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dieldrin |
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| IUPAC name | (1aR,2R,2aS,3S,6R,6aR,7S,7aS)-3,4,5,6,9,9-hexachloro-1a,2,2a,3,6,6a,7,7a-octahydro-2,7:3,6-dimethanonaphtho[2,3-b]oxirene |
| Other names | Dieldrin |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| KEGG | C13718 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:34696 |
| SMILES | ClC5(Cl)[C@]3(Cl)C(\Cl)=C(\Cl)[C@@]5(Cl)[C@H]4[C@H]1C[C@H]([C@@H]2O[C@H]12)[C@@H]34 |
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InChI
InChI=1/C12H8Cl6O/c13-8-9(14)11(16)5-3-1-2(6-7(3)19-6)4(5)10(8,15)12(11,17)18/h2-7H,1H2/t2-,3+,4+,5-,6-,7+,10+,11-
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | |
| Molar mass | 0 g mol-1 |
| Density | 1.75 g/cm³ |
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| Hazards | |
| MSDS | External MSDS |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) | |
Dieldrin is a man-made chemical that was first created in 1948. It was used as a powerful insecticide, which means it was designed to kill insects. Dieldrin is very similar to another chemical called aldrin.
Aldrin itself is not harmful to insects. But when an insect takes in aldrin, its body changes it into dieldrin. This changed form, dieldrin, is the active chemical that harms the insects. Both dieldrin and aldrin get their names from a special chemical process called the Diels–Alder reaction.
Dieldrin was created as a replacement for DDT, another well-known insecticide. It worked very well and was used a lot from the 1950s to the early 1970s. Another chemical, endrin, is a different version of dieldrin.
Why Dieldrin Was Banned
Dieldrin is a type of chemical called a persistent organic pollutant. This means it does not break down easily in nature. It can stay in the environment for a very long time.
How it Affects Animals
Because it lasts so long, dieldrin can build up in living things. It tends to biomagnify, which means it becomes more concentrated as it moves up the food chain. For example, small insects might eat plants with dieldrin. Then, birds eat many of those insects, and the dieldrin builds up in the birds.
Harmful Effects
Over time, being exposed to dieldrin can be harmful to many animals, including people. Because of these dangers, dieldrin is now banned in most countries around the world.
Dieldrin is also listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. This is an international agreement to ban or limit the use of certain harmful chemicals.
Images for kids
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The chemical structure of Dieldrin
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How Dieldrin is made in a lab
See also
In Spanish: Dieldrina para niños
