Cuprous Chloride Granules CuCl · granular · CAS 7758-89-6
The grade that keeps. Same chemistry as the powder, far less exposed surface — so it oxidizes more slowly, dusts less, and survives the warehouse better.
Chelora Chemicals is a cuprous chloride granules supplier and sourcing partner serving catalyst, synthesis and metallurgical buyers across the United States, with airtight packaging and a batch COA on every consignment.
- CAS Number
- 7758-89-6
- Chemical name
- Copper(I) chloride
- Molecular formula
- CuCl
- Molecular weight
- 99.00 g/mol
- Copper as Cu (theoretical)
- 64.2%
- Physical form
- Granular
- Appearance
- White — green indicates oxidation
- Transport
- UN 3077 · Class 9 · PG III
- HS Code
- 2827 39
Note: white is the specification; green is the failure. Pure copper(I) chloride is a white solid. Impure or air-exposed material looks green, because the copper(I) has gone to copper(II) chloride — and in water it disproportionates outright, 2 CuCl → Cu + CuCl₂. So color on this product is not cosmetic: a green cast means part of your copper has changed oxidation state, and no total-copper assay will show it, because the copper is all still there.
Where cuprous chloride comes from and goes
Copper(I) sits between copper metal and copper(II) — an intermediate state that industry both makes deliberately and loses accidentally.
Why it matters: cuprous chloride’s single largest use is making copper oxychloride — aqueous CuCl is generated and then air-oxidized, the same oxidation you spend the rest of the time preventing
Why buy the granular grade
Cuprous chloride is a white solid, CuCl, carrying 64.2% copper — the densest copper source in this range. It is sparingly soluble in water, about 0.0047 g per 100 mL, but dissolves readily in concentrated hydrochloric acid, which is how it is usually taken into solution.
The granular grade exists because of a problem the powder has: copper(I) is an unstable oxidation state. Exposed to air the material oxidizes toward copper(II) and turns green, and in water it disproportionates outright into copper metal and copper(II) chloride. Oxidation runs at the surface, so granules — with far less surface per unit weight — degrade more slowly. They also dust less and pour more cleanly. If the material is going into storage rather than straight into a reactor, this is the grade.
When the granular grade is the right choice
- Stock held over time. Less exposed surface means slower oxidation and a longer usable life.
- Bulk handling and transfer. Granules pour and meter cleanly; powder dusts and bridges.
- Reduced operator dust exposure. A secondary but real benefit at the point of charging.
- The powder grade, where reaction speed matters more: cuprous chloride powder.
Handling character
Cuprous chloride is air-sensitive and a Class 9 dangerous good. Full detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White granules |
| Assay as CuCl | Per agreed specification |
| Copper as Cu | 64.2% theoretical |
| Copper(II) content | Per agreed specification — the real test |
| Granule size | Per agreed sieve specification |
| Insolubles in HCl | Per agreed specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | White solid; green if oxidized |
| Molecular weight | 99.00 g/mol |
| Copper as Cu, theoretical | 64.2% |
| Melting point | 423 °C |
| Boiling point | 1,490 °C |
| Water solubility | ≈ 0.0047 g per 100 mL at 20 °C |
| In concentrated HCl | Dissolves readily |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 7758-89-6 and rounded for readability. Both size grades share the same chemistry and assay; they differ in surface area, which governs both reaction rate and rate of oxidation. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where US industry uses cuprous chloride
Copper oxychloride manufacture, catalysis, CO recovery and stock-held applications.
Copper oxychloride manufacture
The single largest use. Aqueous cuprous chloride is generated and air-oxidized to copper oxychloride.
- Bulk supply available
- Consistent assay lot to lot
- See the downstream product
Catalysis & polymerization
A catalyst in atom transfer radical polymerization, in Grignard 1,4-additions and in the dimerization of acetylene to vinylacetylene.
- Low copper(II) specified
- Documented impurity profile
- Airtight packaging
Carbon monoxide separation
Its affinity for CO, with aluminum chloride, is used industrially to separate and recover carbon monoxide.
- Consistent surface activity
- Granular suits packed beds
- Technical desk review on request
Stock held over time
Granules oxidize more slowly than powder, which makes them the grade for buffer stock and infrequent draw-down.
- Longer usable life
- Airtight drums
- Retained sample held
Metallurgical & specialty uses
Used in metallurgical processing and as a blue-green colorant in pyrotechnic compositions.
- Sized to the process
- Low insolubles on request
- Small and bulk quantities
Import & compliance coordination
Industrial and catalytic uses take the ordinary import route; any pesticidal use does not.
- End use confirmed before quoting
- UN 3077 documentation prepared
- Broker coordination on request
Delivered to US plants and ports
We ship cuprous chloride granules to nominated delivery points across the United States. The regions below are destinations we serve — Chelora Chemicals is a sourcing and supply partner, not a US manufacturer, and does not hold US stock.
Gulf Coast
The largest US chemical cluster, and the usual entry point for bulk consignments.
- Houston & Galveston, TX
- New Orleans & Baton Rouge, LA
- Mobile, AL
Northeast
Container and bulk delivery into the mid-Atlantic and New England manufacturing belt.
- Newark & Elizabeth, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Boston, MA
Southeast
Port-side delivery for the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida processing plants.
- Savannah, GA
- Charleston, SC
- Jacksonville, FL & Norfolk, VA
Midwest & Great Lakes
Inland rail and truck forwarding from the nearest coastal port to the industrial Midwest.
- Chicago, IL
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland & Columbus, OH
West Coast
Pacific routing for West Coast processors and formulators.
- Los Angeles & Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle & Tacoma, WA
Southwest & Mountain
Inland delivery to interior states, forwarded from the Gulf or Pacific gateway.
- Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Denver, CO
Importing into the United States
Cuprous chloride granules is a TSCA-regulated chemical substance. Under TSCA section 13 the importer of record, or its authorized agent, must certify to US Customs and Border Protection that each shipment either complies with TSCA or is not subject to it. We confirm the substance's TSCA Inventory status and agree in writing who files that certification before the first consignment moves.
Which party carries that duty follows the Incoterm. On FOB, CFR or CIF terms it is usually the US buyer; on DDP terms it can be the seller or its agent. Safety data sheets and labels are supplied to OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard, and the UN 3077 Class 9 transport documentation is prepared before booking.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Delivery points | Any nominated US plant, terminal or port of discharge |
| Incoterms quoted | FOB · CFR · CIF · DDP |
| Importer of record | Agreed in writing before the first shipment |
| TSCA certification | Section 13 positive certification filed at entry |
| Documentation | Batch COA, SDS, packing list, certificate of origin |
| Pack formats | 25 kg airtight drums |
Note: regional coverage describes where we deliver, not where we hold inventory. Lead time depends on producer scheduling and ocean transit to your nominated US port — we confirm both in the quotation.
How we supply cuprous chloride granules
Chelora Chemicals is a cuprous chloride supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On this compound the specification that matters is not total copper — it is how much of the copper is still copper(I), and a total-copper assay cannot tell you.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your copper(II) limit and sizing, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm US import requirements before booking.
We will also tell you when the powder is the right grade. If the material goes straight into acid or a reactor, the extra surface area is working for you rather than against you.
- Copper(II) content specified, not just total copper. Oxidation is the failure mode here and it is invisible in a total-copper assay, because the copper is all still present.
- Color recorded at dispatch. White is in-spec; a green cast means copper(I) has already gone to copper(II).
- Airtight packaging as standard. Air exposure degrades this product, so the pack is part of the specification.
- Granule size agreed up front. It governs both dissolution rate and shelf life, and the two pull against each other.
- We will steer you to the powder where that is right. For immediate charging into acid or a reactor, surface area helps.
- UN 3077 documentation prepared before booking. Class 9 on aquatic toxicity grounds; the paperwork is not optional.
Drummed and airtight
25 kg airtight drums or sealed foil-lined bags — air exclusion matters more than anything else on this product.
25 kg airtight plastic drums
Sealed airtight drums, the default for an air-sensitive copper(I) compound.
25 kg foil-lined bags
Barrier-lined sealed bags where drum handling is not wanted.
500–1,000 kg bulk bags
Liner-fitted bulk bags for high-volume oxychloride and catalyst operations.
Small sealed units
Smaller sealed units for laboratory, pilot and reagent work.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with dangerous goods documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small sealed packs dispatched for reaction and dissolution trials before a commercial order.
A Class 9 dangerous good — and air-sensitive
Cuprous chloride is harmful by ingestion and irritating to skin and eyes, and it is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects — which is what makes it a Class 9 dangerous good. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H302Harmful if swallowed.H315Causes skin irritation.H319Causes serious eye irritation.H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
End use decides the import route. These copper compounds have industrial, catalytic, feed and in some cases pesticidal applications, and they do not all follow the same path into the United States. Where material is destined for a pesticidal use, the import is a pesticide import: it requires a Notice of Arrival, EPA Form 3540-1, filed with Customs, and any product sold or applied here must itself be EPA-registered under FIFRA, with that registration held by the registrant and never by a raw material supplier. For catalyst, electronics, metallurgical or other industrial use a different route applies, and feed use is a separate regulatory question again. Tell us the end use before we quote.
Storage
Store in sealed, airtight, moisture-barrier packaging in a cool, dry place, away from oxidizers and strong acids. Air is the enemy here: copper(I) oxidizes to copper(II) and the material greens. Keep packs closed, use opened packs promptly, and do not decant into open containers for storage. Bunded or contained storage is advised because of the aquatic hazard.
Handling
Handle with dust control, gloves and eye protection; the material is harmful if swallowed and irritates skin and eyes. Minimize the time packs are open — air exposure degrades the product as well as exposing the operator. Prevent any release to drains, watercourses or soil. Follow the controls in the batch SDS.
Transport
This material is classified as dangerous goods for transport on the basis of aquatic toxicity, normally shipped as UN 3077, Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s., Class 9, Packing Group III. Marked and labeled packaging, a dangerous goods declaration and compliant documentation are required. We confirm and document the classification for your specific grade, packaging and destination before booking.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Copper assay, hydration or oxidation state, particle size, impurity limits and end use confirmed before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS, import position and UN 3077 paperwork checked by our desk before booking.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
The unstable oxidation state
Copper(I) chloride is made by reducing a copper(II) source, and the whole commercial story of the compound is that copper(I) does not want to stay copper(I). Pure CuCl is white. Air oxidizes it toward copper(II) chloride and it greens. Put it in water and it disproportionates outright — 2 CuCl → Cu + CuCl₂ — giving copper metal and copper(II) chloride.
That instability is also, paradoxically, its largest industrial use. The single biggest outlet for cuprous chloride is making copper oxychloride: aqueous CuCl is generated and then deliberately air-oxidized. The same reaction you spend the storage life preventing is the one the downstream plant is paying for.
Because oxidation happens at the surface, physical form decides shelf life. A granule presents far less surface per unit weight than a powder, so it degrades more slowly — which is why the two grades exist and why they are not interchangeable once storage time enters the picture.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Copper(I) chloride |
|---|---|
| Copper content | 64.2% — densest in this range |
| In-spec color | White; green means oxidized |
| Failure mode | Oxidation to Cu(II); disproportionation in water |
| Why granular | Less surface, so slower oxidation |
| Largest use | Copper oxychloride manufacture |
The copper chloride range and related compounds
The other copper chlorides and salts supplied from the same desk.
Cuprous chloride granules, answered
Why is cuprous chloride white, and why does mine look green?
What is the difference between granules and powder?
Which grade should I buy?
How should it be stored?
How soluble is it?
What is it used for?
What should I specify besides total copper?
Is it hazardous?
Do you supply cuprous chloride granules in the United States?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on cuprous chloride granules
Send us your copper(II) limit, granule size band, pack size and US delivery point — and tell us whether the material goes into stock or straight into a reactor, because that decides which grade you want.