This gas is a severe irritant. Inhalation may result in death with exposures of 500 ppm for 30 minutes. This gas is a strong oxidizer and will support combustion of most flammable materials. Chlorine is extremely reactive and reacts violently with hydrogen, hydrocarbons in the presence of light, ammonia, reactive metals and metal hydrides, including silane, phosphine and diborane. This is a highly toxic gas.
Inhalation can cause fatal respiratory damage.
Exposure of 270 ppm is immediately fatal. Exposure of 180 ppm is fatal at 10 minutes. Exposure of 135 ppm is fatal after 30 minutes. In addition, this gas is flammable and must be protected from ignition sources. Plan carefully when setting up an experiment which involves gaseous materials and gas cylinders.