Perchloroethylene is a non-flammable but volatile solvent. Even a small amount of 1 ppm in the air can be detected by humans.

Perchloroethylene is produced from tetrachloroethylene, and is a non-flammable yet volatile solvent. It has a sharp odor that can be detected by humans even in a concentration of 1 ppm in the air due to the release of dichloroethylene. These two chemicals are then separated from each other using distillation technique. Like other chlorinated solvents, perchloroethylene also has a depressant effect on the nervous system. Contact with its vapor can cause dizziness, headache, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness. Continuous contact with human skin can cause serious skin problems as it completely removes the oil from the skin. It has limited solubility in water but can mix completely with solvents such as ethanol, acetone, and chloroform.

Areas of use: Perchloroethylene is used as a solvent in many applications. Many organic substances dissolve in perchloroethylene. It is the most commonly used solvent in dry cleaning. Additionally, it is used to remove oils from metal surfaces in the automotive and other metal-related industries. It is also used as a component in consumer products such as degreasers and stain removers. Another area of use is in the production of refrigerants such as HCFCs.