Carbon tetrachloride, also called tetrachloromethane, a colourless, dense, highly toxic, volatile, nonflammable liquid possessing a characteristic odour and belonging to the family of organic halogen compounds, used principally in the manufacture of dichlorodifluoromethane. Carbon tetrachloride is commonly used as a chemical intermediate, solvent, and dry-cleaning fluid. It was widely used as a cleaning fluid. Carbon tetrachloride was also used in fire extinguishers and as a fumigant to kill insects in grain. Human exposure to carbon tetrachloride from occupational or environmental sources is low and unlikely to produce acute kidney toxicity. Carbon tetrachloride is a manufactured chemical and does not occur naturally in the environment.