Product Name: Ethyl Acetate
Chemical Formula: C4H8O2
CAS Number: 141-78-6
EC Number: 205-500-4
Synonyms: Acetic Ether, Ethyl Ethanoate, Ethyl Ester of Acetic Acid
Recommended Use: Used as solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives, printing inks, pharmaceuticals, and food industry
Supplier: Identified by manufacturer or distributor marked on container label
Emergency Contact: Company-specific emergency phone line or CHEMTREC
Classification: Flammable Liquid (Category 2), Eye Irritation (Category 2A), Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Single Exposure (Category 3), Narcotic Effects
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapor, causes serious eye irritation, may cause drowsiness or dizziness
Pictograms: Flame, Exclamation Mark
Precautionary Statements: Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces, avoid breathing vapors, use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, wear eye protection
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact
Target Organs: Central nervous system, eyes, skin, respiratory system
Chemical Name: Ethyl Acetate
Concentration: 99% and above (for pure substance)
Impurities: Trace levels of water, acetic acid, ethanol
Other Additives: Not intentionally present
Molecular Weight: 88.11 g/mol
Inhalation: Move affected person to fresh air; support breathing with supplemental oxygen if needed; seek medical attention for continued symptoms like headache, dizziness, or nausea
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, rinse affected skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, use mild soap for thorough cleaning; consult a physician if irritation develops
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes, remove contact lenses if possible, continue rinsing, seek medical advice if irritation persists
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, do not induce vomiting, never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person, get immediate medical assistance
Symptoms: Headache, fatigue, drowsiness, eye redness, skin dryness, dizziness
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use alcohol-resistant foam, carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder; water spray can cool exposed containers
Unsuitable Media: Direct streams of water can spread fires
Specific Hazards: Forms explosive mixtures with air; vapors may travel to a distant ignition source and flash back; combustion produces carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, possibly irritating organic vapors
Special Protective Equipment: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full turnout gear
Firefighting Instructions: Contain run-off to prevent entry into water supply or drains; use caution regarding explosion risk in unventilated areas
Personal Precautions: Evacuate unnecessary personnel, ventilate affected spaces, eliminate all ignition sources, avoid inhaling vapors, use protective gloves and chemical splash goggles
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into soil, drains, waterways, and sewers
Containment: Confine spill to small area using inert absorbent such as sand or vermiculite
Cleanup: Collect spilled material in suitable containers for disposal, scrub contaminated surfaces with soapy water, ventilate area thoroughly before reuse
Disposal: Dispose of absorbed material in accordance with local, regional, and federal environmental standards
Handling: Employ engineering controls such as closed dispensing systems; ground and bond containers during transfer; use spark-proof tools and explosion-proof equipment; avoid skin and eye contact, inhalation of vapors; maintain good industrial hygiene practices
Storage: Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated location; segregate from oxidizers, acids, and strong bases; protect from direct sunlight and static discharge; keep containers clearly labeled
Special Requirements: Ensure emergency spill kits and eyewash stations are accessible in storage and work areas
Occupational Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 400 ppm (8 hour TWA), ACGIH TLV: 400 ppm TWA, 400 ppm STEL
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation to maintain airborne concentrations below permissible limits; enclose operations using significant quantities; monitor atmosphere for flammability where necessary
Respiratory Protection: Use NIOSH-approved respirators if exposure exceeds recommended limits or during spill response
Eye Protection: Chemical splash goggles or face shield
Skin Protection: Nitrile gloves or equivalent chemical-resistant gloves; impervious clothing and footwear
Hygienic Practices: Wash hands thoroughly after handling, remove contaminated clothing promptly, launder before reuse, do not eat or drink in handling areas
Appearance: Clear, colorless, volatile liquid
Odor: Sweet, fruity, characteristic
Odor Threshold: Approximately 5 parts per million
pH: Not applicable (neutral compound)
Melting Point: -83°C
Boiling Point: 77°C
Flash Point: -4°C (closed cup)
Evaporation Rate: 6.2 (butyl acetate = 1)
Flammability: High
Lower/Upper Flammable Limits: 2.1% to 11.5% by volume in air
Vapor Pressure: 73 mmHg at 20°C
Vapor Density: 3.04 (air = 1)
Relative Density: 0.897 g/cm³ at 20°C
Solubility: Moderately soluble in water (8.3 g / 100 mL at 20°C); miscible with many organic solvents
Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water): 0.73
Autoignition Temperature: 426°C
Decomposition Temperature: No significant decomposition under recommended storage
Viscosity: 0.426 mPa·s at 25°C
Explosive Properties: Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air under confined spaces.
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended handling and storage conditions
Possibility of Hazardous Reactions: May react vigorously with strong oxidizers; forms peroxides upon prolonged exposure to air
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, sparks, open flames, static discharge, exposure to moisture, long-term air contact
Incompatible Materials: Alkaline materials, strong acids, nitric acid, potassium tert-butoxide, hydroxylic compounds, oxidizers
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, acetic acid under fire conditions
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD50 (rat): 5,620 mg/kg; Dermal LD50 (rabbit): >20,000 mg/kg; Inhalation LC50 (mouse): 45,000 ppm (2 hours)
Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Mild skin irritant
Serious Eye Damage/Irritation: Causes serious eye irritation
Respiratory or Skin Sensitization: Not a known respiratory or skin sensitizer
Germ Cell Mutagenicity: Not classified as a mutagen
Carcinogenicity: No evidence of carcinogenicity in animal studies or classification by IARC, NTP, OSHA
Reproductive Toxicity: Not considered a reproductive hazard at occupational exposure levels
Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Single Exposure: May cause narcotic effects (drowsiness, dizziness)
Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Repeated Exposure: No significant effects reported in repeated exposure studies when industrial hygiene controls are in place
Aspiration Hazard: Not classified as an aspiration hazard
Possible Symptoms: Eye redness, tearing, chemosis, headache, central nervous system depression, mild skin defatting.
Ecotoxicity: LC50 (Fish, 96hr): 310 mg/L (fathead minnow); EC50 (Daphnia magna, 48hr): 1,650 mg/L
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable based on standardized testing; most released ethyl acetate will degrade in the environment primarily via hydrolysis and photolysis
Bioaccumulative Potential: Low expected potential; low partition coefficient (log Kow 0.73) and rapid metabolism in organisms
Mobility in Soil: High mobility, low sorption to most soils due to small molecular size and water solubility
Other Adverse Effects: Low persistence in the environment; large spills may create temporary oxygen depletion in surface waters due to degradation activity
Waste Treatment Methods: Collect and containerize waste in sealed, clearly labeled drums suitable for flammable solvents
Incineration: Permit-controlled incineration at authorized facility recommended for bulk liquid waste
Contaminated Packaging: Triple rinse containers before disposal; puncture and dispose of as hazardous waste
Special Precautions: Avoid release into waterways or sewers; comply with local, regional, or national hazardous waste requirements regarding transport and final disposition
Disposal Codes: Use applicable RCRA hazardous waste codes (such as D001 for ignitable waste)
UN Number: UN1173
UN Proper Shipping Name: Ethyl Acetate
Transport Hazard Class: 3 (Flammable liquids)
Packing Group: II (medium danger)
Labels Required: Flammable Liquid, Class 3
Environmental Hazards: Not classified as marine pollutant under IMDG
Special Precautions for User: Segregate from incompatible materials in transit; secure latches and closures to avoid leaks; provide Material Safety Data Sheet to carrier upon request
Transport Regulations: DOT (US), IMDG, ICAO/IATA, ADR recognized worldwide
OSHA: Classified as hazardous; subject to workplace chemical safety standards
EPA: Listed under Clean Air Act; subject to hazardous air pollutant reporting and release prevention
TSCA: Listed in Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory
SARA Title III: Section 311/312 (fire hazard, acute health hazard); Section 313 (not listed under toxic chemicals)
California Proposition 65: Not listed as known carcinogen or reproductive toxin
REACH Registration (EU): Compliant; substance registration number and dossier available to authorized users
Other Regional/Global Listings: Included in Canada DSL/NDSL, Australia AICS, Japan ENCS, China IECSC
Workplace Requirements: Safety training, hazard communication, and chemical inventory required by regulatory agencies
