Chemical Name: Acetonitrile
Synonyms: Methyl cyanide, Ethanenitrile
CAS Number: 75-05-8
Recommended Use: Laboratory reagent, industrial solvent, manufacturing pharmaceuticals
Supplier: Check labeling on supplier’s container for emergency contact, address, telephone
Emergency Contact: Provided by local supplier/distributor hotline and national poison control
Classification: Flammable liquid (Category 2), Acute toxicity (Category 4, oral, dermal, inhalation), Serious eye irritation (Category 2A), Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure (Category 3, narcosis)
Hazard Statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapor, harmful if swallowed, toxic if inhaled, causes serious eye irritation, may cause respiratory symptoms, prolonged exposure may affect central nervous system
Pictograms: Flame, Exclamation Mark, Health Hazard
Signal Word: Danger
Precautionary Statements: Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames, and hot surfaces; avoid breathing vapors; wear protective equipment
Substance: Acetonitrile
CAS Number: 75-05-8
Concentration: Typically 99-100% for analytical or reagent grade; trace impurities depend on production batch
Impurities: Usually contains minimal water (below 0.05%), other nitriles or residual manufacturing-related impurities extremely rare in pure forms used in laboratories and industry
Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, remove contact lenses if applicable, get medical attention
Skin Contact: Wash thoroughly with soap and water, remove contaminated clothing, seek medical advice if irritation or symptoms occur
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air, keep at rest in position comfortable for breathing, administer oxygen if breathing becomes difficult, get immediate medical assistance
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water, do not induce vomiting, never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person, seek urgent medical help
Most Important Symptoms and Effects: Headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, rapid breathing; severe cases may cause convulsions or death due to respiratory failure
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide
Unsuitable Media: Water jets may spread the fire and should not be used on pools of liquid
Fire Hazards: Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air, flash back possible over considerable distance, containers may explode under fire conditions
Protective Equipment: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective gear during firefighting
Decomposition Products: Burning can release toxic gases, including hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides
Personal Protective Equipment: Respiratory protection, chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, chemical-resistant clothing
Precautions: Remove all ignition sources, evacuate unnecessary personnel, provide adequate ventilation
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into soil, sewers, waterways; notify local authorities if significant spill occurs
Cleanup Methods: Absorb with inert material (sand, earth, vermiculite), place in an approved container for disposal, wash area with plenty of water, ventilate area
Handling: Use spark-proof tools and explosion-proof equipment, ground containers and transfer equipment, avoid breathing vapor or mist, practice good industrial hygiene
Storage: Keep tightly closed in cool, well-ventilated area, store away from heat, open flames, oxidizing agents, and strong acids; keep container upright and secure
Special Precautions: Use only with proper personal protection, avoid all direct contact, ensure emergency showers and eyewash stations nearby
Occupational Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 40 ppm (70 mg/m3); ACGIH TLV: 20 ppm (34 mg/m3), short-term exposure up to 60 ppm in specific cases
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation, process enclosure, or other engineering controls to keep airborne levels below recommended exposure limits
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene), tight-fitting goggles or full-face shield, laboratory coat or chemical-resistant apron, approved respirator when vapor concentrations are high
Work Practices: Wash thoroughly after handling, do not eat or drink around material, launder clothing before reuse
Appearance: Colorless liquid
Odor: Sweet, ether-like
Odor Threshold: 170 ppm (distinct detection level)
pH: Not applicable (neutral organic liquid)
Melting Point: −45°C
Boiling Point: 81.6°C
Flash Point: 6°C (43°F, closed cup)
Evaporation Rate: 2.84 (relative to n-butyl acetate = 1)
Flammability: Highly flammable liquid and vapor
Explosion Limits: Lower: 4.4%, Upper: 16% (in air)
Vapor Pressure: 97 hPa at 20°C
Vapor Density: 1.42 (air = 1)
Specific Gravity: 0.786 (water = 1)
Solubility: Fully miscible in water and most organic solvents
Partition Coefficient: log Kow = -0.34
Auto-Ignition Temperature: 524°C
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions, sensitive to light and heat over time
Reactivity: Violently reactive with strong acids, bases, oxidizing agents, bromine, strong reducing agents, alkali metals
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hydrogen cyanide, oxides of nitrogen and carbon under high temperatures or combustion
Polymerization: Product does not polymerize under normal conditions
Incompatible Materials: Acid chlorides, strong alkalis, strong acids, oxidizers, copper, copper alloys, mercury, fluorine
Acute Toxicity: LD50 (oral, rat): 246 mg/kg; LD50 (dermal, rabbit): ~ 1250 mg/kg; LC50 (inhalation, rat): 7551 ppm (4 hours)
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact
Symptoms: Headache, dizziness, rapid pulse, confusion, vomiting, abdominal pain, respiratory distress; severe poisoning may cause convulsions, loss of consciousness, possible death
Chronic Exposure: Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause central nervous system effects, liver and kidney damage
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic by OSHA, NTP, IARC
Other Risks: May cause reproductive toxicity in animal studies, not validated for humans
Sensitization: Not expected to sensitize skin or respiratory system
Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic life (LC50 (96h, fish): 160 mg/L), may cause long-lasting effects in water environments
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable by microorganisms in aquatic environments, but high concentrations can inhibit activity
Bioaccumulation: Low potential, log Kow below zero predicts minimal bioaccumulation
Mobility: High mobility in soil and water; spills can contaminate groundwater due to rapid percolation
Other Effects: Large releases may cause oxygen depletion in water bodies, indirectly harming aquatic organisms
Waste Disposal Methods: Treat as hazardous chemical waste, containerize all liquids and contaminated absorbents, dispose through licensed chemical waste contractor
Containers: Completely empty, rinse with water, dispose in accordance with local, regional, national regulations; never reuse empty containers for other chemicals
Special Precautions: Do not dispose to drains, watercourses, or open environments; incineration preferred for large quantities under controlled conditions
UN Number: UN1648
Proper Shipping Name: Acetonitrile
Transport Hazard Class: 3 (Flammable liquid)
Packing Group: II
Labels Needed: Flammable Liquid label required (Class 3); keep away from sources of ignition during transport
Regulatory Status: Subject to international transport regulations (IMDG, IATA, ADR)
Occupational Safety Standards: OSHA hazardous chemical, subject to workplace safety plans and hazard communication
Environmental Regulations: Covered under CERCLA and EPCRA reportable quantities; subject to SARA Title III emergency reporting
Inventory Status: Listed on US TSCA, EU EINECS, Canadian DSL, and other major regulatory inventories
Additional Restrictions: Some jurisdictions restrict or require permits for possession, transport, or disposal above threshold quantities
Labelling: GHS label information, hazard pictograms, and safety precautions required on all containers
