Chemical Name: Methyl Chloroacetate
Other Names: Chloroacetic acid methyl ester
CAS Number: 96-34-4
Recommended Use: Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and production of pesticides.
Supplier Contact: Refer to the product label for manufacturer details, emergency telephone numbers, and local regulatory contacts.
GHS Classification: Acute Toxicity Oral (Category 3), Acute Toxicity Dermal (Category 3), Acute Toxicity Inhalation (Category 3), Skin Corrosion/Irritation (Category 1B), Serious Eye Damage (Category 1).
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin, or if inhaled. Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Pictograms: Skull and crossbones, corrosive.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid all contact with skin, eyes, and clothing. Do not breathe vapors, mist, or spray. Use only outdoors or in well-ventilated areas. Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling.
Symptoms of Exposure: May cause coughing, shortness of breath, severe irritation, chemical burns, blurred vision, or nausea.
Substance: Pure Methyl Chloroacetate
Chemical Formula: C3H5ClO2
Molecular Weight: 108.52 g/mol
Impurities: Usually contains less than 1% other related esters or solvents, which do not significantly impact safety classification.
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air. Keep comfortable for breathing. Get immediate medical attention if symptoms or breathing difficulties occur.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing quickly. Rinse skin with plenty of soap and water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical help right away.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting eyelids occasionally. Do not rub the eye. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. Get emergency medical care.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water. Do not induce vomiting. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Call poison control or a physician immediately.
Most Important Symptoms: Burning sensation, redness, pain, blurred vision, or chemical burns.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide (CO2), or foam. Water spray can cool exposed containers.
Specific Hazards: Forms highly toxic and corrosive gases including hydrochloric acid and phosgene if burned. Vapors heavier than air can travel to ignition source.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective gear. Prevent runoff from fire control or dilution from entering streams or sewers.
Advice for Firefighters: Approach fire from upwind. Evacuate area if safe firefighting is not possible.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate unprotected personnel. Wear chemically resistant gloves, protective clothing, goggles, and face protection. Use appropriate respiratory protection.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent liquid from entering drains, sewers, water courses, or soil. Contain any spills with sand or earth.
Cleanup Procedures: Absorb with an inert dry material, such as vermiculite. Place in a chemical waste container for disposal as hazardous waste. Ventilate area. Wash spill site thoroughly after cleanup.
Emergency Procedures: Call local emergency or hazardous materials response team for help if large spills occur.
Handling: Keep containers tightly sealed. Handle in a chemical fume hood. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, clothing, and do not inhale vapors. Do not eat, drink, or smoke in handling area.
Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location away from heat, sparks, sunlight, and incompatible substances like strong bases and oxidizing agents. Keep in tightly closed containers.
Incompatibilities: Avoid storing with alkalis, amines, or reducing agents which can produce toxic gases or run hazardous reactions.
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation or work within a chemical fume hood. Ensure eyewash stations and emergency showers are close to work station.
Respiratory Protection: Use NIOSH-approved respirator with organic vapor cartridges or supplied-air respirator in areas with high vapor concentrations.
Hand Protection: Chemical-resistant gloves such as nitrile or butyl rubber.
Eye Protection: Chemical safety goggles and full-face shield.
Skin and Body Protection: Impervious clothing and closed shoes required. Remove contaminated clothing and wash skin after use.
Occupational Exposure Limits: No published ACGIH TLV or OSHA PEL. Minimize exposure as much as possible using best industrial hygiene practices.
Appearance: Colorless liquid
Odor: Pungent, fruity, suffocating odor
Boiling Point: 129°C (264°F)
Melting Point: -42°C (-43.6°F)
Flash Point: 49°C (120°F) (closed cup)
Auto-ignition Temperature: 495°C (923°F)
Explosive Limits: Lower 1.1%, Upper not determined
Vapor Pressure: 13 mmHg at 25°C
Solubility: Moderate in water; miscible with most organic solvents
Relative Density: 1.24 g/cm³ at 20°C
Viscosity: Low
Partition Coefficient (log Kow): 0.89
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Reactivity: Reacts violently or exothermically with strong bases, amines, and oxidizing agents.
Hazardous Reactions: Forms methyl alcohol and chloroacetic acid if hydrolyzed.
Decomposition Products: Hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and phosgene may be released during thermal decomposition.
Conditions to Avoid: Excess heat, sunlight, strong acids and alkalis.
Likely Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion.
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD50 (Rat): 62 mg/kg; Dermal LD50 (Rabbit): 126 mg/kg; Inhalation LC50: 126 ppm (4hr, rat).
Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Strongly corrosive, causes severe burns on contact.
Serious Eye Damage: Causes blindness and permanent damage.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause dermatitis or liver and kidney damage.
Mutagenicity, Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic by IARC or NTP; limited studies available.
Sensitization: Not known to cause allergic reactions, but extreme caution required due to corrosiveness.
Other Information: Methyl chloroacetate vapors can cause respiratory distress rapidly after exposure.
Ecotoxicity: Highly toxic to aquatic life. 96 hr LC50 (fish): 10 mg/L.
Persistence and Degradability: Not readily biodegradable in soil or water; may persist and pose long-term environmental risk.
Bioaccumulation Potential: Log Kow indicates potential for moderate bioaccumulation.
Mobility in Soil: Moves easily through soil and groundwater due to low adsorption.
Other Adverse Effects: Contaminates water sources. Avoid release to environment. Hazardous to most aquatic organisms even at low concentrations.
Waste Disposal: Treat as hazardous waste. Incinerate in approved facility. Do not discharge to sewer systems.
Container Disposal: Triple rinse containers, puncture, and dispose of according to federal, state, and local regulations.
Precautions: Wear proper personal protective equipment during disposal. Label containers properly before transport.
Sewage Disposal: Never allow product or wash water to enter drains.
UN Number: UN 2651
Proper Shipping Name: Methyl chloroacetate
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substances)
Packing Group: I (highest hazard)
Labels: Toxic, corrosive
Environmental Hazards: Marine pollutant
Special Precautions: Emergency response guide no. 157. Ensure spill containment materials and protective equipment are available during transport.
US Regulations: Listed on TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act). Subject to reporting under CERCLA and SARA Title III.
EU Regulations: Classified under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP). REACH registered.
Other International Regulations: Australia (AICS), Canada (DSL), Japan (ENCS), Korea (KECI), Philippines (PICCS) - all listed.
Workplace Safety: Comply with OSHA, local health, and fire code standards concerning toxic and corrosive material handling.
