Chemical Datasheet
METHYL FORMATE |
|
|||||||||
Chemical Identifiers
)
UN/NA Number - The United Nations-North America number (also called UN number or DOT number). 4-digit number identifying an individual chemical or group of chemicals with similar characteristics. Required on shipping papers; often shown on placards or labels. This numbering system was developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and then became the UN standard system for classifying hazardous materials.
CAS Number - Chemical Abstracts Service registry number. Unique identification number assigned to this chemical by the American Chemical Society.
CHRIS Code - 3-letter code used by the U.S. Coast Guard to identify individual chemicals included in its CHRIS (Chemical Hazards Response Information System) manual.
DOT Hazard Label - U.S. Department of Transportation hazard warning label for the chemical (such as flammable liquid or corrosive). This label must be displayed on shipped packages, railroad tank cars, and tank trucks according to specifications described in 49 CFR 172.
NFPA 704 - Text description of the diamond-shaped placard, which contains codes indicating the level of the chemical's health, flammability, and reactivity hazards, along with special hazards such as water- and air-reactivity. (The NFPA 704 diamond is also shown at the top of the datasheet.) See a guide to the NFPA diamond.
General Description - Brief description of the chemical's general appearance, behavior, and hazardousness.
List of data sources.
CAS Number - Chemical Abstracts Service registry number. Unique identification number assigned to this chemical by the American Chemical Society.
CHRIS Code - 3-letter code used by the U.S. Coast Guard to identify individual chemicals included in its CHRIS (Chemical Hazards Response Information System) manual.
DOT Hazard Label - U.S. Department of Transportation hazard warning label for the chemical (such as flammable liquid or corrosive). This label must be displayed on shipped packages, railroad tank cars, and tank trucks according to specifications described in 49 CFR 172.
NFPA 704 - Text description of the diamond-shaped placard, which contains codes indicating the level of the chemical's health, flammability, and reactivity hazards, along with special hazards such as water- and air-reactivity. (The NFPA 704 diamond is also shown at the top of the datasheet.) See a guide to the NFPA diamond.
General Description - Brief description of the chemical's general appearance, behavior, and hazardousness.
List of data sources.
| UN/NA Number | CAS Number | CHRIS Code | DOT Hazard Label |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| NFPA 704: |
|
General Description
A clear colorless liquid with an agreeable odor. Flash point -27°F. Less dense than water Vapors heavier than air.
Hazards
)
Reactivity Alerts - Special alerts if the chemical is especially reactive
(see list of reactivity alerts).
Air & Water Reactions - Special alerts if the chemical reacts with air, water, or moisture.
Fire Hazard - Description of the chemical's fire hazards (such as flammability, explosion risk, or byproducts that may evolve if the chemical is burned).
Health Hazard - Description of the chemical's health hazards (such as toxicity, flammability, or corrosivity).
Reactivity Profile - Description of the chemical's potential reactivity with other chemicals, air, and water. Also includes any other intrinsic reactive hazards (such as polymerizable or peroxidizable).
Reactive Groups - List of reactive groups that the chemical is assigned to, based on its known chemistry. Reactive groups are categories of chemicals that react in similar ways because their chemical structures are similar. Reactive groups are used to predict reactivity when you add a chemical to MyChemicals. Read more about reactive groups.
List of data sources.
Air & Water Reactions - Special alerts if the chemical reacts with air, water, or moisture.
Fire Hazard - Description of the chemical's fire hazards (such as flammability, explosion risk, or byproducts that may evolve if the chemical is burned).
Health Hazard - Description of the chemical's health hazards (such as toxicity, flammability, or corrosivity).
Reactivity Profile - Description of the chemical's potential reactivity with other chemicals, air, and water. Also includes any other intrinsic reactive hazards (such as polymerizable or peroxidizable).
Reactive Groups - List of reactive groups that the chemical is assigned to, based on its known chemistry. Reactive groups are categories of chemicals that react in similar ways because their chemical structures are similar. Reactive groups are used to predict reactivity when you add a chemical to MyChemicals. Read more about reactive groups.
List of data sources.
Reactivity Alerts
- Highly Flammable
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Water soluble. Reacts slowly with water to give formic acid, a corrosive material, and methanol, a flammable liquid. Both products are dissolved in the water.
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Vapor is heavier than air and may travel considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
Inhalation causes irritation of mucous membranes. Prolonged inhalation can produce narcosis and central nervous symptoms, including some temporary visual disturbance. Contact with liquid irritates eyes and may irritate skin if allowed to remain. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach and central nervous system depression, including visual disturbances. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
METHYL FORMATE reacts with acids to liberate heat along with alcohols and acids. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Heat is also generated with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing with alkali metals and hydrides.
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Response Recommendations
)
Firefighting - Response recommendations if the chemical is on fire (or near a fire).
Non-Fire Response - Response recommendations if the chemical isn't on fire (or near a fire).
Protective Clothing - Recommendations for protective gear and, in some cases, a table of breakthrough times for protective materials.
First Aid - Recommended first aid treatment for people exposed to the chemical.
List of data sources.
Non-Fire Response - Response recommendations if the chemical isn't on fire (or near a fire).
Protective Clothing - Recommendations for protective gear and, in some cases, a table of breakthrough times for protective materials.
First Aid - Recommended first aid treatment for people exposed to the chemical.
List of data sources.
Firefighting
Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped. Use "alcohol" foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Do not use water on material itself. (AAR, 2003)
Non-Fire Response
Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. Keep material out of water sources and sewers. Build dikes to contain flow as necessary. Attempt to stop leak if without undue personnel hazard. Use water spray to knock-down vapors. (AAR, 2003)
Protective Clothing
Skin: Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact.
Eyes: Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact.
Wash skin: The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.
Remove: Work clothing that becomes wet should be immediately removed due to its flammability hazard(i.e. for liquids with flash point < 100°F)
Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the work shift. (NIOSH, 2003)
Eyes: Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact.
Wash skin: The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.
Remove: Work clothing that becomes wet should be immediately removed due to its flammability hazard(i.e. for liquids with flash point < 100°F)
Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the work shift. (NIOSH, 2003)
_____Dupont Average Standardized Breakthrough Times_____
(for METHYL FORMATE)
Tychem® Reflector®
greater than 480 min. (concentration: 99%) (DuPont, 2008)
Copyrighted information of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Tychem® is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
First Aid
EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.
SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. If symptoms such as redness or irritation develop, IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital for treatment.
INHALATION: IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. If symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop, call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) should be used; if not available, use a level of protection greater than or equal to that advised under Protective Clothing.
INGESTION: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Volatile chemicals have a high risk of being aspirated into the victim's lungs during vomiting which increases the medical problems. If the victim is conscious and not convulsing, give 1 or 2 glasses of water to dilute the chemical and IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. If the victim is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, ensure that the victim's airway is open and lay the victim on his/her side with the head lower than the body. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. (NTP, 1992)
SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. If symptoms such as redness or irritation develop, IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital for treatment.
INHALATION: IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. If symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop, call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) should be used; if not available, use a level of protection greater than or equal to that advised under Protective Clothing.
INGESTION: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Volatile chemicals have a high risk of being aspirated into the victim's lungs during vomiting which increases the medical problems. If the victim is conscious and not convulsing, give 1 or 2 glasses of water to dilute the chemical and IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. If the victim is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, ensure that the victim's airway is open and lay the victim on his/her side with the head lower than the body. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. (NTP, 1992)
Physical Properties
)
This section contains physical properties, flammability limits, and toxic thresholds for this chemical (see
definitions of each property).
More property data is available for common chemicals.
See also the Levels of Concern guide for information on AEGLs, ERPGs, PACs, and IDLH values.
List of data sources.
See also the Levels of Concern guide for information on AEGLs, ERPGs, PACs, and IDLH values.
List of data sources.
| Molecular Formula: |
|
Flash Point:
-26 ° F
(NTP, 1992)
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL):
5 %
(NTP, 1992)
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL):
23 %
(NTP, 1992)
Autoignition Temperature:
853 ° F
(USCG, 1999)
Melting Point:
-147.6 ° F
(NTP, 1992)
Vapor Pressure:
400 mm Hg
at 61.0 ° F
; 476 mm Hg at 68° F
(NTP, 1992)
Vapor Density:
2.07
(NTP, 1992)
Specific Gravity:
0.977
at 68.0 ° F
(USCG, 1999)
Boiling Point:
88.7 ° F
at 760 mm Hg
(NTP, 1992)
Molecular Weight:
60.05
(NTP, 1992)
Water Solubility:
greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL
at 72° F
(NTP, 1992)
IDLH:
4500 ppm
(NIOSH, 2003)
AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)
No AEGL information available.ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)
No ERPG information available.PACs (Protective Action Criteria)
| Chemical | PAC-1 | PAC-2 | PAC-3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methyl formate; (Formic acid, methyl ester) (107-31-3) | 150 ppm | 750 ppm | 4500 ppm  |
LEL = 45000 ppm |
indicates value is 10-49% of LEL.(SCAPA, 2010)
Regulatory Information
)
Regulatory Names - Names under which this chemical is regulated under several U.S. federal laws: CAA (Clean Air Act of 1990), CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, also known as Superfund), EPCRA (Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, also known as SARA Title III), and RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976).
CAA RMP - Indicates whether this chemical is regulated under Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act, which lists about 100 toxic, flammable, or explosive hazardous substances. (Section 112(r) mandates the Risk Management Plan regulations.) For listed chemicals, the Threshold Quantity (from 40 CFR 68) is also shown. Facilities that use more than the threshold quantity of a listed chemical in a process are subject to the CAA accidental release prevention provisions.
CERCLA - Indicates whether this chemical is listed as a hazardous substance under CERCLA. For listed chemicals, the Reportable Quantity (from 40 CFR 302) is also shown. Facilities that spill more than the reportable quantity of a listed chemical must report it to federal, state, and local governments.
EHS (EPCRA 302) - Indicates whether this chemical is listed as an Extremely Hazardous Substance under Section 302 of EPCRA. For listed chemicals, the Threshold Planning Quantity (from 40 CFR 355) is also shown. Facilities that store more than the threshold quantity of an EHS chemical must meet the reporting, community right-to-know, and emergency planning requirements of EPCRA.
TRI (EPCRA 313) - Indicates whether this chemical is listed as a toxic chemical under Section 313 (Toxics Release Inventory) of EPCRA. Facilities that manufacture, store, or use significant amounts of Section 313 chemicals may be required to submit annual reports about any releases into the environment (see 40 CFR 372).
RCRA Chemical Code - 4-character identification code assigned to this substance under RCRA.
List of data sources.
CAA RMP - Indicates whether this chemical is regulated under Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act, which lists about 100 toxic, flammable, or explosive hazardous substances. (Section 112(r) mandates the Risk Management Plan regulations.) For listed chemicals, the Threshold Quantity (from 40 CFR 68) is also shown. Facilities that use more than the threshold quantity of a listed chemical in a process are subject to the CAA accidental release prevention provisions.
CERCLA - Indicates whether this chemical is listed as a hazardous substance under CERCLA. For listed chemicals, the Reportable Quantity (from 40 CFR 302) is also shown. Facilities that spill more than the reportable quantity of a listed chemical must report it to federal, state, and local governments.
EHS (EPCRA 302) - Indicates whether this chemical is listed as an Extremely Hazardous Substance under Section 302 of EPCRA. For listed chemicals, the Threshold Planning Quantity (from 40 CFR 355) is also shown. Facilities that store more than the threshold quantity of an EHS chemical must meet the reporting, community right-to-know, and emergency planning requirements of EPCRA.
TRI (EPCRA 313) - Indicates whether this chemical is listed as a toxic chemical under Section 313 (Toxics Release Inventory) of EPCRA. Facilities that manufacture, store, or use significant amounts of Section 313 chemicals may be required to submit annual reports about any releases into the environment (see 40 CFR 372).
RCRA Chemical Code - 4-character identification code assigned to this substance under RCRA.
List of data sources.
| Regulatory Names: |
|
CAA RMP:
Regulated chemical with a Threshold Quantity of 10000 pounds.
CERCLA:
Not a regulated chemical.
EHS (EPCRA 302):
Not a regulated chemical.
TRI (EPCRA 313):
Not a regulated chemical.
RCRA Chemical Code:
none
Alternate Chemical Names
)
This section provides a listing of alternate names for this chemical, including trade names, synonyms, and foreign names.
- FORMIATE DE MÉTHYLE (DOT FRENCH)
- FORMIATO DE METILO (DOT SPANISH)
- FORMIC ACID, METHYL ESTER
- METHANOIC ACID METHYL ESTER
- METHYL ESTER OF FORMIC ACID
- METHYL METHANOATE
- R 611
- UN 1243
Web site owner: Office of Response and Restoration, NOAA's Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. USA.gov.
CAMEO Chemicals version 2.1 revision 1.