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Chemical Datasheet

MESITYL OXIDE

3 - Flammable liquid

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 141-79-7   (MESITYL OXIDE)
  • 1229
  • Flammable Liquid
  • MSO
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Mesityl oxide
  • MESITYL OXIDE
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
3
3 1
Blue Health 3 Can cause serious or permanent injury.
Red Flammability 3 Can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions.
Yellow Instability 1 Normally stable but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures.
White Special
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
A colorless, oily liquid with a pungent honey-like odor. Flash point 87°F. Less dense than water and slightly soluble in water. Vapors heavier than air. Used in paint removers, as a solvent for plastics, and as an insect repellent.

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Slightly soluble in water
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
Inhalation causes irritation of nose and throat, headache, dizziness, difficult breathing. Contact with liquid or concentrated vapor causes severe eye irritation. Liquid irritates skin. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
Mixing MESITYL OXIDE in equal molar proportions with any of the following substances in a closed container caused the temperature and pressure to increase: 2-aminoethanol, chlorosulfonic acid, ethylene diamine, nitric acid, oleum, or sulfuric acid [NFPA 1991].
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

Use caution: Liquids with this reactive group classification have been known to react with the absorbent listed below.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from 129 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible / Noxious)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area for at least 50 meters (150 feet) in all directions.

LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 300 meters (1000 feet).

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)
Firefighting
Excerpt from 129 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible / Noxious)]:

CAUTION: The majority of these products have a very low flash point. Use of water spray when fighting fire may be inefficient.

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or alcohol-resistant foam. Do not use dry chemical extinguishers to control fires involving nitromethane (UN1261) or nitroethane (UN2842).

LARGE FIRE: Water spray, fog or alcohol-resistant foam. Avoid aiming straight or solid streams directly onto the product. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS OR CAR/TRAILER LOADS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. (ERG, 2020)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from 129 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible / Noxious)]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. A vapor-suppressing foam may be used to reduce vapors. Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand or other non-combustible material and transfer to containers. Use clean, non-sparking tools to collect absorbed material.

LARGE SPILL: Dike far ahead of liquid spill for later disposal. Water spray may reduce vapor, but may not prevent ignition in closed spaces. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Mesityl oxide:

Skin: PREVENT SKIN CONTACT - Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact.

Eyes: PREVENT EYE CONTACT - Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact.

Wash skin: WHEN CONTAMINATED - The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.

Remove: WHEN WET (FLAMMABLE) - Work clothing that becomes wet should be immediately removed due to its flammability hazard (i.e., for liquids with a flash point <100°F).

Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the workshift.

Provide: QUICK DRENCH - Facilities for quickly drenching the body should be provided within the immediate work area for emergency use where there is a possibility of exposure. [Note: It is intended that these facilities provide a sufficient quantity or flow of water to quickly remove the substance from any body areas likely to be exposed. The actual determination of what constitutes an adequate quick drench facility depends on the specific circumstances. In certain instances, a deluge shower should be readily available, whereas in others, the availability of water from a sink or hose could be considered adequate.] (NIOSH, 2023)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Mesityl oxide:

Eye: IRRIGATE IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately.

Skin: WATER FLUSH IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical contacts the skin, immediately flush the contaminated skin with water. If this chemical penetrates the clothing, immediately remove the clothing and flush the skin with water. Get medical attention promptly.

Breathing: RESPIRATORY SUPPORT - If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Keep the affected person warm and at rest. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Swallow: MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention immediately. (NIOSH, 2023)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula:
  • C6H10O
Flash Point: 73°F (USCG, 1999)
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): 1.4 % (NIOSH, 2023)
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): 7.2 % (NIOSH, 2023)
Autoignition Temperature: 652°F (USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: -51°F (USCG, 1999)
Vapor Pressure: 9 mmHg (NIOSH, 2023)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: 0.853 at 68°F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water; will float
Boiling Point: 266°F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)
Molecular Weight: 98.2 (USCG, 1999)
Water Solubility: 3 % (NIOSH, 2023)
Ionization Energy/Potential: 9.08 eV (NIOSH, 2023)
IDLH: 1400 ppm ; Based on 10% of the lower explosive limit. (NIOSH, 2023)

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-3-penten-2-one, 4-; (Mesityl oxide) (141-79-7) 25 ppm 830 ppm 5000 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. LEL = 14000 ppm
1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL.
(DOE, 2018)

Regulatory Information

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

No regulatory information available.

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

No regulatory information available.

OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List

No regulatory information available.

Alternate Chemical Names