Print
Chemical Datasheet

DENATURED ALCOHOL

3 - Flammable liquid

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 64-17-5   (ETHANOL)
  • 1987
  • Flammable Liquid
none
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Ethyl alcohol
  • ETHANOL (ANHYDROUS)
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
3
2 0
Blue Health 2 Can cause temporary incapacitation or residual injury.
Red Flammability 3 Can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions.
Yellow Instability 0 Normally stable, even under fire conditions.
White Special
Note: NFPA ratings shown are for ethyl alcohol, CAS number 64-17-5.
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
Ethanol with a small amount of an adulterant added so as to be unfit for use as a beverage.

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Water soluble.
Fire Hazard
Excerpt from ERG Guide 127 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible)]:

HIGHLY FLAMMABLE: Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. CAUTION: Ethanol (UN1170) can burn with an invisible flame. Use an alternate method of detection (thermal camera, broom handle, etc.) Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Most vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along the ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks, etc.). Vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers. Those substances designated with a (P) may polymerize explosively when heated or involved in a fire. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard. Containers may explode when heated. Many liquids will float on water. (ERG, 2024)
Health Hazard
Excerpt from ERG Guide 127 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible)]:

Inhalation or contact with material may irritate or burn skin and eyes. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or asphyxiation, especially when in closed or confined areas. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination. (ERG, 2024)
Reactivity Profile
Acetyl chloride reacts violently with ethanol or water, [Rose, (1961)]. Acetyl bromide reacts violently with alcohols or water, [Merck 11th ed., 1989]. Mixtures of alcohols with concentrated sulfuric acid and strong hydrogen peroxide can cause explosions. Example: An explosion will occur if dimethylbenzylcarbinol is added to 90% hydrogen peroxide then acidified with concentrated sulfuric acid. Mixtures of ethyl alcohol with concentrated hydrogen peroxide form powerful explosives. Mixtures of hydrogen peroxide and 1-phenyl-2-methyl propyl alcohol tend to explode if acidified with 70% sulfuric acid, [Chem. Eng. News 45(43):73(1967); J, Org. Chem. 28:1893(1963)]. Alkyl hypochlorites are violently explosive. They are readily obtained by reacting hypochlorous acid and alcohols either in aqueous solution or mixed aqueous-carbon tetrachloride solutions. Chlorine plus alcohols would similarly yield alkyl hypochlorites. They decompose in the cold and explode on exposure to sunlight or heat. Tertiary hypochlorites are less unstable than secondary or primary hypochlorites, [NFPA 491 M, 1991]. Base-catalysed reactions of isocyanates with alcohols should be carried out in inert solvents. Such reactions in the absence of solvents often occur with explosive violence, [Wischmeyer(1969)].
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 ERG Guide 127 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible)]:

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 tank car or highway tank 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, 2024)
Firefighting
Excerpt from ERG Guide 127 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible)]:

CAUTION: The majority of these products have a very low flash point. Use of water spray when fighting fire may be inefficient. CAUTION: For fire involving UN1170, UN1987 or UN3475, alcohol-resistant foam should be used. CAUTION: Ethanol (UN1170) can burn with an invisible flame. Use an alternate method of detection (thermal camera, broom handle, etc.).

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or alcohol-resistant foam.

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, RAIL TANK CARS OR HIGHWAY TANKS: 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 in direct contact with flames. For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. (ERG, 2024)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from ERG Guide 127 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible)]:

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, 2024)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from ERG Guide 127 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible)]:

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection. (ERG, 2024)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
Normalized Breakthrough Times (in Minutes)
Chemical CAS Number State QS QC SL C3 TF TP RC TK RF
Ethanol 64-17-5 Liquid >480 >480 >480 >480 >480
Ethyl alcohol 64-17-5 Liquid >480 >480 >480 >480 >480
Spiritus 64-17-5 Liquid >480 >480 >480 >480 >480
> indicates greater than.

Special Warning from DuPont: Tychem® and Tyvek® fabrics should not be used around heat, flames, sparks or in potentially flammable or explosive environments. Only...

(DuPont, 2024)

First Aid
Excerpt from ERG Guide 127 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible)]:

Refer to the "General First Aid" section. Specific First Aid: Wash skin with soap and water. In case of burns, immediately cool affected skin for as long as possible with cold water. Do not remove clothing if adhering to skin. (ERG, 2024)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula:
  • C2H6O
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: data unavailable
Melting Point: data unavailable
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: data unavailable
Boiling Point: data unavailable
Molecular Weight: data unavailable
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: 10.47 eV [From NPG: Ethyl alcohol] (NIOSH, 2024)
IDLH: 3300 ppm ; Based on 10% of the lower explosive limit. [From NPG: Ethyl alcohol] (NIOSH, 2024)

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

No AEGL information available.

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

Chemical ERPG-1 ERPG-2 ERPG-3
Ethanol (64-17-5) 1800 ppm star-in-circle icon indicates that odor should be detectable near ERPG-1. 3300 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. NA LEL = 33000 ppm
NA = not appropriate.
star-in-circle icon indicates that odor should be detectable near ERPG-1.
1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL.
(AIHA, 2022)

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Ethyl alcohol; (Ethanol) (64-17-5) 1800 ppm 3300 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. 15000 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. LEL = 33000 ppm
1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL.
(DOE, 2024)

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