Print
Chemical Datasheet

XYLENE, [MIXED ISOMERS]

3 - Flammable liquid

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 1330-20-7   (mixed isomers)
  • 95-47-6   (o-xylene)   (O-XYLENE)
  • 106-42-3   (p-xylene)   (P-XYLENE)
  • 108-38-3   (m-xylene)   (M-XYLENE)
  • 1307
  • Flammable Liquid
none
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
o-Xylene
  • m-XYLENE
  • o-XYLENE
  • p-XYLENE
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
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
A clear colorless liquid with a characteristic aromatic odor consisting of a mixture of the three isomers (ortho-, meta- and para-). The latter two predominate. Flash point 81-115°F. Less dense (at 7.2 lb / gal) than water and insoluble in water. Hence floats on water. May be toxic by ingestion. Vapors heavier than air and may be narcotic in high concentrations. Used as a solvent for paints and adhesives, and to make other chemicals.

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
Flammable. Insoluble in water.
Fire Hazard
Excerpt from 130 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / Noxious)]:

HIGHLY FLAMMABLE: Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. 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, 2020)
Health Hazard
Excerpt from 130 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / Noxious)]:

May cause toxic effects if inhaled or absorbed through skin. Inhalation or contact with material may irritate or burn skin and eyes. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or asphyxiation. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination. (ERG, 2020)
Reactivity Profile
XYLENE reacts exothermically with sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and strong oxidizing agents [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 962].
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

No information available.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from 130 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / 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 130 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / 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 regular foam.

LARGE FIRE: Water spray, fog or regular 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 130 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / 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 ERG Guide 130 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / Noxious)]:

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection. (ERG, 2020)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
Normalized Breakthrough Times (in Minutes)
Chemical CAS Number State QS QC SL C3 TF TP RC TK RF
Xylene, mixed isomers 1330-20-7 Liquid >480 >480 >480 >480 >480 >480
Xylene, o- 95-47-6 Liquid >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, 2023)

First Aid
Excerpt from 130 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / Noxious)]:

Call 911 or emergency medical service. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves. Move victim to fresh air if it can be done safely. Give artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. 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. Keep victim calm and warm. Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or skin contact) to substance may be delayed. (ERG, 2020)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula:
  • C8H10
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: 8.56 eV [From NPG: o-Xylene] (NIOSH, 2023)
IDLH: 900 ppm [From NPG: o-Xylene] (NIOSH, 2023)

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

Final AEGLs for Xylenes (1330-20-7)
Exposure Period AEGL-1 AEGL-2 AEGL-3
10 minutes 130 ppm 2500 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. Safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account. 7200 ppm 2-flame icon indicates value is 50-99% of LEL. Extreme safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account.
30 minutes 130 ppm 1300 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. Safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account. 3600 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. Safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account.
60 minutes 130 ppm 920 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. Safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account. 2500 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. Safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account.
4 hours 130 ppm 500 ppm 1300 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. Safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account.
8 hours 130 ppm 400 ppm 1000 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. Safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account.
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) = 9000 ppm
1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. Safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account.
2-flame icon indicates value is 50-99% of LEL. Extreme safety consideration against explosions must be taken into account.
(NAC/NRC, 2023)

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

No ERPG information available.

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Xylenes (1330-20-7) 130 ppm 920 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. 2500 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. LEL = 9000 ppm
Xylene, m- (includes o- (95-47-6) and p- (106-42-3) isomers) (108-38-3) 130 ppm 920 ppm 2500 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. LEL = 11000 ppm
1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL.
(DOE, 2018)

Regulatory Information

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

Regulatory Name CAS Number/
313 Category Code
EPCRA 302
EHS TPQ
EPCRA 304
EHS RQ
CERCLA RQ EPCRA 313
TRI
RCRA
Code
CAA 112(r)
RMP TQ
Benzene, m-dimethyl- 108-38-3 1000 pounds X U239
Benzene, o-dimethyl- 95-47-6 1000 pounds X U239
Benzene, p-dimethyl- 106-42-3 100 pounds X U239
Xylene (mixed isomers) 1330-20-7 100 pounds 313 U239
m-Xylene 108-38-3 1000 pounds 313 U239
o-Xylene 95-47-6 1000 pounds 313 U239
p-Xylene 106-42-3 100 pounds 313 U239

(EPA List of Lists, 2022)

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