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Chemical Datasheet

O-XYLENE

3 - Flammable liquid

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 95-47-6   (O-XYLENE)
  • 1307
  • Flammable Liquid
  • XLO
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
o-Xylene
  • o-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 colorless watery liquid with a sweet odor. Less dense than water. Insoluble in water. Irritating vapor. (USCG, 1999)

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Insoluble in 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
Vapors cause headache and dizziness. Liquid irritates eyes and skin. If taken into lungs, causes severe coughing, distress, and rapidly developing pulmonary edema. If ingested, causes nausea, vomiting, cramps, headache, and coma. Can be fatal. Kidney and liver damage can occur. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
O-XYLENE may react with oxidizing materials. (NTP, 1992).
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
Fire Extinguishing Agents Not to Be Used: Water may be ineffective.

Fire Extinguishing Agents: Foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide (USCG, 1999)
Non-Fire Response
SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: If you should spill this chemical, use absorbent paper to pick up all liquid spill material. Your contaminated clothing and absorbent paper should be sealed in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with acetone followed by washing with a strong soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.

STORAGE PRECAUTIONS: You should store this material in a refrigerator. (NTP, 1992)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for o-Xylene:

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. (NIOSH, 2023)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
Normalized Breakthrough Times (in Minutes)
Chemical CAS Number State QS QC SL C3 TF TP RC TK RF
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
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. 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. Be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital if advised by a physician. 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

Chemical Formula:
  • C8H10
Flash Point: 63°F (NTP, 1992)
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): 0.9 % (USCG, 1999)
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): 6.7 % (USCG, 1999)
Autoignition Temperature: 869°F (USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: -13 to -9°F (NTP, 1992)
Vapor Pressure: 10 mmHg at 89.8°F (NTP, 1992)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): 3.66 (NTP, 1992) - Heavier than air; will sink
Specific Gravity: 0.88 at 68°F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water; will float
Boiling Point: 289 to 293°F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992)
Molecular Weight: 106.17 (NTP, 1992)
Water Solubility: Insoluble (NTP, 1992)
Ionization Energy/Potential: 8.56 eV (NIOSH, 2023)
IDLH: 900 ppm (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
Xylene, m- (includes o- (95-47-6) and p- (106-42-3) isomers) 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, o-dimethyl- 95-47-6 1000 pounds X U239
o-Xylene 95-47-6 1000 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