ETHANOL

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Basic information

  • Chemical formula(s): \({\rm C_2H_6O}\), \({\rm CH_3CH_2OH}\), \({\rm C_2H_5OH}\)
  • Other names: ethyl alcohol, absolute ethanol, methyl carbinol, grain alcohol
  • CAS: 64-17-5
  • International Chemical Safety Card (ICSC): 0044
  • Flammability: yes - highly flammable
  • NOAA’s description: clear colourless liquid with a characteristic vinous odour and pungent taste, vapours are heavier than air

NFPA 704 (fire diamond)

  • Health (blue): 2 - exposure would cause irritation with only minor residual injury.
  • Flammability (red): 3 - it can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Its flash point is -26 °C. It’s autoignition temperature is 234 °C.
  • Instability–reactivity (yellow): 0 - normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water.
  • Special notice (white): -

Hazard statements

Code Phrase
H225 highly flammable liquid and vapour
H319 causes serious eye irritation

Precautionary statements

Code Phrase
P210 keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources, no smoking
P233 keep container tightly closed
P240 ground and bond container and receiving equipment
P241 use explosion-proof electrical/ventilating/light/…/equipment
P242 use only non-sparking tools
P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: rinse continuously with water for several minutes, remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, continue rinsing

Protective measures

Gloves

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and OSHA Glove Selection Chart do not provide recommendation on gloves for handling ethanol solution. California State University categorizes gloves into four protection levels (excellent, good, fair, poor (not recommended)) for given chemical. The levels of protection against ethanol solution for four types of gloves are:

  • Neoprene: N/A
  • Natural latex or rubber: good.
  • Buthyl: N/A
  • Nitrile: good.

Safety goggles

  • Always wear safety goggles when handling ethanol. Corrective glasses are not considered safety googles.
  • Handle ethanol inside the fume hood only (with exception of moving the closed bottle to and from the storage cabinet).

Clothing

  • Wear long trousers and fully covered shoes.
  • Contact lenses are forbidden while working with chemical substances, even in combination with safety glasses.
  • Do not wear cosmetics.
  • Do not wear synthetic clothing while working with flammable liquids or gases or when a hazard is present as these materials tend to melt and stick to exposed skin.
  • Do not wear headphones.

Spill management

  • Use personal protective equipment.
  • Avoid dust formation, avoid breathing dust.
  • Avoid breathing vapors or mist.
  • Ensure adequate ventilation.
  • Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
  • Sweep up without creating dust and arrange disposal.
  • Do not let it enter drain.
  • If a spill happened outside the fume hood (on the floor or desktop) contact Dr Jakub Tkaczuk (+41 44 632 31 62) and the ETH Emergency Desk (+41 44 342 11 88 from mobile or 888 from landline).