Safety data reference
Acetone — Safety Data Summary
- CAS67-64-1
- EC200-662-2
- FormulaC3H6O — (CH3)2CO
- MW58.08 g/mol
Read this before you use this page
This is a general reference summary for Acetone, compiled from publicly published authoritative sources — PubChem, the NIOSH Pocket Guide, ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards, CAMEO Chemicals, the ECHA C&L Inventory, OSHA and the eCFR. Every figure on this page is traceable to one of the sources listed at the foot of the page.
It is not a supplier safety data sheet and must not be used as one. A compliant SDS is batch-specific and manufacturer-specific: it carries the actual supplier identity, emergency contact, product identifier, grade, impurity profile and the classification that follows from them. Before you accept, store, handle or ship any consignment, obtain the manufacturer’s own signed SDS for that grade and lot.
01Hazard identification
Classification: Flammable liquids, Category 2 · Serious eye irritation, Category 2 · STOT single exposure, Category 3 (narcotic effects)
Pictograms: GHS02 Flame · GHS07 Exclamation mark
- H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation.
- H336 May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Identification
| IUPAC name | propan-2-one |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, ketone propane, beta-ketopropane, methyl ketone |
| CAS number | 67-64-1 |
| EC number | 200-662-2 |
| Molecular formula | C3H6O — (CH3)2CO |
| Molecular weight | 58.08 g/mol |
02Precautionary statements
Prevention
- 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 and lighting equipment.
- P242 Use non-sparking tools.
- P243 Take action to prevent static discharges.
- P261 Avoid breathing vapours.
- P264+P265 Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Do not touch eyes.
- P271 Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- P280 Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
Response
- P303+P361+P353 IF ON SKIN (or hair): Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water or shower.
- P304+P340 IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
- P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- P319 Get medical help if you feel unwell.
- P337+P317 If eye irritation persists: Get medical help.
- P370+P378 In case of fire: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide to extinguish.
Storage
- P403+P233 Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.
- P403+P235 Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool.
- P405 Store locked up.
Disposal
- P501 Dispose of contents and container in accordance with local, regional and national regulations.
03Physical and chemical properties
| Appearance | Colourless, volatile liquid |
|---|---|
| Odour | Fragrant, mint-like; sweetish and fruity |
| Odour threshold | 3.6–653 ppm (AIHA mean 62 ppm) |
| Melting point | −94.9 °C |
| Boiling point | 56 °C at 760 mmHg |
| Flash point | −20 to −18 °C (closed cup) |
| Auto-ignition | 465 °C |
| Explosive limits | LEL 2.5% · UEL 12.8% v/v |
| Vapour pressure | 180 mmHg (24 kPa) at 20 °C |
| Vapour density | 2.0 (air = 1) |
| Relative density | 0.791 at 20 °C |
| Water solubility | Miscible in all proportions |
| log Kow | −0.24 |
| Viscosity | 0.32 mPa·s at 20 °C |
| pH | Not applicable (non-aqueous organic liquid) |
| Decomposition temp. | Not established |
04Exposure controls and occupational limits
| OSHA PEL | 1000 ppm (2400 mg/m3), 8-hour TWA |
|---|---|
| NIOSH REL | 250 ppm (590 mg/m3), 10-hour TWA |
| ACGIH TLV | 250 ppm TWA; 500 ppm 15-min STEL; A4 notation |
| NIOSH IDLH | 2500 ppm (based on 10% of the LEL) |
| ACGIH BEI | Acetone in urine, 25 mg/L, end of shift |
05First-aid measures
- Inhalation
- Move to fresh air immediately. Provide respiratory support or oxygen if breathing is difficult. Rescuers entering unknown atmospheres should use SCBA. Get medical attention if symptoms develop.
- Skin contact
- Immediately flood the affected skin with water while removing contaminated clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water. Get medical attention if irritation develops.
- Eye contact
- Irrigate immediately. Flush with water or normal saline for 20–30 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower lids. Remove contact lenses if present. Get medical attention immediately.
- Ingestion
- Do NOT induce vomiting — aspiration risk. If conscious and not convulsing, give one to two glasses of water to dilute. Get medical attention immediately.
06Fire-fighting measures
- Suitable extinguishing media
- Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, alcohol-resistant foam, water spray or fog.
- Unsuitable media
- Solid or straight water streams — ineffective, and may scatter and spread the fire.
- Specific hazards
- Highly flammable. Vapours form explosive mixtures with air. Vapour is heavier than air and travels to distant ignition sources, causing flashback. Vapour explosion hazard in confined spaces. Containers may rupture in a fire.
- Protective equipment
- Positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus with full protective clothing. Cool exposed containers with flooding quantities of water applied from the maximum distance.
- ERG guide
- Guide 127 (Flammable liquids — polar/water-miscible)
07Accidental release measures
- Personal precautions
- Remove all ignition sources. Ventilate. Evacuate and keep personnel upwind. Use PPE with an organic-vapour filter respirator matched to the airborne concentration. Beware of vapour accumulating in low areas to explosive concentrations.
- Environmental precautions
- Prevent further leakage. Do not let product enter drains, sewers, waterways, basements or confined areas. Dike surface flow.
- Containment and clean-up
- Ground and bond all equipment and use non-sparking tools. Collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb residue with dry earth, sand or an inert commercial sorbent. For water spills, use booms and suction hoses. Apply water spray or mist to knock down vapours. Place in closed containers for disposal under local regulations.
- ERG isolation distances
- Spill: isolate 50 m in all directions. Large spill: evacuate 300 m downwind. Tank fire: isolate or evacuate 800 m.
08Handling and storage
- Safe handling
- Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid breathing vapour or mist. Use explosion-proof equipment. No smoking; keep away from ignition sources. Take measures to prevent the build-up of electrostatic charge. Wash hands before breaks and at the end of the shift. Remove clothing immediately when wet, as it is then flammable.
- Safe storage
- Fireproof storage area with no drain or sewer access. Keep containers tightly closed and upright in a dry, cool, well-ventilated place. Steel tanks are suitable. Storage class: flammable liquids. Keep away from heat, sparks and flames.
- Incompatible materials
- Oxidisers and acids. Also bases, reducing agents, chromic anhydride, chromyl chloride, hexachloromelamine, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, nitric plus sulfuric acid, nitrosyl chloride, nitrosyl perchlorate, nitryl perchlorate, permonosulfuric acid, potassium tert-butoxide, phosphorus oxychloride, and chloroform or bromoform under basic conditions. Attacks many plastics.
09Stability and reactivity
- Reactivity
- Highly flammable and water-soluble. Reacts violently with nitric acid and phosphorus oxychloride. Exothermic reaction with aldehydes.
- Chemical stability
- Stable under normal conditions of use and storage. NFPA instability rating 0.
- Hazardous reactions
- Contact with strong oxidants such as acetic acid, nitric acid or hydrogen peroxide generates explosive peroxides. Explosive mixtures form with chromic anhydride, chromyl chloride, hydrogen peroxide and nitrosyl perchlorate. Explosive reaction with chloroform or bromoform in the presence of base.
- Conditions to avoid
- Heat, sparks, open flames, hot surfaces, static discharge, and confined spaces where vapour can accumulate.
- Decomposition products
- Combustion yields carbon oxides. No further data available from the consulted authorities.
10Toxicological information
| LD50 oral, rat | 5,800 mg/kg (ChemIDplus). Other reported values 5,340–9,800 mg/kg |
|---|---|
| LD50 dermal | > 7,266 mg/kg (guinea pig). No authoritative rabbit value located |
| LC50 inhalation, rat | 50,100 mg/m3 / 8 h |
| Routes of exposure | Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact. Absorbed into the body by inhalation |
| Symptoms | Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; headache; dizziness; confusion; drowsiness; CNS depression; unconsciousness at high concentration; dermatitis and dry skin; nausea and vomiting after ingestion |
| Target organs | Eyes, skin, respiratory system, central nervous system |
| IARC | Not evaluated / not listed |
| NTP | Not listed in the Report on Carcinogens |
| OSHA | Not regulated as a carcinogen |
| Other | EPA IRIS Group D (not classifiable); ACGIH A4 |
11Ecological information
| LC50 fish | Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 96 h LC50 5,540 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Invertebrates | Artemia salina 24 h EC50 14,852 mg/L. No authoritative Daphnia value located |
| Biodegradability | Readily biodegradable — 96% of theoretical BOD in 4 weeks (MITI); 90.9% CO2 evolution at 28 days (OECD 301B) |
| Bioaccumulation | Low — estimated BCF 3 |
| Mobility in soil | Very high — estimated Koc 2.4 |
12Transport information
| UN number | UN 1090 |
|---|---|
| Proper shipping name | Acetone |
| Transport hazard class | 3 — Flammable liquid |
| Packing group | II |
| Marine pollutant | No — not listed in 49 CFR 172.101 Appendix B |
| ERG guide | 127 |
| DOT / IATA / IMDG | Identical UN 1090, Class 3, PG II across all modes |
13Regulatory information
| TSCA | Listed on the TSCA Inventory; subject to Chemical Data Reporting |
|---|---|
| SARA 313 (TRI) | Not listed — delisted from the EPCRA §313 chemical list |
| California Prop 65 | Not listed |
| EU REACH | Registered substance |
| CERCLA RQ | 5,000 lb (2,270 kg) — 40 CFR 302.4 |
| RCRA | U002 (discarded commercial chemical); F003 (spent solvent) |
Frequently asked questions
Is acetone a hazardous material for shipping?
Yes. Acetone ships as UN 1090, Class 3 flammable liquid, packing group II, under DOT, IATA and IMDG alike. It is not a marine pollutant, so no environmentally hazardous substance mark is required, but it does need Class 3 labelling, UN-specification packaging and a dangerous goods declaration.
What is the flash point of acetone?
Between −20 and −18 °C by closed cup. That is well below any normal ambient temperature, which is why acetone vapour is essentially always present above the liquid in an open container and why ignition sources must be eliminated wherever it is handled.
What PPE is needed to handle acetone?
Chemical splash goggles, gloves in a material with verified acetone breakthrough resistance (butyl rubber performs well; nitrile is quickly permeated), and flame-resistant clothing. Above 250 ppm, respiratory protection with an organic-vapour cartridge is indicated; above 2500 ppm, the IDLH, only supplied air or SCBA is adequate.
How should acetone be stored?
In a fireproof, well-ventilated store with no drain or sewer access, in tightly closed upright steel containers, away from heat, sparks, flames and oxidising agents. Ground and bond containers during transfer because static discharge is a realistic ignition source with a liquid this volatile.
Does acetone cause long-term health effects?
Acetone is not classified as a carcinogen by IARC, NTP or OSHA, and EPA IRIS places it in Group D, not classifiable. The recognised effects are acute: eye, nose and throat irritation, and central nervous system depression at high vapour concentration. Repeated skin contact defats the skin and causes dryness and cracking.
Supply
We supply Acetone 99.5% Technical Grade in bulk from Chinese manufacturing plants, with a batch certificate of analysis and the manufacturer’s signed safety data sheet shipped against every consignment. Tell us the grade, volume and destination port and we will come back with packing options, lead time and a delivered price.
Sources
Every value on this page was taken from one of the following public authorities. Where an authority records no verified value, this page says so rather than substituting an estimate.
- PubChem — National Library of Medicine
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
- ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards
- CAMEO Chemicals — NOAA
- ECHA Classification & Labelling Inventory
- OSHA Annotated Permissible Exposure Limits
- eCFR Title 49 §172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
Compiled September 2026. Regulatory lists and classifications change; verify against the current source text before relying on this page for a compliance decision.