Substance profile
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitrile
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitrile is a colorless liquid with a distinct strong cyanide odor.
01 · Identification
What 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… is
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitrile is a colorless liquid with a distinct strong cyanide odor. Its molecular formula is C4H7NO and its molecular weight is 85.1 g/mol. It boils at 95 °C, melts at -19 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 2nd degree.
02 · Identifiers
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… identifiers and molecular data
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… CAS number and EC number
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril…
- 2-cyanopropan-2-ol
- acetone cyanohydrin
03 · GHS classification
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… pictograms and signal word
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H300 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H310 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H330 | GHS06 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | GHS09 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H410 | GHS09 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H310 | Fatal in contact with skin. |
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled. |
| H300 | Fatal if swallowed. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropioni…. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropioni…
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of 2-hydroxy-2-methylprop… issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 13 precautionary statements to 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropioni…. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | 2-хидрокси-2-метилпропионитрил 2-цианопропан-2-олацетон цианохидрин |
| Spanish español | 2-Hidroxi-2-metilpropionitrilo 2-cianopropan-2-olcianhidrina de acetona |
| Czech čeština | 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropannitril 2-kyanpropan-2-olacetonkyanhydrin |
| Danish dansk | 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril 2-cyan-2-propanolacetonecyanhydrin |
| German Deutsch | 2-Hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril 2-Cyanopropan-2-olAcetoncyanhydrin |
| Estonian eesti | 2-hüdroksü-2-metüülpropionitriil 2-tsüanopropaan-2-oolatsetoontsüanohüdriin |
| Greek ελληνικά | 2-υδροξυ-2-μεθυλοπροπιονιτρίλιο 2-κυανοπροπαν-2-όληκυανυδρίνη ακετόνης |
| English English | 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitrile 2-cyanopropan-2-olacetone cyanohydrin |
| French français | 2-hydroxy-2-méthylpropionitrile 2-cyanopropan-2-olcyanhydrine d'acétone |
| Croatian hrvatski | 2-hidroksi-2-metilpropionitril 2-cijanopropan-2-olaceton-cijanohidrin |
| Italian italiano | 2-idrossi-2-metilpropionitrile 2-cian-propan-2-oloacetoncianidrina |
| Latvian latviešu | 2-hidroksi-2-metilpropionnitrils 2-ciānpropān-2-olsacetona ciānhidrīns |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | 2-hidroksi-2-metilpropionitrilas 2-cian-2-propanolisacetoncianhidrinas |
| Hungarian magyar | 2-hidroxi-2-metilpropionitril 2-cianopropán-2-olaceton-ciánhidrin |
| Maltese Malti | 2-idrossi-2-metilpropjonitril 2-ċjanopropan-2-olċjanoidrina tal-aċetun |
| Dutch Nederlands | 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril acetoncyaanhydrine |
| Polish polski | 2-hydroksy-2-metylopropionitryl 2-cyjanopropan-2-olcyjanohydryna acetonuacetocyjanohydryna |
| Portuguese português | 2-hidroxi-2-metilpropionitrilo 2-ciano-2-propanolacetona-cianidrina |
| Romanian română | 2-hidroxi-2-metilpropionitril 2-cianopropan-2-olcianhidrină de acetonă |
| Slovak slovenčina | 2-hydroxy-2-metylpropánnitril acetón-kyanohydrín |
| Slovenian slovenščina | 2-hidroksi-2-metilpropionitril 2-cianopropan-2-olaceton cianohidrin |
| Finnish suomi | 2-hydroksi-2-metyylipropionitriili 2-syanopropan-2-oliasetonisyanohydriini |
| Swedish svenska | 2-hydroxi-2-metylpropionitril 2-cyanopropan-2-olacetoncyanohydrin |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropioni…, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril…
- Fatal in contact with skin.
- Fatal if inhaled.
- Fatal if swallowed.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF INHALED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Rinse mouth.
- Wash with plenty of water/…
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropioni… in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… health hazards and exposure limits
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… hazard summary
Liquid causes first degree burns on short exposure; [CHRIS] When heated to 248 degrees F. or to lower temperatures under alkaline conditions, acetone cyanohydrin will decompose, releasing hydrogen cyanide. Hepatic necrosis is seen in rats fed 5 mg twice a week for 3 to 8 months. A lachrymator; [HSDB] At room temperature, it rapidly reaches harmful concentrations and can cause asphyxiation and death. [ICSC] Rats survive 5 minute exposures to saturated concentrations. [CHEMINFO] Occupational fatalities have occurred after accidental splashing of the face and clothing; [AIHA] See NITRILES.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | none | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | C 1 ppm (4 mg/m3) [15-minute] | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | N.D. | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 95 °C (203 °F) | HSDB |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -19 °C (-2.2 °F) | HSDB | |
| -20 °C (-4 °F) | NIOSH |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.93 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 0.9267 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Freely soluble in usual organic solvents; insoluble in petroleum ether and carbon disulfide. | HSDB | |
| Very soluble in water, ethanol and ethyl ether; soluble in acetone, benzene and chloroform | HSDB | ||
| Solubility in water: freely soluble, but decomposes in water | decomposes | ICSC |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0.8 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 0.8 mmHg | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.1 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 73.89 °C (165 °F) | HSDB |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 687.78 °C (1270 °F) | HSDB |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 2.2 % by volume | HSDB |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 12 % by volume | HSDB |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 2.96 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 2.93 (air = 1) | CAMEO |
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Odor Threshold Low: 3.0 [mg/m3] | Haz-Map | |
| Odor threshold (recognition) | Haz-Map |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropioni… fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… fire potential
Combustible liquid
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… storage and handling
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… safe storage
Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Separated from strong bases, acids, water and food and feedstuffs. Well closed. Keep in a well-ventilated room.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… storage conditions
Separate from acids, alkalies, oxidizing materials, and reducing agents. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… incompatible materials
Sulfuric acid, caustics [Note: Slowly decomposes to acetone & HCN at room temperatures; rate is accelerated by an increase in pH, water content, or temperature].
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… reactivity
ACETONE CYANOHYDRIN readily decomposes to acetone and poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas on contact with water, acids (sulfuric acid) or when exposed to heat. Should be kept cool and slightly acidic (pH 4-5) [Sax, 2nd ed., 1965, p. 388]. Slowly dissociates to acetone, a flammable liquid, and hydrogen cyanide, a flammable poisonous gas, under normal storage and transportation conditions. Rate of dissociation increased by contact with alkalis and/or heat.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropion… in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… UN number and transport classification
Transport classification is a separate system from the GHS classification above. It decides how a package is marked and how a load may be carried; it does not follow from the workplace label, and the workplace label does not follow from it. The entries below are linked by CAS number, never by name.
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… under UN 1541 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACETONE CYANOHYDRIN, STABILIZED | 6.1 | T1 | I | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 6.1 is “Toxic substances” (ADR 2.1.1.1).
United States · 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
| Proper shipping name (column 2) | Class or division | PG | Labels (column 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetone cyanohydrin, stabilized | 6.1 | I | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 6.1 is “Poisonous materials” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril…?
The CAS number of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… is 75-86-5. Its EC number is 200-909-4.
What is the chemical formula of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril…?
The molecular formula of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… is C4H7NO and its molecular weight is 85.1 g/mol.
What does a 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… carries the pictograms Skull and crossbones and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it. The flash point reported for it is 73.89 °C (165 °F) (HSDB).
Is 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril…. Annex VI is a list of agreed classifications, not a list of substances found safe, so this is an absence of a classification rather than a clean bill of health.
What is the exposure limit for 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril…?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… is none (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril…?
The boiling point reported for 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… is 95 °C (203 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril…?
The melting point reported for 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… is -19 °C (-2.2 °F) (HSDB).
How should 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitril… be stored?
Separate from acids, alkalies, oxidizing materials, and reducing agents. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropioni…
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