Substance profile
Acrylic Acid
Acrylic Acid is an acrid liquid with acrid odor and fumes.
01 · Identification
What Acrylic Acid is
Acrylic Acid is an acrid liquid with acrid odor and fumes. Its molecular formula is C3H4O2 and its molecular weight is 72.06 g/mol. It boils at 142 °C, melts at 13.6 °C, is miscible with water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
Acrylic Acid identifiers and molecular data
Acrylic Acid CAS number and EC number
Acrylic Acid molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Acrylic Acid
- prop-2-enoic acid
03 · GHS classification
Acrylic Acid hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Acrylic Acid pictograms and signal word
Acrylic Acid hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 3 | H226 | GHS02 |
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H312 | GHS07 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H332 | GHS07 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 1A or 1B or 1C | H314 | GHS05 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | 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.
Acrylic Acid hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H226 | Flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H332 | Harmful if inhaled. |
| H312 | Harmful in contact with skin. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Acrylic Acid. 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 Acrylic Acid
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 Acrylic Acid 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
Acrylic Acid precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 20 precautionary statements to Acrylic Acid. 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
Acrylic Acid 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 | акрилова киселина проп-2-енова киселина |
| Spanish español | Ácido acrílico ácido prop-2-enoico |
| Czech čeština | akrylová kyselina prop-2-enová kyselina |
| Danish dansk | acrylsyre 2-propensyre |
| German Deutsch | Acrylsäure Prop-2-ensäure |
| Estonian eesti | akrüülhape prop-2-eenhape |
| Greek ελληνικά | ακρυλικό οξύ προπ-2-ενικό οξύ |
| English English | acrylic acid prop-2-enoic acid |
| French français | acide acrylique acide prop-2-énoïque |
| Croatian hrvatski | akrilna kiselina prop-2-enonska kiselina |
| Italian italiano | acido acrilico acido prop-2-enoico |
| Latvian latviešu | akrilskābe prop-2-ēnskābe |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | akrilo rūgštis 2-propeno rūgštis |
| Hungarian magyar | akrilsav prop-2-énsav |
| Maltese Malti | aċidu akriliku aċidu prop-2-enojku |
| Dutch Nederlands | acrylzuur prop-2-eenzuur |
| Polish polski | kwas akrylowy kwas propenowykwas etenokarboksylowy |
| Portuguese português | ácido acrílico ácido 2-propenóico |
| Romanian română | acid acrilic acid prop-2-enoic |
| Slovak slovenčina | kyselina akrylová kyselina propénová |
| Slovenian slovenščina | akrilna kislina prop-2-enojska kislina |
| Finnish suomi | akryylihappo prop-2-eenihappo |
| Swedish svenska | akrylsyra prop-2-ensyra |
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
Acrylic Acid GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Acrylic Acid, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Acrylic Acid
- Flammable liquid and vapour.
- Harmful if inhaled.
- Harmful in contact with skin.
- Harmful if swallowed.
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
- Keep container tightly closed.
- Use explosion-proof [electrical/ventilating/lighting/…] equipment.
- Use only non-sparking tools.
- 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/…
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Rinse mouth.
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
- Wash with plenty of water/…
- Collect spillage.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Acrylic Acid in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Acrylic Acid health hazards and exposure limits
Acrylic Acid hazard summary
Acrylic acid is used in the manufacture of plastics, paint formulations, and other products. Exposure occurs primarily in the workplace. It is a strong irritant to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in humans. No information is available on the reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects of acrylic acid in humans. Animal cancer studies have reported both positive and negative results. EPA has not classified acrylic acid for carcinogenicity.
Source: EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants
Acrylic Acid carcinogenicity classification
Evaluation: No epidemiological data relevant to the carcinogenicity of acrylic acid were available. No experimental data relevant to the carcinogenicity of acrylic acid were available. Overall evaluation: Acrylic acid is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity in humans (Group 3).
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
Acrylic Acid occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | none See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 2 ppm (6 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 2 ppm (6 mg/m3) [skin] | 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
Acrylic Acid 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.
Acrylic Acid boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 142 °C (287.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 141.11 °C (286 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 141.11 °C (286 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Acrylic Acid melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 13.56 °C (56.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| 12.78 °C (55 °F) | NIOSH |
Acrylic Acid density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.05 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 1.0511 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.0305 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Acrylic Acid solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Miscible with alcohol, and ether | HSDB | |
| Miscible with ethanol, ethyl ether; soluble in acetone, benzene, carbon tetrachloride | HSDB | ||
| Miscible with chloroform | HSDB |
Acrylic Acid vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 3 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 3.2 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 3.97 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Acrylic Acid flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 54 °C (129.2 °F) | open cup | HSDB |
| 50 °C (122 °F) | open cup | HSDB | |
| 49.44 °C (121 °F) | NIOSH |
Acrylic Acid autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 438 °C (820.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| 437.78 °C (820 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 395 °C (743 °F) | ICSC |
Acrylic Acid lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 2.4 % by volume | HSDB |
Acrylic Acid upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 8 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 15.9 % by volume | HSDB | ||
| 8.02 % by volume | NIOSH |
Acrylic Acid vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 2.5 (air = 1) | HSDB |
Acrylic Acid odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Water: no data; air: 0.094 uL/L; odor safety class B; B = 50-90% of distracted persons perceive warning of TLV. | HSDB | |
| 1.04 ppm (recognition in air, purity not specified) | HSDB | ||
| Odor Threshold Low: 0.09 [ppm] | Haz-Map |
Acrylic Acid critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 342.22 °C (648 °F) | HSDB |
Acrylic Acid corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Corrosive to metals | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Acrylic Acid 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.
Acrylic Acid fire potential
Flammable liquid. ... A fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Acrylic Acid storage and handling
Acrylic Acid peroxide formation
C: Compounds that autopolymerize due to peroxide formation if inhibitors are depleated or not present
Source: Lab and Research Safety, University of Minnesota
Acrylic Acid safe storage
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants, strong bases, strong acids and food and feedstuffs. Keep in the dark. Store only if stabilized. Store in an area without drain or sewer access. Storage conditions may vary according to the type of inhibitor used. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for proper storage conditions.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Acrylic Acid storage conditions
Acrylic acid should be stored in a detached, cool, well-ventilated, non-combustible place, and its containers should be protected against physical damage. Acrylic acid can be stored only in vessels lined with glass, stainless steel, aluminum, or polyethylene. In order to inhibit polymerization during transport and storage, 200 ppm MeHQ (the monomethyl ether of hydroquinone) is commonly added to acrylic acid by the manufacturer. The presence of oxygen is required for the inhibitor to be effective. A major concern during the storage of acrylic acid is the avoidance of elevated temperatures as well as freezing, since both can lead to a failure of the inhibitor system. Ideally acrylic acid should be stored within a temperature range of 15 to 25 °C.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Acrylic Acid incompatible materials
React readily with electrophilic, free-radical, and nucleophilic agent
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Acrylic Acid in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Acrylic Acid 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.
Acrylic Acid under UN 2218 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACRYLIC ACID, STABILIZED | 8 | CF1 | II | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 8 is “Corrosive 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic acid, stabilized | 8 | II | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 8 is “Corrosive material” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Acrylic Acid — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Acrylic Acid?
The CAS number of Acrylic Acid is 79-10-7. Its EC number is 201-177-9.
What is the chemical formula of Acrylic Acid?
The molecular formula of Acrylic Acid is C3H4O2 and its molecular weight is 72.06 g/mol.
What does a Acrylic Acid label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Acrylic Acid carries the pictograms Flame, Corrosion, Exclamation mark and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Acrylic Acid flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Acrylic Acid H226 — flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is 54 °C (129.2 °F), open cup (HSDB).
Is Acrylic Acid a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Acrylic Acid. 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. IARC places it in Group 3: not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.
What is the exposure limit for Acrylic Acid?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Acrylic Acid is none See Appendix G (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 Acrylic Acid?
The boiling point reported for Acrylic Acid is 142 °C (287.6 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Acrylic Acid?
The melting point reported for Acrylic Acid is 13.56 °C (56.4 °F) (HSDB).
How should Acrylic Acid be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Acrylic Acid the storage statement P403. Acrylic acid should be stored in a detached, cool, well-ventilated, non-combustible place, and its containers should be protected against physical damage. Acrylic acid can be stored only in vessels lined with glass, stainless steel, aluminum, or polyethylene. In order to inhibit polymerization during transport and storage, 200 ppm MeHQ (the monomethyl ether of hydroquinone) is commonly added to acrylic acid by the manufacturer. The presence of oxygen is required for the inhibitor to be effective. A major concern during the storage of acrylic acid is the avoidance of elevated temperatures as well as freezing, since both can lead to a failure of the inhibitor system. Ideally acrylic acid should be stored within a temperature range of 15 to 25 °C. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Acrylic Acid
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