Substance profile
Arsine
Arsine is a colorless gas with a disagreeable garlic odor.
01 · Identification
What Arsine is
Arsine is a colorless gas with a disagreeable garlic odor. It boils at -62.5 °C, melts at -116 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
02 · Identifiers
Arsine identifiers and molecular data
Arsine CAS number and EC number
Arsine molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Arsine hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Arsine pictograms and signal word
Arsine hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable gases GHS chapter 2.2 | Category 1A | H220 | GHS02 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H330 | GHS06 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure GHS chapter 3.9 | Category 2 | H373 | GHS08 |
| 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.
Arsine hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H220 | Extremely flammable gas. |
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled. |
| H373 | May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Arsine. 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 Arsine
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 Arsine 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
Arsine precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 12 precautionary statements to Arsine. 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
Arsine 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 | арсин |
| Spanish español | Arsina |
| Czech čeština | arsenovodík |
| Danish dansk | arsin |
| German Deutsch | Arsin |
| Estonian eesti | arsaan |
| Greek ελληνικά | αρσίνη |
| English English | arsine |
| French français | arsine |
| Croatian hrvatski | arsin |
| Italian italiano | arsina |
| Latvian latviešu | arsīns |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | arsanas |
| Hungarian magyar | arzin |
| Maltese Malti | arsin |
| Dutch Nederlands | arsine |
| Polish polski | arsan arsenowodórarsyna |
| Portuguese português | arsina |
| Romanian română | arsină |
| Slovak slovenčina | arzán |
| Slovenian slovenščina | arzin |
| Finnish suomi | arsiini |
| Swedish svenska | arsin |
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
Arsine GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Arsine, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Arsine
- Extremely flammable gas.
- Fatal if inhaled.
- May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
- Keep container tightly closed.
- 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.
- IF INHALED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell.
- 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 Arsine in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Arsine health hazards and exposure limits
Arsine hazard summary
Arsine is a colorless, flammable, and highly toxic gas. It has a garlic-like or fishy odor that can be detected at concentrations of 0.5 ppm and above. Because arsine is nonirritating and produces no immediate symptoms, persons exposed to hazardous levels may be unaware of its presence. Arsine is water soluble. It is generally shipped in cylinders as a liquefied compressed gas. Exposure frequently occurs when arsine gas is generated while metals or crude ores containing arsenic impurities are treated with acid and this is a common source of exposure. Synonyms include arsenic hydride, arsenic trihydride, arseniuretted hydrogen, arsenious hydride, and hydrogen arsenide.
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Arsine carcinogenicity classification
Classification of carcinogenicity: 1) evidence in humans: sufficient; 2) evidence in animals: limited. Overall summary evaluation of carcinogenic risk to humans is Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans. NOTE: This evaluation applies to the group of chemicals as a whole and not necessarily to all individual chemicals within the group. /Arsenic and arsenic compounds/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
CLASSIFICATION: A; human carcinogen. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: Based on sufficient evidence from human data. An increased lung cancer mortality was observed in multiple human populations exposed primarily through inhalation. Also, increased mortality from multiple internal organ cancers (liver, kidney, lung, and bladder) and an increased incidence of skin cancer were observed in populations consuming drinking water high in inorganic arsenic. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA: Sufficient. ANIMAL CARCINOGENICITY DATA: Inadequate. /Inorganic Arsenic/ /based on former classification system/
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.
Arsine occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 0.05 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 0.05 ppm (0.2 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 0.05 ppm (0.2 mg/m3) | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 0.002 mg/m³ [15 minute] | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | Ca C 0.002 mg/m3 [15-minute] See Appendix A | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 3 ppm ; A potential occupational carcinogen. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 3.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 3 ppm; NIOSH considers arsine to be a potential occupational carcinogen. | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
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
Arsine 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.
Arsine boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | -62.5 °C (-80.5 °F) | HSDB | |
| -62.78 °C (-81 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -62.44 °C (-80.4 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Arsine melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -116 °C (-176.8 °F) | HSDB | |
| -117.22 °C (-179 °F) | NIOSH |
Arsine density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.0032 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 3.186 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | DOE PAC | |
| 1.689 g/cm³ | at 85 °C | CAMEO |
Arsine solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in alcohol and alkalies | HSDB | |
| Soluble in chloroform and benzene | HSDB | ||
| In water, 28 mg/100 mL at 20 °C | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Arsine vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 11320 mmHg | at 21.11 °C | NIOSH |
| 11000 mmHg | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 7823 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC |
Arsine flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | NA (Gas) | NIOSH | |
| Flammable gas | ICSC |
Arsine lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 5.1 % by volume | NIOSH | |
| 4.5 % by volume | ICSC |
Arsine upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 78 % by volume | NIOSH |
Arsine vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 2.66 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 2.7 (air = 1) | ICSC | ||
| 2.69 (air = 1) | OSHA |
Arsine odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Odor Threshold Low: 1.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map | |
| Odor threshold from AIHA: all referenced values < 1.0 ppm | Haz-Map |
Arsine critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 99.95 °C (211.9 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Arsine 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.
Arsine fire potential
Flammable when exposed to flame.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Odor
The odor cannot always be relied upon for detection of the gas even though it often has an offensive smell resembling that of onions or carbide, which should arouse suspicion.
Source: HSDB
10 · Handling and storage
Arsine storage and handling
Arsine safe storage
Fireproof if in building. Cool. Ventilation along the floor.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Arsine storage conditions
Store in areas clear of food or food products and combustible materials.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Arsine incompatible materials
Occupational exposure: there is a high potential for generation of arsine gas when inorganic arsenic is exposed to nascent (freshly formed) molecular hydrogen.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Arsine reactivity
ARSINE decomposes into its elements (arsenic, gaseous hydrogen) when heated to 300 °C. Can form accidentally by the reaction of arsenic impurities with mineral acids (hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid) in the presence of common metals (iron, zinc). A reducing agent---not oxidized by air at room temperature [Kirk-Othmer, 3rd ed., Vol. 3, 1978, p. 251], but may react vigorously with other oxidizing agents [Sax, 9th ed., 1996, p. 279]. Moderately explosive in combination with chlorine or nitric acid. When heated to decomposition or ignited, it emits highly toxic fumes of metallic arsenic.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Arsine in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Arsine 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.
The same CAS number is shipped under more than one UN number. Which entry applies follows from the form and the concentration of the consignment — read the proper shipping name, not the CAS.
Arsine under UN 2188 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARSINE | 2 | 2TF | — | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 2 is “Gases” (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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsine | 2.3 | — | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 2.3 is “Poisonous gas” (49 CFR 173.2).
Arsine under UN 3522 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARSINE, ADSORBED | 2 | 9TF | — | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 2 is “Gases” (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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsine, adsorbed | 2.3 | — | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 2.3 is “Poisonous gas” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Arsine — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Arsine?
The CAS number of Arsine is 7784-42-1. Its EC number is 232-066-3.
What does a Arsine label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Arsine carries the pictograms Flame, Gas cylinder, Skull and crossbones, Health hazard and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Arsine flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Arsine H220 — extremely flammable gas. The flash point reported for it is NA (Gas) (NIOSH).
Is Arsine a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Arsine. 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 Arsine?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Arsine is 0.05 [ppm] (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). 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 Arsine?
The boiling point reported for Arsine is -62.5 °C (-80.5 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Arsine?
The melting point reported for Arsine is -116 °C (-176.8 °F) (HSDB).
How should Arsine be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Arsine the storage statement P403. Store in areas clear of food or food products and combustible materials. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Arsine
Keep going: substances starting with A, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.