Substance profile
Benzophenone
Benzophenone is orthorhombic prisms from alcohol (alpha); monoclinic prisms (beta) with a geranium-like odor.
01 · Identification
What Benzophenone is
Benzophenone is orthorhombic prisms from alcohol (alpha); monoclinic prisms (beta) with a geranium-like odor. Its molecular formula is C13H10O and its molecular weight is 182.22 g/mol. It boils at 306 °C, melts at 48.5 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger.
02 · Identifiers
Benzophenone identifiers and molecular data
Benzophenone CAS number and EC number
Benzophenone molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Benzophenone hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Benzophenone pictograms and signal word
Benzophenone hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carcinogenicity GHS chapter 3.6 | Category 1A or 1B | H350 | GHS08 |
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.
Benzophenone hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H350 | May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Benzophenone. 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 Benzophenone
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 Benzophenone 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
Benzophenone precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 4 precautionary statements to Benzophenone. 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.
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
Benzophenone 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 | бензофенон |
| Spanish español | Benzofenona |
| Czech čeština | benzofenon |
| Danish dansk | benzophenon |
| German Deutsch | Benzophenon |
| Estonian eesti | bensofenoon |
| Greek ελληνικά | βενζοφαινόνη |
| English English | benzophenone |
| French français | benzophénone |
| Croatian hrvatski | benzofenon |
| Italian italiano | benzofenone |
| Latvian latviešu | benzofenons |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | benzfenonas |
| Hungarian magyar | benzofenon |
| Maltese Malti | benżofenon |
| Dutch Nederlands | benzofenon |
| Polish polski | benzofenon |
| Portuguese português | benzofenona |
| Romanian română | benzofenonă |
| Slovak slovenčina | benzofenonă |
| Slovenian slovenščina | benzofenon |
| Finnish suomi | bentsofenoni |
| Swedish svenska | bensofenon |
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
Benzophenone GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Benzophenone, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Benzophenone
- May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Obtain special instructions before use.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF exposed or concerned:
- Get medical advice/attention.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Benzophenone in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Benzophenone health hazards and exposure limits
Benzophenone hazard summary
A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; [ICSC] An irritant; [MSDSonline] Liver changes as in chronic hepatitis were noted in high-dose animal studies; [AIHA] See Oxybenzone.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Benzophenone carcinogenicity classification
Under the conditions of these 2-year studies, there was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of benzophenone in male F344/N rats based on increased incidences of renal tubule adenoma; mononuclear cell leukemia in male F344/N rats may have been related to benzophenone exposure. There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of benzophenone in female F344/N rats based on the marginally increased incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia and histiocytic sarcoma. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of benzophenone in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of hepatocellular neoplasms, primarily adenoma. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of benzophenone in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of histiocytic sarcoma; the incidences of hepatocellular adenoma in female B6C3F1 mice may have been related to benzophenone exposure.
Source: US National Toxicology Program · TR-533: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Benzophenone (CASRN 119-61-9) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Feed Studies) (2006 )
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.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Benzophenone 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.
Benzophenone boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 305.9 °C (582.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 305.89 °C (582.6 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| 305 °C (581 °F) | ICSC |
Benzophenone melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 48.5 °C (119.3 °F) | HSDB | |
| 47 °C (116.6 °F) | gamma-Benzophenone | HSDB | |
| -83.67 °C (-118.6 °F) | CAMEO |
Benzophenone density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.1 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 1.085 g/cm³ | OSHA | ||
| 1.111 g/cm³ | at 18 °C | HSDB |
Benzophenone solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | One gram dissolves in 7.5 mL alcohol and 6 mL ether; soluble in chloroform | HSDB | |
| Very soluble in acetone, acetic acid, and carbon disulfide; soluble in benzene and methanol. | HSDB | ||
| In water, 1.37X10+2 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Benzophenone vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 1 mmHg | at 108.2 °C | DOE PAC |
| 0.0019 mmHg | Haz-Map |
Benzophenone flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 132.22 °C (270 °F) | above this value | CAMEO |
| 146 °C (294.8 °F) | Haz-Map |
Benzophenone vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 6.3 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Benzophenone 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.
Benzophenone fire potential
Combustible
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Benzophenone storage and handling
Benzophenone safe storage
Separated from strong oxidants. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Benzophenone storage conditions
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities: Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Recommended storage temperature -20 °C.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Benzophenone incompatible materials
Dust can form explosive mixture with air.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Benzophenone reactivity
Ketones, such as BENZOPHENONE, are reactive with many acids and bases liberating heat and flammable gases (e.g., H2). The amount of heat may be sufficient to start a fire in the unreacted portion of the ketone. Ketones react with reducing agents such as hydrides, alkali metals, and nitrides to produce flammable gas (H2) and heat. Ketones are incompatible with isocyanates, aldehydes, cyanides, peroxides, and anhydrides. They react violently with aldehydes, HNO3, HNO3 + H2O2, and HClO4. This compound can react with oxidizing materials. (NTP, 1992)
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Benzophenone in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Benzophenone — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Benzophenone?
The CAS number of Benzophenone is 119-61-9. Its EC number is 204-337-6.
What is the chemical formula of Benzophenone?
The molecular formula of Benzophenone is C13H10O and its molecular weight is 182.22 g/mol.
What does a Benzophenone label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Benzophenone carries the pictogram Health hazard and the signal word is Danger.
Is Benzophenone flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Benzophenone 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 132.22 °C (270 °F), above this value (CAMEO).
Is Benzophenone a carcinogen?
Yes. CLP Annex VI classifies Benzophenone as a category 1A or 1B carcinogen and assigns it H350: may cause cancer. IARC places it in Group 2B: possibly carcinogenic to humans.
What is the boiling point of Benzophenone?
The boiling point reported for Benzophenone is 305.9 °C (582.6 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Benzophenone?
The melting point reported for Benzophenone is 48.5 °C (119.3 °F) (HSDB).
How should Benzophenone be stored?
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities: Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Recommended storage temperature -20 °C. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Benzophenone
Keep going: substances starting with B, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.