Substance profile
Butyl ether
Butyl ether is a colorless liquid with a mild, ethereal odor.
01 · Identification
What Butyl ether is
Butyl ether is a colorless liquid with a mild, ethereal odor. Its molecular formula is C8H18O and its molecular weight is 130.23 g/mol. It boils at 141 °C, melts at -95.2 °C, is miscible with water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Warning. It is classed as flammable agents - 3rd degree.
02 · Identifiers
Butyl ether identifiers and molecular data
Butyl ether CAS number and EC number
Butyl ether molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Butyl ether
- di-n-butyl ether
- dibutyl ether
03 · GHS classification
Butyl ether hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Butyl ether pictograms and signal word
Butyl ether hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 3 | H226 | GHS02 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 2 | H315 | GHS07 |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation GHS chapter 3.3 | Category 2A | H319 | GHS07 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 3 | H412 | — |
Butyl ether hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H226 | Flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
| H412 | Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Butyl ether. 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 Butyl ether
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 Butyl ether 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
Butyl ether precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 16 precautionary statements to Butyl ether. 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
Butyl ether 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 | ди- n -бутилов етер дибутилов етер |
| Spanish español | Éter di- n -butílico éter dibutílico |
| Czech čeština | di- n -butylether dibutylether |
| Danish dansk | di- n -butylether dibutylether |
| German Deutsch | Di- n -butylether Dibutylether |
| Estonian eesti | di- n -butüüleeter dibutüüleeter |
| Greek ελληνικά | δι- n -βουτυλαιθέρας διβουτυλαιθέρας |
| English English | di- n -butyl ether dibutyl ether |
| French français | oxyde de di- n -butyle oxyde de dibutyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | di- n -butil-eter dibutil-eter |
| Italian italiano | di- n -butil-etere dibutil etere |
| Latvian latviešu | di- n -butilēteris dibutilēteris |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | di- n -butileteris dibutileteris |
| Hungarian magyar | di- n -butil-éter dibutil-éter |
| Maltese Malti | eter tad-di- n -butil eter tad-dibutil |
| Dutch Nederlands | di- n -butylether dibutylether |
| Polish polski | eter di- n -butylowy eter dibutylowy |
| Portuguese português | éter di- n -butílico éter dibutílico |
| Romanian română | di- n -butil-eter dibutil-eter |
| Slovak slovenčina | di- n -butyléter dibutyléter |
| Slovenian slovenščina | di- n -butil eter dibutil eter |
| Finnish suomi | di- n -butyylieetteri dibutyylieetteri |
| Swedish svenska | di- n -butyleter dibutyleter |
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
Butyl ether GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Butyl ether, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Warning
Butyl ether
- Flammable liquid and vapour.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes skin irritation.
- Causes serious eye irritation.
- Harmful 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.
- Use explosion-proof [electrical/ventilating/lighting/…] equipment.
- Use only non-sparking tools.
- Wash … thoroughly after handling.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF IN EYES:
- Get medical advice/attention.
- If skin irritation occurs:
- If eye irritation persists:
- Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- Wash with plenty of water/…
- 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 Butyl ether in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Butyl ether health hazards and exposure limits
Butyl ether hazard summary
May form explosive peroxides; [Hawley] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; May have effects on CNS and liver; Defats the skin; [ICSC] A skin and eye irritant; [eChemPortal: ERMA] An irritant; Effects in high-dose animal studies include general anesthesia and fatty liver degeneration; [MSDSonline]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Butyl ether 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.
Butyl ether boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 140.8 °C (285.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| 142.22 °C (288 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| 142 °C (287.6 °F) | ICSC |
Butyl ether melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -95.2 °C (-139.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| -97.78 °C (-144 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| -95 °C (-139 °F) | ICSC |
Butyl ether density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.7684 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
| 0.767 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 0.8 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | ICSC |
Butyl ether solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Miscible with benzene and most org solvents | HSDB | |
| Sol in all prop in alc, ether; very sol in acetone | HSDB | ||
| Miscible with oxygenated solvents | HSDB |
Butyl ether vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 4.8 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
| 3.4503 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC | |
| 6.01 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Butyl ether flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 37 °C (98.6 °F) | CLOSED CUP | HSDB |
| 25 °C (77 °F) | CAMEO |
Butyl ether autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 194.44 °C (382 °F) | HSDB | |
| 175 °C (347 °F) | ICSC |
Butyl ether lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.5 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 0.9 % by volume | ICSC |
Butyl ether upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 7.6 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 8.5 % by volume | ICSC |
Butyl ether vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 1.48 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 4.48 (air = 1) | CAMEO | ||
| 4.5 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Butyl ether odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | 0.37 mg/cu m (odor low) 2.50 mg/cu m (odor high). | HSDB | |
| Odor threshold high = 0.37 mg/m3, low = 2.50 mg/m3 | Haz-Map |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Butyl ether 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.
Butyl ether fire potential
ONLY ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT OF EXPLOSION-PROOF TYPE (GROUP C CLASSIFICATION) IS PERMITTED TO BE OPERATED IN ETHER AREAS. ETHER SHOULD NOT BE STORED NEAR POWERFUL OXIDIZERS OR IN AREAS OF HIGH FIRE HAZARD. /ETHERS/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Butyl ether storage and handling
Butyl ether peroxide formation
B*: Compounds that form peroxides on concentration (distillation/evaporation)
Source: Lab and Research Safety, University of Minnesota
Butyl ether safe storage
Fireproof. Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Separated from incompatible materials. See Chemical Dangers. Cool. Keep in the dark. Store only if stabilized. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Butyl ether storage conditions
/DUE TO FIRE HAZARD, ETHERS/ ... SHOULD BE KEPT COOL & CONTAINERS ELECTRICALLY GROUNDED TO AVOID SPARKS ... . /ETHERS/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Butyl ether incompatible materials
Forms explosive mixture with air. May accumulate static electrical charges, and may cause ignition of its vapors. Incompatible with strong acids, oxidizers. Contact with air or light may form unstable and explosive peroxides, especially anhydrous form.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Butyl ether reactivity
Ethers, such as N-BUTYL ETHER can act as bases. They form salts with strong acids and addition complexes with Lewis acids. The complex between diethyl ether and boron trifluoride is an example. Ethers may react violently with strong oxidizing agents. In other reactions, which typically involve the breaking of the carbon-oxygen bond, ethers are relatively inert.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Butyl ether in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Butyl ether — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Butyl ether?
The CAS number of Butyl ether is 142-96-1. Its EC number is 205-575-3.
What is the chemical formula of Butyl ether?
The molecular formula of Butyl ether is C8H18O and its molecular weight is 130.23 g/mol.
What does a Butyl ether label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Butyl ether carries the pictograms Flame and Exclamation mark and the signal word is Warning.
Is Butyl ether flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Butyl ether H226 — flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is 37 °C (98.6 °F), CLOSED CUP (HSDB).
Is Butyl ether a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Butyl ether. 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 boiling point of Butyl ether?
The boiling point reported for Butyl ether is 140.8 °C (285.4 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Butyl ether?
The melting point reported for Butyl ether is -95.2 °C (-139.4 °F) (HSDB).
How should Butyl ether be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Butyl ether the storage statement P403. /DUE TO FIRE HAZARD, ETHERS/ ... SHOULD BE KEPT COOL & CONTAINERS ELECTRICALLY GROUNDED TO AVOID SPARKS ... . /ETHERS/ (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Butyl ether
Keep going: substances starting with B, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.