Substance profile
Ethephon
Ethephon is needles from benzene.
01 · Identification
What Ethephon is
Ethephon is needles from benzene. Its molecular formula is C2H6ClO3P and its molecular weight is 144.49 g/mol. It boils at 265 °C, melts at 74.5 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger.
02 · Identifiers
Ethephon identifiers and molecular data
Ethephon CAS number and EC number
Ethephon molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Ethephon
- 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid
03 · GHS classification
Ethephon hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Ethephon pictograms and signal word
Ethephon hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H311 | GHS06 |
| 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 - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 2 | H411 | 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.
Ethephon hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H311 | Toxic in contact with skin. |
| H332 | Harmful if inhaled. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| H411 | Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
Ethephon supplemental EU statements (EUH)
| Code | Statement |
|---|---|
| EUH071 | Corrosive to the respiratory tract. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Ethephon. 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 Ethephon
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 Ethephon 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
Ethephon precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 15 precautionary statements to Ethephon. 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
Ethephon 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 | етефон 2-хлороетилфосфонова киселина |
| Spanish español | Etefón ácido 2-cloroetilfosfónico |
| Czech čeština | ethefon (2-chlorethyl)fosfonová kyselina |
| Danish dansk | ethephon 2-chlorethylphosphonsyre |
| German Deutsch | Ethephon 2-Chlorethylphosphonsäure |
| Estonian eesti | etefoon 2-kloroetüülfosfoonhape |
| Greek ελληνικά | αιθεφόνη 2-χλωροαιθυλοφωσφονικό οξύ |
| English English | ethephon 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid |
| French français | éthéphon acide 2-chloroéthylphosphonique |
| Croatian hrvatski | etefon 2-kloretil-fosfonska kiselina |
| Italian italiano | ethephon acido 2-cloroetilfosfonico |
| Latvian latviešu | etefons 2-hloretilfosfonskābe |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | etefonas 2-chloretilfosfono rūgštis |
| Hungarian magyar | etefon 2-klóretilfoszfonsav |
| Maltese Malti | etefon aċidu 2-kloroetilfosfoniku |
| Dutch Nederlands | ethefon 2-chloorethylfosfonzuur |
| Polish polski | etefon (ISO) kwas 2-chloroetylofosfonowy |
| Portuguese português | etefão ácido 2-cloroetilfosfónico |
| Romanian română | etefon acid 2-cloretilfosfonic |
| Slovak slovenčina | etefón kyselina (2-chlóretyl)fosfónová |
| Slovenian slovenščina | etefon 2-kloroetilfosfonska kislina |
| Finnish suomi | etefoni 2-kloorietyylifosfonihappo |
| Swedish svenska | etefon 2-kloretylfosfonsyra |
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
Ethephon GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Ethephon, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Ethephon
- Toxic in contact with skin.
- Harmful if inhaled.
- Harmful if swallowed.
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Corrosive to the respiratory tract.
- 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.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Ethephon in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Ethephon health hazards and exposure limits
Ethephon hazard summary
May cause irritation; [HSDB] May cause burns; [eChemPortal: ESIS] A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis; A cholinesterase inhibitor; May be absorbed through skin; [MSDSonline]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Ethephon carcinogenicity classification
Cancer Classification: Group D Not Classifiable as to Human Carcinogenicity
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.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Ethephon 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.
Ethephon boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 265 °C (509 °F) | decomposes, decomposes | HSDB |
Ethephon melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 74.5 °C (166.1 °F) | range, midpoint shown | HSDB |
Ethephon density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.2 g/cm³ | HSDB |
Ethephon solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Freely soluble in ethylene glycol, propylene glycol; practically insoluble in petroleum ether | HSDB | |
| VERY SLIGHTLY SOL IN AROMATIC SOLVENTS; VERY SOL IN ALCOHOL | HSDB | ||
| Soluble in short-chain alcohols; sparingly soluble in nonpolar organic solvents; insoluble in kerosene and diesel oil. | HSDB |
Ethephon vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 7.5e-8 mmHg | below this value, at 20 °C | HSDB |
| 1e-7 mmHg | Haz-Map |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Ethephon 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.
Ethephon fire potential
NONFLAMMABLE
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Ethephon storage and handling
Ethephon storage conditions
Keep out of reach of children and animals. Store in original containers only. Store in a cool, dry place. Carefully open containers. After partial use, replace lids and close tightly. Do not put concentrate or dilute material into food or drink containers. Do not contaminate water, food, or feed by storage or disposal. /Boll Buster/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Ethephon incompatible materials
Incompatibility: Oxidizing agents ans alkaline materials. Corrosive to iron, mild steel, aluminum, and copper. /Boll Buster/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Ethephon in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Ethephon — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Ethephon?
The CAS number of Ethephon is 16672-87-0. Its EC number is 240-718-3.
What is the chemical formula of Ethephon?
The molecular formula of Ethephon is C2H6ClO3P and its molecular weight is 144.49 g/mol.
What does a Ethephon label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Ethephon carries the pictograms Skull and crossbones, Corrosion and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Ethephon flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Ethephon 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.
Is Ethephon a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Ethephon. 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 Ethephon?
The boiling point reported for Ethephon is 265 °C (509 °F), decomposes, decomposes (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Ethephon?
The melting point reported for Ethephon is 74.5 °C (166.1 °F), range, midpoint shown (HSDB).
How should Ethephon be stored?
Keep out of reach of children and animals. Store in original containers only. Store in a cool, dry place. Carefully open containers. After partial use, replace lids and close tightly. Do not put concentrate or dilute material into food or drink containers. Do not contaminate water, food, or feed by storage or disposal. /Boll Buster/ (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Ethephon
Keep going: substances starting with E, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.