Substance profile
Ethyl acetate
Ethyl acetate is a clear, volatile with a characteristic ether-like odor reminiscent of pineapple.
01 · Identification
What Ethyl acetate is
Ethyl acetate is a clear, volatile with a characteristic ether-like odor reminiscent of pineapple. It boils at 77.1 °C, melts at -83.8 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 3rd degree.
02 · Identifiers
Ethyl acetate identifiers and molecular data
Ethyl acetate CAS number and EC number
Ethyl acetate molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Ethyl acetate
- EtOAc
- acetic ester
- Acetic Acid, Ethyl Ester
- Acetic Ether
- Acetidin
- Acetoxyethane
- Ethyl Acetic Ester
- Ethyl Ester Of Acetic Acid
- Ethyl Ethanoate
- Vinegar Naphtha
03 · GHS classification
Ethyl acetate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Ethyl acetate pictograms and signal word
Ethyl acetate hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 2 | H225 | GHS02 |
| 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 narcotic | H336 | GHS07 |
Ethyl acetate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H336 | May cause drowsiness or dizziness. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
Ethyl acetate supplemental EU statements (EUH)
| Code | Statement |
|---|---|
| EUH066 | Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Ethyl acetate. 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 Ethyl acetate
Our own Ethyl acetate safety data sheet walks through all sixteen sections of the published data. What it is not is the document an inspector asks for: an SDS is issued for a product by its supplier, so the sheet covering the grade actually standing in your store exists only in that supplier’s version. Collecting those and keeping them current as suppliers revise them is a separate job.
04 · Precautionary statements
Ethyl acetate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 11 precautionary statements to Ethyl acetate. 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
Ethyl acetate 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 | етилов ацетат |
| Spanish español | Acetato de etilo |
| Czech čeština | ethyl-acetát |
| Danish dansk | ethylacetat |
| German Deutsch | Ethylacetat Essigsäureethylester |
| Estonian eesti | etüülatsetaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | οξικός αιθυλεστέρας οξικό αιθύλιο |
| English English | ethyl acetate |
| French français | acétate d'éthyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | etil-acetat |
| Italian italiano | acetato di etile etilacetato |
| Latvian latviešu | etilacetāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | etilacetatas |
| Hungarian magyar | etil-acetát |
| Maltese Malti | aċetat etiliku |
| Dutch Nederlands | ethylacetaat |
| Polish polski | octan etylu |
| Portuguese português | acetato de etilo |
| Romanian română | acetat de etil |
| Slovak slovenčina | etyl-acetát |
| Slovenian slovenščina | etil acetat |
| Finnish suomi | etyyliasetaatti |
| Swedish svenska | etylacetat |
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
Ethyl acetate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Ethyl acetate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Ethyl acetate
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
- Causes serious eye irritation.
- Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking.
- 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.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF IN EYES:
- Get medical advice/attention.
- If eye irritation persists:
- Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Ethyl acetate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Ethyl acetate health hazards and exposure limits
Ethyl acetate hazard summary
Ethyl acetate is in the list of Some volatile substances which may be abused by inhalation published on the web site of the U.N. International Drug Control Programme, indicating its potential to cause narcosis in workers. [Reference #1] An eye and respiratory tract irritant; Inhalation of high concentrations may cause CNS effects; [ICSC]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Ethyl acetate occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 400.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 400 ppm (1400 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 400 ppm (1400 mg/m3) | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 400 ppm (1400 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 400 ppm (1400 mg/m3) | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 2000 ppm ; Based on 10% of the lower explosive limit. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 2000.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 2000 ppm | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
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
Ethyl acetate 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.
Ethyl acetate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 77.1 °C (170.8 °F) | HSDB | |
| 77.22 °C (171 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 77.22 °C (171 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Ethyl acetate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -83.8 °C (-118.8 °F) | HSDB | |
| -82.78 °C (-117 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -83.61 °C (-118.5 °F) | CAMEO |
Ethyl acetate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.9 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 0.9003 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 0.902 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
Ethyl acetate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Miscible with ethanol, ethyl ether; very soluble in acetone, benzene | HSDB | |
| In water, 8.0X10+4 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Very soluble in water (64 g/L at 25 °C) | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Ethyl acetate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 73 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 73 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 93.2 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Ethyl acetate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | -4.44 °C (24 °F) | NIOSH | |
| -4 °C (24.8 °F) | ICSC |
Ethyl acetate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 426.67 °C (800 °F) | CAMEO | |
| 427 °C (800.6 °F) | ICSC |
Ethyl acetate lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 2.2 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 0.025 % by volume | HSDB | ||
| 2 % by volume | NIOSH |
Ethyl acetate upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 11.5 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 0.09 % by volume | HSDB |
Ethyl acetate vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 3.04 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 3 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Ethyl acetate odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Ethyl acetate has a fruity odor and an odor threshold of 3.9 ppm. | HSDB | |
| Detection in air: 3.6-1.120 mg cu/m | HSDB | ||
| 0.0196 mg/cu m (low odor); 665.0 mg/cu m (high odor); 350 mg/cu m (irritating concn) | HSDB |
Ethyl acetate critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 250.55 °C (483 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Ethyl acetate 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.
Ethyl acetate fire potential
A very dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Ethyl acetate storage and handling
Ethyl acetate reactive group
CAMEO Chemicals places Ethyl acetate in the reactive group Esters, Sulfate Esters, Phosphate Esters, Thiophosphate Esters, and Borate Esters. Compatibility with other chemicals is worked out from the group, not from the individual substance — which is why two substances you have never seen react can still be flagged as a pair that must be separated.
A reactive group is a CAMEO Chemicals (US NOAA) grouping, not a GHS hazard class: it has no code, no category and no legal force. It is what the storage compatibility matrix on this site computes from.
Ethyl acetate safe storage
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants, strong bases and strong acids.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Ethyl acetate storage conditions
Keep tightly closed in cool place.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Ethyl acetate incompatible materials
... can react vigorously with oxidizing materials ... Potentially explosive reaction with lithium tetrahydroaluminate. Ignites on contact with potassium teri-butoxide. Violent reaction with chlorosulfonic acid, (LiAIH2 + 2-chloromethyl furan), oleum.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Ethyl acetate reactivity
ETHYL ACETATE is also sensitive to heat. On prolonged storage, materials containing similar functional groups have formed explosive peroxides. This chemical may ignite or explode with lithium aluminum hydride. It may also ignite with potassium tert-butoxide. It is incompatible with nitrates, strong alkalis and strong acids. It will attack some forms of plastics, rubber and coatings. It is incompatible with oxidizers such as hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, perchloric acid and chromium trioxide. Violent reactions occur with chlorosulfonic acid. (NTP, 1992). SOCl2 reacts with esters, such as ethyl acetate, forming toxic SO2 gas and water soluble/toxic acyl chlorides, catalyzed by Fe or Zn (Spagnuolo, C.J. et al. 1992. Chemical and Engineering News 70(22):2.).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Ethyl acetate in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Ethyl acetate 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.
Ethyl acetate under UN 1173 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETHYL ACETATE | 3 | F1 | II | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 3 is “Flammable liquids” (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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethyl acetate | 3 | II | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 3 is “Flammable and combustible liquid” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Ethyl acetate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Ethyl acetate?
The CAS number of Ethyl acetate is 141-78-6. Its EC number is 205-500-4.
What does a Ethyl acetate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Ethyl acetate carries the pictograms Flame and Exclamation mark and the signal word is Danger.
Is Ethyl acetate flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Ethyl acetate H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is -4.44 °C (24 °F) (NIOSH).
Is Ethyl acetate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Ethyl acetate. 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 Ethyl acetate?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Ethyl acetate is 400.0 [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 Ethyl acetate?
The boiling point reported for Ethyl acetate is 77.1 °C (170.8 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Ethyl acetate?
The melting point reported for Ethyl acetate is -83.8 °C (-118.8 °F) (HSDB).
How should Ethyl acetate be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Ethyl acetate the storage statement P403. Keep tightly closed in cool place. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Ethyl acetate
Keep going: substances starting with E, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.
Next