Substance profile
Ethyl Acrylate
Ethyl Acrylate is a colorless liquid with an acrid penetrating odor.
01 · Identification
What Ethyl Acrylate is
Ethyl Acrylate is a colorless liquid with an acrid penetrating odor. Its molecular formula is C5H8O2 and its molecular weight is 100.12 g/mol. It boils at 99.4 °C, melts at -71.2 °C, is soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
Ethyl Acrylate identifiers and molecular data
Ethyl Acrylate CAS number and EC number
Ethyl Acrylate molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Ethyl Acrylate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Ethyl Acrylate pictograms and signal word
Ethyl Acrylate hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 2 | H225 | GHS02 |
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H312 | GHS07 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H331 | GHS06 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 2 | H315 | GHS07 |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation GHS chapter 3.3 | Category 2A | H319 | GHS07 |
| Skin sensitisation GHS chapter 3.4 | Category 1 or 1A or 1B | H317 | GHS07 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
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.
Ethyl Acrylate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H312 | Harmful in contact with skin. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
| H317 | May cause an allergic skin reaction. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Ethyl Acrylate. 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 Acrylate
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 Ethyl Acrylate 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
Ethyl Acrylate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 25 precautionary statements to Ethyl Acrylate. 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 Acrylate 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 акрилат |
| Spanish español | Acrilato de etilo |
| Czech čeština | ethyl-akrylát |
| Danish dansk | ethylacrylat |
| German Deutsch | Ethylacrylat |
| Estonian eesti | etüülakrülaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | ακρυλικός αιθυλεστέρας ακρυλικό αιθύλιο |
| English English | ethyl acrylate |
| French français | acrylate d’éthyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | etil akrilat |
| Italian italiano | acrilato di etile |
| Latvian latviešu | etilakrilāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | etilakrilatas |
| Hungarian magyar | etil-akrilát |
| Maltese Malti | akrilat tal-etil |
| Dutch Nederlands | ethylacrylaat |
| Polish polski | akrylan etylu |
| Portuguese português | acrilato de etilo |
| Romanian română | acrilat de etil |
| Slovak slovenčina | etyl-akrylát |
| Slovenian slovenščina | etil akrilat |
| Finnish suomi | etyyliakrylaatti |
| Swedish svenska | etylakrylat |
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 Acrylate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Ethyl Acrylate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Ethyl Acrylate
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- Toxic if inhaled.
- Harmful in contact with skin.
- Harmful if swallowed.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes skin irritation.
- Causes serious eye irritation.
- May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- 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.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Wash … thoroughly after handling.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF INHALED:
- IF IN EYES:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Rinse mouth.
- If skin irritation occurs:
- If skin irritation or rash 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.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Ethyl Acrylate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Ethyl Acrylate health hazards and exposure limits
Ethyl Acrylate hazard summary
Exposure to ethyl acrylate is primarily occupational. Acute (short-term) exposure of workers to ethyl acrylate vapors has been reported to cause drowsiness, lethargy, headache, nausea, convulsions, and respiratory and gastrointestinal irritation. Noncancerous lesions and inflammation of the nasal mucosa and depressed body weight gain have been observed in rats and mice exposed by inhalation for a chronic (long-term) duration. Human studies on occupational exposure to ethyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate have suggested a relationship between exposure to the chemical(s) and colorectal cancer, but the evidence is conflicting and inconclusive. In a study by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), increased incidences of squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of the forestomach were observed in rats and mice exposed via gavage (experimentally placing the chemical in the stomach). However, the NTP recently determined that these data were not relevant to human carcinogenicity and removed ethyl acrylate from its list of carcinogens. EPA has classified ethyl acrylate as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen, but has not developed a potency estimate to quantify risk by inhalation.
Source: EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants
Ethyl Acrylate carcinogenicity classification
Under the conditions of these studies, ethyl acrylate was carcinogenic for the forestomach of F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice, causing squamous cell carcinomas in male rats and male mice, squamous cell papillomas in male and female rats and male mice, and squamous cell papillomas or carcinomas (combined) in male and female rats and mice. Evidence for carcinogenicity was greater in males than in females. Ethyl acrylate also caused irritation of the forestomach mucosa in male and female rats and mice.
Source: US National Toxicology Program · TR-259: Carcinogenesis Studies of Ethyl Acrylate (CASRN 140-88-5) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Gavage Studies) (1986 )
NTP delisted ethyl acrylate as a suspected human carcinogen because the forestomach tumors in rats and mice appeared to arise from local tissue irritation and ulceration, rather than from a systemic toxicity, and occurred only at oral doses unlikely to be achieved by chronic human exposure. Ethyl acrylate remains an OSHA Select Carcinogen, due to its evaluation (Group 2B) by the IARC.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Evaluation: No epidimiological data relevant to the carcinogenicity of ethyl acrylate were available. There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of ethyl acrylate. Overall evaluation: Ethyl acrylate is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).
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.
Ethyl Acrylate occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 25.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 25 ppm (100 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 25 ppm (100 mg/m3) [skin] See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | Ca See Appendix A | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 300 ppm ; A potential occupational carcinogen. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 300.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs: Human data: Prolonged inhalation exposures at 50 to 75 ppm produced drowsiness, headache, and nausea [Nemec and Bauer 1978]. | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
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 Acrylate 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 Acrylate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 99.4 °C (210.9 °F) | HSDB | |
| 99.44 °C (211 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 99.78 °C (211.6 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Ethyl Acrylate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -71.2 °C (-96.2 °F) | HSDB | |
| -71.11 °C (-96 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -71.22 °C (-96.2 °F) | CAMEO |
Ethyl Acrylate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.92 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 0.9234 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 0.9107 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Ethyl Acrylate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide; soluble in chloroform; miscible in ethanol, ethyl ether | HSDB | |
| Soluble in alcohol and ether | HSDB | ||
| 2% (wt/vol) in water at 20 °C | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Ethyl Acrylate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 29 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 29.3 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 38.6 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Ethyl Acrylate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 10 °C (50 °F) | open cup | HSDB |
| 15.56 °C (60 °F) | HSDB | ||
| 8.89 °C (48 °F) | NIOSH |
Ethyl Acrylate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 372.22 °C (702 °F) | HSDB | |
| 382.78 °C (721 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 345 °C (653 °F) | ICSC |
Ethyl Acrylate lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.4 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 1.8 % by volume | CAMEO |
Ethyl Acrylate upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 14 % by volume | Ethyl acrylate, inhibited | HSDB |
| 14 % by volume | NIOSH | ||
| 12.1 % by volume | CAMEO |
Ethyl Acrylate vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 3.45 (air = 1) | HSDB |
Ethyl Acrylate odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | 1 ppb (4 ug/cu m) | HSDB | |
| Water: 0.0012 mg/l; Air: 0.00038 ul/l; odor safety class A; A= More than 90% of distracted persons perceive warning of TLV concn in the air. | HSDB | ||
| 2.00x10-4 ppm (odor recognition in air, purity not specified) | HSDB |
Ethyl Acrylate critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 278.89 °C (534 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Ethyl Acrylate 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 Acrylate fire potential
Flammable liquid. A very dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Ethyl Acrylate storage and handling
Ethyl Acrylate safe storage
Fireproof. Cool. Keep in the dark. Store only if stabilized.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Ethyl Acrylate storage conditions
Store in away from heat, oxidizers, and sunlight. Outside or detached storage is preferred. Separate from any oxidizers, peroxides, or other initiators. /Ethyl acrylate, inhibited/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Ethyl Acrylate incompatible materials
Material will react with strong acids and alkalies. /Ethyl acrylate, inhibited/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Ethyl Acrylate reactivity
A flammable liquid, confirmed carcinogen. It can react vigorously with oxidizing reagents, peroxides,strong alkalis and polymerization initiators. [NTP] It reacts violently with chlorosulfonic acid [Sax, 9th ed., 1996, p. 1515]. When an inhibited monomer was placed in a clear glass bottle exposed to sunlight, exothermic polymerization set in and caused the bottle to burst. The use of brown glass or metal containers and increase in inhibitor concentration (to 200 ppm; tenfold) was recommended [MCA Case History No. 1759]. It may polymerize when exposed to light and it is subject to slow hydrolysis. Inhibitors do not function in the absence of air. Solutions in DMSO are stable for 24 hours under normal lab conditions. [NTP].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Ethyl Acrylate in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Ethyl Acrylate 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 Acrylate under UN 1917 — 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 ACRYLATE, STABILIZED | 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 acrylate, stabilized | 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 Acrylate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Ethyl Acrylate?
The CAS number of Ethyl Acrylate is 140-88-5. Its EC number is 205-438-8.
What is the chemical formula of Ethyl Acrylate?
The molecular formula of Ethyl Acrylate is C5H8O2 and its molecular weight is 100.12 g/mol.
What does a Ethyl Acrylate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Ethyl Acrylate carries the pictograms Flame and Skull and crossbones and the signal word is Danger.
Is Ethyl Acrylate flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Ethyl Acrylate H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is 10 °C (50 °F), open cup (HSDB).
Is Ethyl Acrylate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Ethyl Acrylate. 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. IARC places it in Group 2B: possibly carcinogenic to humans.
What is the exposure limit for Ethyl Acrylate?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Ethyl Acrylate is 25.0 [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 Acrylate?
The boiling point reported for Ethyl Acrylate is 99.4 °C (210.9 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Ethyl Acrylate?
The melting point reported for Ethyl Acrylate is -71.2 °C (-96.2 °F) (HSDB).
How should Ethyl Acrylate be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Ethyl Acrylate the storage statement P403. Store in away from heat, oxidizers, and sunlight. Outside or detached storage is preferred. Separate from any oxidizers, peroxides, or other initiators. /Ethyl acrylate, inhibited/ (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Ethyl Acrylate
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