Substance profile
Ethyl Nitrite
Ethyl Nitrite is a colorless or yellowish, clear liquid with a sweet, rum-like odor.
01 · Identification
What Ethyl Nitrite is
Ethyl Nitrite is a colorless or yellowish, clear liquid with a sweet, rum-like odor. It boils at 17 °C, melts at -50 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 4th degree.
02 · Identifiers
Ethyl Nitrite identifiers and molecular data
Ethyl Nitrite CAS number and EC number
Ethyl Nitrite molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Ethyl Nitrite hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Ethyl Nitrite pictograms and signal word
Ethyl Nitrite hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable gases GHS chapter 2.2 | Category 1A | H220 | 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 4 | H332 | GHS07 |
Ethyl Nitrite hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H220 | Extremely flammable gas. |
| H332 | Harmful if inhaled. |
| H312 | Harmful in contact with skin. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Ethyl Nitrite. 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 Nitrite
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 Nitrite 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 Nitrite precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 13 precautionary statements to Ethyl Nitrite. 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 Nitrite 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 нитрит |
| Spanish español | Nitrito de etilo |
| Czech čeština | ethyl-nitrit |
| Danish dansk | ethylnitrit |
| German Deutsch | Ethylnitrit |
| Estonian eesti | etüülnitrit |
| Greek ελληνικά | νιτρώδης αιθυλεστέρας |
| English English | ethyl nitrite |
| French français | nitrite d'éthyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | etil-nitrit |
| Italian italiano | nitrito di etile |
| Latvian latviešu | etilnitrīts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | etilnitritas |
| Hungarian magyar | etil-nitrit |
| Maltese Malti | nitrit tal-etil |
| Dutch Nederlands | ethylnitriet |
| Polish polski | azotan(III) etylu |
| Portuguese português | nitrito de etilo |
| Romanian română | azotit de etil |
| Slovak slovenčina | etyl-nitrit |
| Slovenian slovenščina | etil nitrit |
| Finnish suomi | etyylinitriitti |
| Swedish svenska | etylnitrit |
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 Nitrite GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Ethyl Nitrite, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Ethyl Nitrite
- Extremely flammable gas.
- Harmful if inhaled.
- Harmful in contact with skin.
- Harmful if swallowed.
- Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
- Keep container tightly closed.
- 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.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF INHALED:
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Rinse mouth.
- 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 Nitrite in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Ethyl Nitrite health hazards and exposure limits
Ethyl Nitrite hazard summary
Inhalation or ingestion can cause headache, rapid pulse, hypotension, and unconsciousness. [CHRIS] One fatality was reported after the breakage of a 4 liter bottle containing 24% ethyl nitrite in alcohol. Three cases of methemoglobinemia were reported in workers exposed during the synthesis of hydantoin (glycolylurea). [HSDB] Inhalation of high concentrations causes narcosis; Chronic exposure to chemicals with this reactive group can cause hepatitis; [CAMEO]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Ethyl Nitrite 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 Nitrite boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 17 °C (62.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 17.22 °C (63 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| 17 °C (62.6 °F) | at 760 mmHg | DOE PAC |
Ethyl Nitrite melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -50 °C (-58 °F) | HSDB |
Ethyl Nitrite density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.9 g/cm³ | at 15.5 °C | DOE PAC |
| 0.9 g/cm³ | at 15 °C | HSDB |
Ethyl Nitrite solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water; decomposes in water; miscible with alcohol, ether | decomposes | HSDB |
Ethyl Nitrite vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 620 mmHg | Haz-Map |
Ethyl Nitrite flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | -35 °C (-31 °F) | CLOSED CUP | HSDB |
| -35 °C (-31 °F) | CAMEO |
Ethyl Nitrite autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 90 °C (194 °F) | CAMEO | |
| 90 °C (194 °F) | decomposes | HSDB |
Ethyl Nitrite lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 4 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 3 % by volume | CAMEO |
Ethyl Nitrite upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 50 % by volume | HSDB |
Ethyl Nitrite vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 2.6 (air = 1) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Ethyl Nitrite 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 Nitrite fire potential
Flammable liquid.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Ethyl Nitrite storage and handling
Ethyl Nitrite storage conditions
KEEP TIGHTLY CLOSED, IN A COOL PLACE, PROTECTED FROM LIGHT.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Ethyl Nitrite incompatible materials
DISASTER HAZARD: HIGHLY DANGEROUS; WHEN HEATED TO DECOMPOSITION OR ON CONTACT WITH ACID OR ACID FUMES, EMITS HIGHLY TOXIC FUMES OF NO(X)...
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Ethyl Nitrite reactivity
ETHYL NITRITE is a powerful oxidizing agent. Highly dangerous in contact with acid or acid fumes. Dangerous when heated. Decomposes spontaneously at 194 °F. Decomposed by light.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Ethyl Nitrite in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Ethyl Nitrite 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 Nitrite under UN 1194 — 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 NITRITE SOLUTION | 3 | FT1 | I | |
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 nitrite solutions | 3 | I | |
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 Nitrite — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Ethyl Nitrite?
The CAS number of Ethyl Nitrite is 109-95-5. Its EC number is 203-722-6.
What does a Ethyl Nitrite label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Ethyl Nitrite carries the pictograms Flame, Gas cylinder and Exclamation mark and the signal word is Danger.
Is Ethyl Nitrite flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Ethyl Nitrite H220 — extremely flammable gas. The flash point reported for it is -35 °C (-31 °F), CLOSED CUP (HSDB).
Is Ethyl Nitrite a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Ethyl Nitrite. 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 Ethyl Nitrite?
The boiling point reported for Ethyl Nitrite is 17 °C (62.6 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Ethyl Nitrite?
The melting point reported for Ethyl Nitrite is -50 °C (-58 °F) (HSDB).
How should Ethyl Nitrite be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Ethyl Nitrite the storage statement P403. KEEP TIGHTLY CLOSED, IN A COOL PLACE, PROTECTED FROM LIGHT. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Ethyl Nitrite
Keep going: substances starting with E, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.