Substance profile
Ethylbenzene
Ethylbenzene is a colorless liquid with an aromatic odor.
01 · Identification
What Ethylbenzene is
Ethylbenzene is a colorless liquid with an aromatic odor. It boils at 136 °C, melts at -94.9 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
Ethylbenzene identifiers and molecular data
Ethylbenzene CAS number and EC number
Ethylbenzene molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Ethylbenzene hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Ethylbenzene pictograms and signal word
Ethylbenzene hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 2 | H225 | GHS02 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H332 | GHS07 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure GHS chapter 3.9 | Category 2 | H373 | GHS08 |
| Aspiration hazard GHS chapter 3.10 | Category 1 | H304 | GHS08 |
Ethylbenzene hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H332 | Harmful if inhaled. |
| H304 | May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. |
| H373 | May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Ethylbenzene. 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 Ethylbenzene
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 Ethylbenzene 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
Ethylbenzene precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 11 precautionary statements to Ethylbenzene. 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
Ethylbenzene 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 | етилбензен |
| Spanish español | Etilbenceno |
| Czech čeština | ethylbenzen |
| Danish dansk | ethylbenzen |
| German Deutsch | Ethylbenzol |
| Estonian eesti | etüülbenseen |
| Greek ελληνικά | αιθυλοβενζόλιο |
| English English | ethylbenzene |
| French français | éthylbenzène |
| Croatian hrvatski | etilbenzen |
| Italian italiano | etilbenzene |
| Latvian latviešu | etilbenzols |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | etilbenzenas |
| Hungarian magyar | etilbenzol |
| Maltese Malti | etilbenżen |
| Dutch Nederlands | ethylbenzeen |
| Polish polski | etylobenzen fenyloetan |
| Portuguese português | etilbenzeno |
| Romanian română | etilbenzen |
| Slovak slovenčina | etylbenzén |
| Slovenian slovenščina | etilbenzen |
| Finnish suomi | etyylibentseeni |
| Swedish svenska | etylbensen |
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
Ethylbenzene GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Ethylbenzene, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Ethylbenzene
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- Harmful if inhaled.
- May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
- May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- 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.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- IF INHALED:
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Ethylbenzene in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Ethylbenzene health hazards and exposure limits
Ethylbenzene hazard summary
Ethylbenzene is a colorless, flammable liquid that smells like gasoline. It is found in natural products such as coal tar and petroleum and is also found in manufactured products such as inks, insecticides, and paints. Ethylbenzene is used primarily to make another chemical, styrene. Other uses include as a solvent, in fuels, and to make other chemicals.
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Ethylbenzene carcinogenicity classification
Under the conditions of these 2-year inhalation studies, there was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in male F344/N rats based on increased incidences of renal tubule neoplasms. The incidences of testicular adenoma were also increased. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in female F344/N rats based on increased incidences of renal tubule adenomas. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of hepatocellular neoplasms.
Source: US National Toxicology Program · TR-466: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Ethylbenzene (CASRN 100-41-4) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies) (1999 )
CLASSIFICATION: D; not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: nonclassifiable due to lack of animal bioassays and human studies. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA: None. ANIMAL CARCINOGENICITY DATA: None. NTP has plans to initiate bioassay. Metabolism and excretion studies at 3.5, 35 and 350 mg/kg are to be conducted as well.
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.
Ethylbenzene occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 100.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 100 ppm (435 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 100 ppm (435 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 125 ppm (545 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) ST 125 ppm (545 mg/m3) | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 800 ppm ; Based on 10% of the lower explosive limit. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 800.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs: Human data: Dizziness was caused in one volunteer after a 5minute exposure to 2,000 ppm [Yant et al. 1930]. | 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
Ethylbenzene 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.
Ethylbenzene boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 136.2 °C (277.2 °F) | HSDB | |
| 136.11 °C (277 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 136.22 °C (277.2 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Ethylbenzene melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -94.95 °C (-138.9 °F) | HSDB | |
| -95 °C (-139 °F) | NIOSH |
Ethylbenzene density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.67 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 0.87 g/cm³ | NIOSH | ||
| 0.8626 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Ethylbenzene solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Soluble in all proportions in ethyl alcohol and ethyl ether | HSDB | |
| In water, 170 mg/L at 25 °C (average of 16 literature ranging from 131-212 mg/L at 25 °C) | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| In water, 169 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Ethylbenzene vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 7 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 6.7506 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC | |
| 9.6 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Ethylbenzene flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 15 °C (59 °F) | HSDB | |
| 17.78 °C (64 °F) | HSDB | ||
| 21.11 °C (70 °F) | HSDB |
Ethylbenzene autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 432.22 °C (810 °F) | HSDB | |
| 460 °C (860 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 432 °C (809.6 °F) | ICSC |
Ethylbenzene lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 0.8 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 1.2 % by volume | HSDB |
Ethylbenzene upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 6.7 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 6.8 % by volume | HSDB |
Ethylbenzene vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 3.66 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 3.7 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Ethylbenzene odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | 140 ppm | Purity not specified | HSDB |
| 2-2.6 mg/cu m; detection: 0.4 mg/cu m | Purity not specified | HSDB | |
| Odor Low: 8.7 mg/cu m, Odor High: 870.0 mg/cu m | HSDB |
Ethylbenzene critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 343.95 °C (651.1 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Ethylbenzene 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.
Ethylbenzene fire potential
A very dangerous fire ... hazard when exposed to heat or flame ...
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Ethylbenzene storage and handling
Ethylbenzene peroxide formation
D*: Other compounds that may form peroxides
Source: Lab and Research Safety, University of Minnesota
Ethylbenzene safe storage
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants. Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Ethylbenzene storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Hygroscopic. Storage class (TRGS 510): Flammable liquids.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Ethylbenzene incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Strong oxidizing agents.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Ethylbenzene reactivity
ETHYLBENZENE can react vigorously with strong oxidizing materials (NTP, 1992).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Ethylbenzene in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Ethylbenzene 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.
Ethylbenzene under UN 1175 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETHYLBENZENE | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethylbenzene | 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
Ethylbenzene — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Ethylbenzene?
The CAS number of Ethylbenzene is 100-41-4. Its EC number is 202-849-4.
What does a Ethylbenzene label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Ethylbenzene carries the pictograms Flame, Exclamation mark and Health hazard and the signal word is Danger.
Is Ethylbenzene flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Ethylbenzene H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is 15 °C (59 °F) (HSDB).
Is Ethylbenzene a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Ethylbenzene. 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 Ethylbenzene?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Ethylbenzene is 100.0 [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 Ethylbenzene?
The boiling point reported for Ethylbenzene is 136.2 °C (277.2 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Ethylbenzene?
The melting point reported for Ethylbenzene is -94.95 °C (-138.9 °F) (HSDB).
How should Ethylbenzene be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Ethylbenzene the storage statement P403. Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Hygroscopic. Storage class (TRGS 510): Flammable liquids. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Ethylbenzene
Keep going: substances starting with E, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.