Substance profile
Maleic Acid
Maleic Acid is monoclinic prisms from water with a faint acidulous odor.
01 · Identification
What Maleic Acid is
Maleic Acid is monoclinic prisms from water with a faint acidulous odor. It boils at 135 °C, melts at 133 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Warning.
02 · Identifiers
Maleic Acid identifiers and molecular data
Maleic Acid CAS number and EC number
03 · GHS classification
Maleic Acid hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Maleic Acid pictograms and signal word
Maleic Acid hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| 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.
Maleic Acid hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| 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 Maleic Acid. 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 Maleic Acid
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 Maleic Acid 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
Maleic Acid precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 16 precautionary statements to Maleic Acid. 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
Maleic Acid 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 | малеинова киселина |
| Spanish español | Ácido maleico |
| Czech čeština | maleinová kyselina ( Z )-but-2-endiová kyselina |
| Danish dansk | maleinsyre |
| German Deutsch | Maleinsäure |
| Estonian eesti | maleiinhape |
| Greek ελληνικά | μηλεϊνικό οξύ |
| English English | maleic acid |
| French français | acide maléique |
| Croatian hrvatski | maleinska kiselina |
| Italian italiano | acido maleico |
| Latvian latviešu | maleīnskābe |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | maleino rūgštis |
| Hungarian magyar | maleinsav |
| Maltese Malti | aċidu malejku |
| Dutch Nederlands | maleïnezuur |
| Polish polski | kwas maleinowy |
| Portuguese português | ácido maleico |
| Romanian română | acid maleic |
| Slovak slovenčina | kyselina maleínová |
| Slovenian slovenščina | maleinska kislina |
| Finnish suomi | maleiinihappo |
| Swedish svenska | maleinsyra |
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
Maleic Acid GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Maleic Acid, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Warning
Maleic Acid
- Harmful if swallowed.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes skin irritation.
- Causes serious eye irritation.
- May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Wash … thoroughly after handling.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- 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 IN EYES:
- 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/…
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Maleic Acid in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Maleic Acid health hazards and exposure limits
Maleic Acid hazard summary
A strong irritant; [Merck Index] A severe skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; May cause kidney damage; [ICSC] A skin, eye, nose, and throat irritant; [HSDB] High concentrations may have corrosive effects to skin and eyes; [CHEMINFO] A skin irritant; Corrosive to eyes; [eChemPortal: ERMA] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; [eChemPortal: ESIS] An irritant; May cause serious injury to eyes; [MSDSonline]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Maleic Acid 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.
Maleic Acid boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 135 °C (275 °F) | decomposes, at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Maleic Acid melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 132.5 °C (270.5 °F) | Melting point / Melting Range | HSDB |
| 287 °C (548.6 °F) | HSDB | ||
| 131 °C (267.8 °F) | ICSC |
Maleic Acid density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.59 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 1.59 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Maleic Acid solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | In water, 788 g/L at 25 °C, 3926 g/L at 97.5 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
| 79.000 lb/100 lb water at 77 °F | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| In water, 441,000 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Maleic Acid vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0.0000134 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
| 0.000036 mmHg | at 25 °C | ICSC | |
| 0.0000359 mmHg | at 25 °C | DOE PAC |
Maleic Acid flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 127 °C (260.6 °F) | ICSC |
Maleic Acid vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 4 (air = 1) | HSDB |
Maleic Acid corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | May corrode metals when wet. | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Maleic Acid 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.
Maleic Acid fire potential
Combustible when exposed to heat or flame.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Maleic Acid storage and handling
Maleic Acid safe storage
Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Separated from food and feedstuffs. Dry. Store only in original packaging.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Maleic Acid storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Keep in a dry place. Storage class (TRGS 510): Non Combustible Solids
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Maleic Acid incompatible materials
Oxidizing agents
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Maleic Acid reactivity
MALEIC ACID is a colorless to white crystalline solid. Moderately toxic. When heated to decomposition it emits irritating fumes and acrid smoke [Lewis, 3rd ed., 1993, p. 790].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Maleic Acid in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Maleic Acid — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Maleic Acid?
The CAS number of Maleic Acid is 110-16-7. Its EC number is 203-742-5.
What does a Maleic Acid label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Maleic Acid carries the pictogram Exclamation mark and the signal word is Warning.
Is Maleic Acid flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Maleic Acid 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. The flash point reported for it is 127 °C (260.6 °F) (ICSC).
Is Maleic Acid a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Maleic Acid. 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 Maleic Acid?
The boiling point reported for Maleic Acid is 135 °C (275 °F), decomposes, at 760 mmHg (CAMEO).
What is the melting point of Maleic Acid?
The melting point reported for Maleic Acid is 132.5 °C (270.5 °F), Melting point / Melting Range (HSDB).
How should Maleic Acid be stored?
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Keep in a dry place. Storage class (TRGS 510): Non Combustible Solids (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Maleic Acid
Keep going: substances starting with M, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.