Substance profile
Methanol
Methanol is a colorless liquid with a slight alcoholic odor when pure; repulsive, pungent odor when crude.
01 · Identification
What Methanol is
Methanol is a colorless liquid with a slight alcoholic odor when pure; repulsive, pungent odor when crude. Its molecular formula is CH4O and its molecular weight is 32.042 g/mol. It boils at 64.7 °C, melts at -97.8 °C, is miscible with water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
Methanol identifiers and molecular data
Methanol CAS number and EC number
Methanol molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Methanol
- methyl alcohol
- wood alcohol
- CH3OH
- Carbinol
- Colonial Spirit
- Columbian Spirit
- Columbian Spirits
- Methanol Cluster
- Methyl Hydroxide
- Methylol
- Monohydroxymethane
- Pyroligneous Spirit
- Pyroxylic Spirit
- Solutions, Bieleski'S
- Wood Naphtha
03 · GHS classification
Methanol hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Methanol pictograms and signal word
Methanol 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 3 | H301 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H311 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H331 | GHS06 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 1 | H370 | GHS08 |
Methanol hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H311 | Toxic in contact with skin. |
| H301 | Toxic if swallowed. |
| H370 | Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> <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 Methanol. 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 Methanol
Our own Methanol 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
Methanol precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 17 precautionary statements to Methanol. 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
Methanol 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 | метанол |
| Spanish español | Metanol |
| Czech čeština | methanol |
| Danish dansk | methanol |
| German Deutsch | Methanol Methylalkohol |
| Estonian eesti | metanool |
| Greek ελληνικά | μεθανόλη |
| English English | methanol |
| French français | méthanol |
| Croatian hrvatski | metanol |
| Italian italiano | metanolo alcool metilico |
| Latvian latviešu | metanols |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | metanolis |
| Hungarian magyar | metanol |
| Maltese Malti | metanol |
| Dutch Nederlands | methanol |
| Polish polski | metanol |
| Portuguese português | metanol |
| Romanian română | metanol |
| Slovak slovenčina | metanol |
| Slovenian slovenščina | metanol |
| Finnish suomi | metanoli |
| Swedish svenska | metanol |
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
Methanol GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Methanol, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Methanol
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- Toxic if inhaled.
- Toxic in contact with skin.
- Toxic if swallowed.
- Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> <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.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF INHALED:
- IF exposed or concerned:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- 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 Methanol in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Methanol health hazards and exposure limits
Methanol hazard summary
Methanol is released to the environment during industrial uses and naturally from volcanic gases, vegetation, and microbes. Exposure may occur from ambient air and during the use of solvents. Acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) exposure of humans to methanol by inhalation or ingestion may result in blurred vision, headache, dizziness, and nausea. No information is available on the reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects of methanol in humans. Birth defects have been observed in the offspring of rats and mice exposed to methanol by inhalation. EPA has not classified methanol with respect to carcinogenicity.
Source: EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants
Methanol occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 200.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 200 ppm (260 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 200 ppm (260 mg/m3) See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 200 ppm (260 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 250 ppm (325 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 200 ppm (260 mg/m3) ST 250 ppm (325 mg/m3) [skin] | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 6000 ppm (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 6000 ppm [From NPG: Methyl alcohol] (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 6000.0 [ppm] | 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
Methanol 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.
Methanol boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 64.7 °C (148.5 °F) | at 760 mmHg | HSDB |
| 63.89 °C (147 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 64.61 °C (148.3 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Methanol melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -97.8 °C (-144 °F) | HSDB | |
| -97.78 °C (-144 °F) | NIOSH |
Methanol density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.79 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 0.792 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
Methanol solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Miscible with ethanol, ether, benzene, most organic solvents and ketones | HSDB | |
| Miscible with water at 20 °C | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| Miscible with water at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Methanol vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 140.262 mmHg | HSDB | |
| 92 mmHg | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 127 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Methanol flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) | HSDB | |
| 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) | from table | HSDB | |
| 11.11 °C (52 °F) | HSDB |
Methanol autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 463.89 °C (867 °F) | HSDB | |
| 440 °C (824 °F) | ICSC |
Methanol lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 6 % by volume | HSDB |
Methanol upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 36 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 36.5 % by volume | HSDB |
Methanol vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 1.11 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 1.1 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Methanol odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | The air odor threshold for methanol has been reported as 100 ppm. A level of 2,000 ppm ... is barely detectable. | HSDB | |
| Low threshold= 13.1150 mg/cu m; High threshold= 26840 mg/cu m; Irritating concn= 22875 mg/cu m. | HSDB | ||
| Odor Threshold Low: 4.2 [ppm] | Haz-Map |
Methanol critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 240 °C (464 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Methanol 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.
Methanol fire potential
Dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat, flame or oxidizers.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Methanol storage and handling
Methanol reactive group
CAMEO Chemicals places Methanol in the reactive group Alcohols and Polyols. 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.
Methanol safe storage
Separated from incompatible materials. Cool. Fireproof. Keep in a well-ventilated room.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Methanol 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.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Methanol incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, oxidizing agents, alkali metals, reducing agents, acids.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Methanol reactivity
METHANOL, TALLOW ALKYL IMINOBISETHANOL is a mixture of an alcohol with an organic compound containing both amine and alcohol substituents. Amines are chemical bases. They neutralize acids to form salts plus water. These acid-base reactions are exothermic. The amount of heat that is evolved per mole of amine in a neutralization is largely independent of the strength of the amine as a base. Amines may be incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. Flammable gaseous hydrogen is generated by amines in combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Methanol in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Methanol 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.
Methanol under UN 1230 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| METHANOL | 3 | FT1 | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methanol | 3 | II | |
| Methanol | 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
Methanol — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Methanol?
The CAS number of Methanol is 67-56-1. Its EC number is 200-659-6.
What is the chemical formula of Methanol?
The molecular formula of Methanol is CH4O and its molecular weight is 32.042 g/mol.
What does a Methanol label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Methanol carries the pictograms Flame, Skull and crossbones and Health hazard and the signal word is Danger.
Is Methanol flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Methanol H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) (HSDB).
Is Methanol a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Methanol. 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 Methanol?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Methanol is 200.0 [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 Methanol?
The boiling point reported for Methanol is 64.7 °C (148.5 °F), at 760 mmHg (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Methanol?
The melting point reported for Methanol is -97.8 °C (-144 °F) (HSDB).
How should Methanol be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Methanol 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. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Methanol
Keep going: substances starting with M, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.
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