Substance profile
Methyl chloroformate
Methyl chloroformate is a clear liquid with an unpleasant, acrid odor.
01 · Identification
What Methyl chloroformate is
Methyl chloroformate is a clear liquid with an unpleasant, acrid odor. It boils at 71 °C, melts at -61 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
02 · Identifiers
Methyl chloroformate identifiers and molecular data
Methyl chloroformate CAS number and EC number
Methyl chloroformate molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Methyl chloroformate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Methyl chloroformate pictograms and signal word
Methyl chloroformate 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 1 or 2 | H330 | GHS06 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 1A or 1B or 1C | H314 | GHS05 |
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.
Methyl chloroformate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled. |
| H312 | Harmful in contact with skin. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Methyl chloroformate. 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 Methyl chloroformate
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 Methyl chloroformate 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
Methyl chloroformate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 17 precautionary statements to Methyl chloroformate. 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
Methyl chloroformate 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 | метилов хлороформат |
| Spanish español | Cloroformiato de metilo |
| Czech čeština | methyl-chlorformiát |
| Danish dansk | methylchlorformiat |
| German Deutsch | Methylchlorformiat Chlorameisensäuremethylester |
| Estonian eesti | metüülkloroformiaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | χλωρομυρμηκικός μεθυλεστέρας χλωρομυρμηκικό μεθύλιο |
| English English | methyl chloroformate |
| French français | chloroformiate de méthyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | metil-klorformijat |
| Italian italiano | cloroformiato di metile metile cloroformiato |
| Latvian latviešu | metilhlorformiāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | metilchlorformiatas |
| Hungarian magyar | metil-klórformiát |
| Maltese Malti | kloroformat tal-metil |
| Dutch Nederlands | methylchloorformiaat |
| Polish polski | chloromrówczan metylu ester metylowy kwasu chloromrówkowego |
| Portuguese português | cloroformiato de metilo |
| Romanian română | cloroformiat de metil |
| Slovak slovenčina | metyl-chlórmetanoát |
| Slovenian slovenščina | metil kloroformat |
| Finnish suomi | metyyliklooriformiaatti |
| Swedish svenska | metylklorformiat |
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
Methyl chloroformate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Methyl chloroformate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Methyl chloroformate
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- Fatal if inhaled.
- Harmful in contact with skin.
- Harmful if swallowed.
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- 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:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Rinse mouth.
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
- 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 Methyl chloroformate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Methyl chloroformate health hazards and exposure limits
Methyl chloroformate hazard summary
Very toxic by inhalation; Causes burns; [ESIS] A corrosive substance that causes lacrimation and may cause lung edema after inhalation of high concentrations; [ICSC] A concentration of 1 mg/liter (190 ppm) has been lethal in 10 minutes. [CAMEO] Flammable, dangerous fire risk; [Hawley] Very toxic by inhalation and toxic by skin contact and ingestion; Causes burns; Lachrymator; [MSDSonline] See CHLOROFORMATES.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Methyl chloroformate 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.
Methyl chloroformate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 71 °C (159.8 °F) | HSDB | |
| 71.11 °C (160 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Methyl chloroformate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -61 °C (-77.8 °F) | ICSC | |
| -81.11 °C (-114 °F) | below this value | HSDB |
Methyl chloroformate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.22 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 1.223 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Methyl chloroformate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | SOL IN CHLOROFORM, BENZENE, IN ALL PROPORTIONS IN ALCOHOL, ETHER | HSDB | |
| Solubility in water: poor | ICSC |
Methyl chloroformate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 105.009 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC |
| 108.5 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Methyl chloroformate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 24.4 °C (75.9 °F) | Tag open cup | HSDB |
| 22.78 °C (73 °F) | HSDB | ||
| 12.22 °C (54 °F) | CAMEO |
Methyl chloroformate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 504.44 °C (940 °F) | HSDB | |
| 504 °C (939.2 °F) | ICSC |
Methyl chloroformate lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 6.7 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Containers may explode in fire. Vapor may explode if ignited in an enclosed area. | HSDB |
Methyl chloroformate vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 3.26 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 3.3 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Methyl chloroformate critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 251.85 °C (485.3 °F) | HSDB |
Methyl chloroformate corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Corrodes rubber | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Methyl chloroformate 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.
Methyl chloroformate fire potential
VERY DANGEROUS WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT SOURCES, SPARKS, FLAME, OR OXIDIZERS.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Methyl chloroformate storage and handling
Methyl chloroformate safe storage
Fireproof. Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Separated from strong oxidants and food and feedstuffs. Dry. Well closed. Keep in a well-ventilated room.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Methyl chloroformate storage conditions
OWING TO THE FACT THAT THESE CMPD DECOMPOSE EASILY, STORAGE CONTAINERS SHOULD BE VENTED. /CHLOROFORMATES/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Methyl chloroformate incompatible materials
Reacts slowly with water, evolving hydrogen chloride ... . Reaction can be hazardous if water is hot.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Methyl chloroformate reactivity
METHYL CHLOROFORMATE is incompatible with water, strong oxidizing agents, alcohols, bases (including amines). Decomposes slowly in water to yield methanol, HCl, and CO2; reaction can be hazardous if water is hot. Attacks many metals especially in humid atmosphere [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 476]. May react vigorously or explosively if mixed with diisopropyl ether or other ethers in the presence of trace amounts of metal salts [J. Haz. Mat., 1981, 4, 291].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Methyl chloroformate in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Methyl chloroformate 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.
Methyl chloroformate under UN 1238 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| METHYL CHLOROFORMATE | 6.1 | TFC | I | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 6.1 is “Toxic substances” (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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methyl chloroformate | 6.1 | I | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 6.1 is “Poisonous materials” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Methyl chloroformate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Methyl chloroformate?
The CAS number of Methyl chloroformate is 79-22-1. Its EC number is 201-187-3.
What does a Methyl chloroformate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Methyl chloroformate carries the pictograms Flame, Skull and crossbones and Corrosion and the signal word is Danger.
Is Methyl chloroformate flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Methyl chloroformate H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is 24.4 °C (75.9 °F), Tag open cup (HSDB).
Is Methyl chloroformate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Methyl chloroformate. 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 Methyl chloroformate?
The boiling point reported for Methyl chloroformate is 71 °C (159.8 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Methyl chloroformate?
The melting point reported for Methyl chloroformate is -61 °C (-77.8 °F) (ICSC).
How should Methyl chloroformate be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Methyl chloroformate the storage statement P403. OWING TO THE FACT THAT THESE CMPD DECOMPOSE EASILY, STORAGE CONTAINERS SHOULD BE VENTED. /CHLOROFORMATES/ (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Methyl chloroformate
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