Substance profile
Methyl formate
Methyl formate is a colorless liquid with an agreeable odor.
01 · Identification
What Methyl formate is
Methyl formate is a colorless liquid with an agreeable odor. Its molecular formula is C2H4O2 and its molecular weight is 60.05 g/mol. It boils at 31.5 °C, melts at -99.8 °C, is soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 4th degree.
02 · Identifiers
Methyl formate identifiers and molecular data
Methyl formate CAS number and EC number
Methyl formate molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Methyl formate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Methyl formate pictograms and signal word
Methyl formate hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 1 | H224 | GHS02 |
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H332 | GHS07 |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation GHS chapter 3.3 | Category 2A | H319 | GHS07 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
Methyl formate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H224 | Extremely flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H332 | Harmful if inhaled. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Methyl formate. 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 formate
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 formate 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 formate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 18 precautionary statements to Methyl formate. 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 formate 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 формат |
| Spanish español | Formiato de metilo |
| Czech čeština | methyl-formiát |
| Danish dansk | methylformiat |
| German Deutsch | Methylformiat Ameisensäuremethylester |
| Estonian eesti | metüülformiaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | μυρμηκικός μεθυλεστέρας μυρμηκικό μεθύλιο |
| English English | methyl formate |
| French français | formiate de méthyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | metil-formijat |
| Italian italiano | formiato di metile |
| Latvian latviešu | metilformiāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | metilformiatas |
| Hungarian magyar | metil-formiát |
| Maltese Malti | format tal-metil |
| Dutch Nederlands | methylformiaat |
| Polish polski | mrówczan metylu ester metylowy kwasu mrówkowego |
| Portuguese português | formiato de metilo |
| Romanian română | formiat de metil |
| Slovak slovenčina | metyl-formiát |
| Slovenian slovenščina | metil format |
| Finnish suomi | metyyliformiaatti |
| Swedish svenska | metylformiat |
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 formate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Methyl formate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Methyl formate
- Extremely flammable liquid and vapour.
- Harmful if inhaled.
- Harmful if swallowed.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes serious eye irritation.
- 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.
- Wash … thoroughly after handling.
- 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 INHALED:
- IF IN EYES:
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Rinse mouth.
- If eye irritation persists:
- Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Methyl formate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Methyl formate health hazards and exposure limits
Methyl formate occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 100.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 100 ppm (250 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 100 ppm (250 mg/m3) See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 100 ppm (250 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 150 ppm (375 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 100 ppm (250 mg/m3) ST 150 ppm (375 mg/m3) | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 4500 ppm (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 4500.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs: No adverse effects were found in humans after exposure to 1,500 ppm for 1 minute [Schrenk et al. 1936]. | 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
Methyl formate 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 formate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) | HSDB | |
| 31.67 °C (89 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Methyl formate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -99.8 °C (-147.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| -100 °C (-148 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -99.78 °C (-147.6 °F) | CAMEO |
Methyl formate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.98 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 0.97 g/cm³ | ICSC | ||
| 0.977 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
Methyl formate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Soluble in ether, chloroform; miscible with ethanol | HSDB | |
| 28.35 kJ/mol at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| In water, 230,000 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Methyl formate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 476 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 480.039 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC | |
| 585.7 mmHg | at 25 °C, Extrapolated | HSDB |
Methyl formate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | -18.89 °C (-2 °F) | HSDB | |
| -32.22 °C (-26 °F) | CAMEO |
Methyl formate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 448.89 °C (840 °F) | HSDB | |
| 456.11 °C (853 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 449 °C (840.2 °F) | ICSC |
Methyl formate lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 4.5 % by volume | by volume | HSDB |
| 4.5 % by volume | NIOSH | ||
| 5 % by volume | CAMEO |
Methyl formate upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 23 % by volume | by volume | HSDB |
| 23 % by volume | NIOSH |
Methyl formate vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 2.07 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 2.1 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Methyl formate odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | 500 mg/cu m (Odor low); 6875 mg/cu m (Odor high) | HSDB | |
| Odor Threshold Low: 67.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map | ||
| Odor Threshold High: 2809.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map |
Methyl formate critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 214 °C (417.2 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Methyl formate 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 formate fire potential
Flammable liquid.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Methyl formate storage and handling
Methyl formate safe storage
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants. Cool.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Methyl formate storage conditions
Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Seperate from alkalis, oxidizing materials, and moisture. Outside or detached storage is prefered.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Methyl formate incompatible materials
Strong oxidizers [Note: Reacts slowly with water to form methanol and formic acid].
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Methyl formate reactivity
METHYL FORMATE reacts with acids to liberate heat along with alcohols and acids. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Heat is also generated with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing with alkali metals and hydrides.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Methyl formate in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Methyl formate 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 formate under UN 1243 — 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 FORMATE | 3 | F1 | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methyl formate | 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
Methyl formate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Methyl formate?
The CAS number of Methyl formate is 107-31-3. Its EC number is 203-481-7.
What is the chemical formula of Methyl formate?
The molecular formula of Methyl formate is C2H4O2 and its molecular weight is 60.05 g/mol.
What does a Methyl formate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Methyl formate carries the pictograms Flame and Exclamation mark and the signal word is Danger.
Is Methyl formate flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Methyl formate H224 — extremely flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is -18.89 °C (-2 °F) (HSDB).
Is Methyl formate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Methyl formate. 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 Methyl formate?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Methyl formate 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 Methyl formate?
The boiling point reported for Methyl formate is 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Methyl formate?
The melting point reported for Methyl formate is -99.8 °C (-147.6 °F) (HSDB).
How should Methyl formate be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Methyl formate the storage statement P403. Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Seperate from alkalis, oxidizing materials, and moisture. Outside or detached storage is prefered. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Methyl formate
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