Substance profile
Methyl propionate
Methyl propionate is a colorless liq with a sweet, fruity, rum-like odor.
01 · Identification
What Methyl propionate is
Methyl propionate is a colorless liq with a sweet, fruity, rum-like odor. It boils at 79.8 °C, melts at -87.5 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 3rd degree.
02 · Identifiers
Methyl propionate identifiers and molecular data
Methyl propionate CAS number and EC number
Methyl propionate molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Methyl propionate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Methyl propionate pictograms and signal word
Methyl propionate 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 |
Methyl propionate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H332 | Harmful if inhaled. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Methyl propionate. 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 propionate
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 propionate 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 propionate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 9 precautionary statements to Methyl propionate. 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 propionate 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 пропионат |
| Spanish español | Propionato de metilo |
| Czech čeština | methyl-propanoát |
| Danish dansk | methylpropionat |
| German Deutsch | Methylpropionat Propionsäuremethylester |
| Estonian eesti | metüülpropionaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | προπιονικός μεθυλεστέρας προπιονικό μεθύλιο |
| English English | methyl propionate |
| French français | propionate de méthyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | metil-propionat |
| Italian italiano | propionato di metile |
| Latvian latviešu | metilpropionāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | metilpropionatas |
| Hungarian magyar | metil-propionát |
| Maltese Malti | propjonat tal-metil |
| Dutch Nederlands | methylpropionaat |
| Polish polski | propionian metylu ester metylowy kwasu propionowego |
| Portuguese português | propionato de metilo |
| Romanian română | propionat de metil |
| Slovak slovenčina | metyl-propanoát |
| Slovenian slovenščina | metil propionat |
| Finnish suomi | metyylipropionaatti |
| Swedish svenska | metylpropionat |
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 propionate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Methyl propionate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Methyl propionate
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- Harmful if inhaled.
- 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.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- IF INHALED:
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… 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 Methyl propionate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Methyl propionate health hazards and exposure limits
Methyl propionate hazard summary
Flammable liquid; [Hawley] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; [ICSC] Irritating to skin; Causes CNS depression and ataxia in animal experiments; [HSDB] May cause skin, eye, and mucous membrane irritation; [CAMEO] Safe when used as a flavoring agent; [JECFA]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Methyl propionate 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 propionate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 79.8 °C (175.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 79.72 °C (175.5 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| 80 °C (176 °F) | ICSC |
Methyl propionate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -87.5 °C (-125.5 °F) | HSDB | |
| -87.22 °C (-125 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| -88 °C (-126.4 °F) | ICSC |
Methyl propionate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.58 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 0.92 g/cm³ | ICSC | ||
| 0.915 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Methyl propionate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | COMPLETELY MISCIBLE WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL | HSDB | |
| Soluble in most organic solvents. | HSDB | ||
| Soluble in acetone; miscible in ethanol, ethyl ether. | HSDB |
Methyl propionate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 63.7552 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC |
| 84.04 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| 40 mmHg | at 11.11 °C | CAMEO |
Methyl propionate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | -2.22 °C (28 °F) | HSDB | |
| -2 °C (28.4 °F) | ICSC |
Methyl propionate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 468.89 °C (876 °F) | HSDB | |
| 467.22 °C (873 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 469 °C (876.2 °F) | ICSC |
Methyl propionate lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 2.5 % by volume | HSDB |
Methyl propionate upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 13 % by volume | HSDB |
Methyl propionate vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 3.03 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 3 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Methyl propionate odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | THE PROBABLE HUMAN VALUES FOR ODOR AND FLAVOR THRESHOLDS IN WATER WERE REPORTED AS 100 AND 50 PPB, RESPECTIVELY. | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Methyl propionate 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 propionate fire potential
Flammable, dangerous fire risk ...
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Methyl propionate storage and handling
Methyl propionate safe storage
Fireproof. Cool. Separated from oxidants.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Methyl propionate reactivity
METHYL PROPIONATE 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 by the interaction with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated with alkali metals and hydrides.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Methyl propionate in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Methyl propionate 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 propionate under UN 1248 — 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 PROPIONATE | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methyl propionate | 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
Methyl propionate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Methyl propionate?
The CAS number of Methyl propionate is 554-12-1. Its EC number is 209-060-4.
What does a Methyl propionate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Methyl propionate carries the pictograms Flame and Exclamation mark and the signal word is Danger.
Is Methyl propionate flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Methyl propionate H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is -2.22 °C (28 °F) (HSDB).
Is Methyl propionate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Methyl propionate. 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 propionate?
The boiling point reported for Methyl propionate is 79.8 °C (175.6 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Methyl propionate?
The melting point reported for Methyl propionate is -87.5 °C (-125.5 °F) (HSDB).
How should Methyl propionate be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Methyl propionate the storage statement P403.
Nearby
Substances next to Methyl propionate
Keep going: substances starting with M, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.