Substance profile
Methyl Salicylate
Methyl Salicylate is colorless, yellowish or reddish, oily liq with a liquid having the characteristic odor of wintergreen.
01 · Identification
What Methyl Salicylate is
Methyl Salicylate is colorless, yellowish or reddish, oily liq with a liquid having the characteristic odor of wintergreen. Its molecular formula is C8H8O3 and its molecular weight is 152.15 g/mol. It boils at 222 °C, melts at -8.6 °C, is soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Warning.
02 · Identifiers
Methyl Salicylate identifiers and molecular data
Methyl Salicylate CAS number and EC number
Methyl Salicylate molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Methyl Salicylate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Methyl Salicylate pictograms and signal word
Methyl Salicylate hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| Skin sensitisation GHS chapter 3.4 | Category 1 or 1A or 1B | H317 | GHS07 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 3 | H412 | — |
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 Salicylate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H361d | Suspected of damaging the unborn child. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H317 | May cause an allergic skin reaction. |
| H412 | Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Methyl Salicylate. 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 Salicylate
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 Salicylate 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 Salicylate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 11 precautionary statements to Methyl Salicylate. 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.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
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 Salicylate 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 салицилат |
| Spanish español | Salicilato de metilo |
| Czech čeština | methyl-salicylát |
| Danish dansk | methylsalicylat |
| German Deutsch | Methylsalicylat |
| Estonian eesti | metüülsalitsülaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | σαλικυλικό μέθυλο |
| English English | methyl salicylate |
| French français | salicylate de méthyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | metilsalicilat |
| Italian italiano | salicilato di metile |
| Latvian latviešu | metilsalicilāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | metilsalicilatas |
| Hungarian magyar | metil-szalicilát |
| Maltese Malti | saliċilat tal-metil |
| Dutch Nederlands | methylsalicylaat |
| Polish polski | salicylan metylu |
| Portuguese português | salicilato de metilo |
| Romanian română | salicilat de metil |
| Slovak slovenčina | metyl-2-hydroxybenzoát |
| Slovenian slovenščina | metil salicilat |
| Finnish suomi | metyylisalisylaatti |
| Swedish svenska | metylsalicylat |
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 Salicylate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Methyl Salicylate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Warning
Methyl Salicylate
- Suspected of damaging the unborn child.
- Harmful if swallowed.
- May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Rinse mouth.
- If skin irritation or rash occurs:
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Methyl Salicylate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Methyl Salicylate health hazards and exposure limits
Methyl Salicylate hazard summary
A skin and eye irritant; Can be absorbed through skin; May have CNS adverse effects; [ICSC] A skin, eye, mucous membrane, and upper respiratory tract irritant; [CAMEO] A skin and eye irritant; [eChemPortal: ERMA] Included in list of established contact allergens in humans; [EC: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: Fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (2011)] An irritant; Can be absorbed through skin; May cause skin sensitization; Effects in poisoning cases include disturbance of acid-base balance, convulsions, and coma; [MSDSonline] See Acetylsalicylic acid.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Methyl Salicylate 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 Salicylate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 222.22 °C (432 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
| 223 °C (433.4 °F) | ICSC | ||
| 223.3 °C (433.9 °F) | at 760 mmHg | DOE PAC |
Methyl Salicylate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -8.6 °C (16.5 °F) | HSDB | |
| -8.61 °C (16.5 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| -8 °C (17.6 °F) | ICSC |
Methyl Salicylate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.18 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 1.174 g/cm³ | CAMEO | ||
| 1.184 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Methyl Salicylate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | SOL IN CHLOROFORM, ETHER; MISCIBLE WITH ALC, GLACIAL ACETIC ACID | HSDB | |
| SOL IN DIETHYL ETHER | HSDB | ||
| SOLUBLE IN MOST COMMON ORGANIC SOLVENTS | HSDB |
Methyl Salicylate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0.0975 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
| 0.0343 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Methyl Salicylate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 96.11 °C (205 °F) | HSDB | |
| 101 °C (213.8 °F) | ICSC |
Methyl Salicylate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 454.44 °C (850 °F) | HSDB | |
| 452.78 °C (847 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 450 °C (842 °F) | ICSC |
Methyl Salicylate vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 5.2 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 5.24 (air = 1) | CAMEO |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Methyl Salicylate 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 Salicylate fire potential
SLIGHT, WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT OR FLAME; CAN REACT WITH OXIDIZING MATERIALS.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Methyl Salicylate storage and handling
Methyl Salicylate safe storage
Separated from strong oxidants and strong bases.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Methyl Salicylate storage conditions
METHYL SALICYLATE SHOULD BE STORED AND DISPENSED IN TIGHT CONTAINERS.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Methyl Salicylate incompatible materials
INCOMPATIBILITIES: DECOMP BY ALKALIES TO FORM METHYL ALC & SALICYLATE.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Methyl Salicylate reactivity
METHYL SALICYLATE is an ester. Esters react 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 of esters with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing esters with alkali metals and hydrides. This chemical is incompatible with oxidizers. It is also incompatible with strong bases. It may react with iron salts. (NTP, 1992)
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Methyl Salicylate in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Methyl Salicylate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Methyl Salicylate?
The CAS number of Methyl Salicylate is 119-36-8. Its EC number is 204-317-7.
What is the chemical formula of Methyl Salicylate?
The molecular formula of Methyl Salicylate is C8H8O3 and its molecular weight is 152.15 g/mol.
What does a Methyl Salicylate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Methyl Salicylate carries the pictograms Exclamation mark and Health hazard and the signal word is Warning.
Is Methyl Salicylate flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Methyl Salicylate 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 96.11 °C (205 °F) (HSDB).
Is Methyl Salicylate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Methyl Salicylate. 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 Salicylate?
The boiling point reported for Methyl Salicylate is 222.22 °C (432 °F), at 760 mmHg (CAMEO).
What is the melting point of Methyl Salicylate?
The melting point reported for Methyl Salicylate is -8.6 °C (16.5 °F) (HSDB).
How should Methyl Salicylate be stored?
METHYL SALICYLATE SHOULD BE STORED AND DISPENSED IN TIGHT CONTAINERS. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Methyl Salicylate
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