Substance profile
Methylmercury chloride
Methylmercury chloride is white crystals or plates from ethanol with a characteristic odor.
01 · Identification
What Methylmercury chloride is
Methylmercury chloride is white crystals or plates from ethanol with a characteristic odor. It melts at 170 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
02 · Identifiers
Methylmercury chloride identifiers and molecular data
Methylmercury chloride CAS number and EC number
Methylmercury chloride molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Methylmercury chloride
- methylmercuric chloride
03 · GHS classification
Methylmercury chloride hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Methylmercury chloride pictograms and signal word
Methylmercury chloride hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H300 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H310 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H330 | GHS06 |
| Carcinogenicity GHS chapter 3.6 | Category 2 | H351 | GHS08 |
| Reproductive toxicity GHS chapter 3.7 | Category Lactation | H362 | — |
| Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure GHS chapter 3.9 | Category 1 | H372 | GHS08 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | GHS09 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H410 | GHS09 |
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.
Methylmercury chloride hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H351 | Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H360Df | May damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility. |
| H362 | May cause harm to breast-fed children. |
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled. |
| H310 | Fatal in contact with skin. |
| H300 | Fatal if swallowed. |
| H372 | Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Methylmercury chloride. 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 Methylmercury chloride
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 Methylmercury chloride 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
Methylmercury chloride precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 17 precautionary statements to Methylmercury chloride. 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
Methylmercury chloride 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 | метилживачен хлорид |
| Spanish español | Cloruro de metilmercurio |
| Czech čeština | chlorid methylrtuti |
| Danish dansk | methylkviksølvchlorid |
| German Deutsch | Methylquecksilberchlorid |
| Estonian eesti | metüülelavhõbekloriid |
| Greek ελληνικά | χλωριούχος μεθυλυδράργυρος |
| English English | methylmercuric chloride |
| French français | chlorure de méthylmercure |
| Croatian hrvatski | metilživin klorid |
| Italian italiano | metilmercurio cloruro |
| Latvian latviešu | metildzīvsudraba hlorīds |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | metilgyvsidabrio chloridas |
| Hungarian magyar | metil-higany-klorid |
| Maltese Malti | klorur metilmerkuriku |
| Dutch Nederlands | methylkwikchloride |
| Polish polski | chlorek metylortęci |
| Portuguese português | cloreto metilmercúrico |
| Romanian română | clorură de metilmercur |
| Slovak slovenčina | metylhydrargýrium-chlorid |
| Slovenian slovenščina | metilživosrebrov klorid |
| Finnish suomi | Metyylielohopeakloridi |
| Swedish svenska | metylkvicksilverklorid |
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
Methylmercury chloride GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Methylmercury chloride, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Methylmercury chloride
- Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- May damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility.
- May cause harm to breast-fed children.
- Fatal if inhaled.
- Fatal in contact with skin.
- Fatal if swallowed.
- Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Obtain special instructions before use.
- 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.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- 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/…
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell.
- Rinse mouth.
- Wash with plenty of water/…
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Methylmercury chloride in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Methylmercury chloride health hazards and exposure limits
Methylmercury chloride hazard summary
May cause CNS injury and death; [CAMEO] May be fatal by inhalation, skin absorption, or ingestion; May cause irritation; Targets nerves; [MSDSonline] See Mercury, alkyl compounds and linked occupational diseases.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Methylmercury chloride carcinogenicity classification
Methylmercury compounds are possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of methylmercury chloride. /Methylmercury compounds/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
Methylmercury chloride occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 0.01 [mg/m3], Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.04 mg/m3, as Hg | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 2 mg Hg/m3 (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 2.0 [mg/m3], as Hg | 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
Methylmercury chloride 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.
Methylmercury chloride melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 170 °C (338 °F) | HSDB |
Methylmercury chloride density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 4.063 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 4.06 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | CAMEO |
Methylmercury chloride solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | less than 0.1 mg/mL at 70 °F (NTP, 1992) | at 21.11 °C | CAMEO |
Methylmercury chloride vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0.0085 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| 0.0085 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Source notes
Further notes on Methylmercury chloride
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.
Solubility
METHYL- & ETHYLMERCURY CHLORIDE HAVE A HIGH SOLUBILITY IN SOLVENTS & LIPIDS; SHORT-CHAIN ALKYLMERCURIC COMPOUNDS FORM SALTS WITH HALOGENS, WHICH ARE HIGHLY VOLATILE AT ROOM TEMP; SATURATION CONCN OF METHYLMERCURY CHLORIDE AT 20 °C IS 90000 MG MERCURY/CU M; OTHER SALTS, SUCH AS HYDROXIDE & NITRATE OF METHYLMERCURY ARE LESS VOLATILE /METHYLMERCURY COMPOUNDS/
Source: HSDB
10 · Handling and storage
Methylmercury chloride storage and handling
Methylmercury chloride storage conditions
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": Storage site should be as close as practical to lab in which carcinogens are to be used, so that only small quantities required for ... expt need to be carried. Carcinogens should be kept in only one section of cupboard, an explosion-proof refrigerator or freezer (depending on chemicophysical properties ...) that bears appropriate label. An inventory ... should be kept, showing quantity of carcinogen & date it was acquired ... Facilities for dispensing ... should be contiguous to storage area. /Chemical Carcinogens/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Methylmercury chloride reactivity
METHYL MERCURY(II)CHLORIDE may be sensitive to light.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Methylmercury chloride in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Methylmercury chloride — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Methylmercury chloride?
The CAS number of Methylmercury chloride is 115-09-3. Its EC number is 204-064-2.
What does a Methylmercury chloride label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Methylmercury chloride carries the pictograms Skull and crossbones, Health hazard and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Methylmercury chloride flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Methylmercury chloride 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.
Is Methylmercury chloride a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI assigns Methylmercury chloride H351 — suspected of causing cancer. That is category 2: the evidence points that way but is not conclusive.
What is the exposure limit for Methylmercury chloride?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Methylmercury chloride is 0.01 [mg/m3], Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.04 mg/m3, as Hg (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 melting point of Methylmercury chloride?
The melting point reported for Methylmercury chloride is 170 °C (338 °F) (HSDB).
How should Methylmercury chloride be stored?
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": Storage site should be as close as practical to lab in which carcinogens are to be used, so that only small quantities required for ... expt need to be carried. Carcinogens should be kept in only one section of cupboard, an explosion-proof refrigerator or freezer (depending on chemicophysical properties ...) that bears appropriate label. An inventory ... should be kept, showing quantity of carcinogen & date it was acquired ... Facilities for dispensing ... should be contiguous to storage area. /Chemical Carcinogens/ (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
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