Substance profile
Nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene is greenish-yellow crystals or yellow, oily liquid with an odor of volatile oil almond.
01 · Identification
What Nitrobenzene is
Nitrobenzene is greenish-yellow crystals or yellow, oily liquid with an odor of volatile oil almond. Its molecular formula is C6H5NO2 and its molecular weight is 123.11 g/mol. It boils at 211 °C, melts at 5.7 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
Nitrobenzene identifiers and molecular data
Nitrobenzene CAS number and EC number
Nitrobenzene molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Nitrobenzene
- Benzene, Nitro-
- Essence Of Mirbane
- Essence Of Myrbane
- Mirbane Oil
- Nitrobenzene, Liquid
- Nitrobenzol
- Oil Of Mirbane
- Oil Of Myrbane
03 · GHS classification
Nitrobenzene hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Nitrobenzene pictograms and signal word
Nitrobenzene hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H301 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H311 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H331 | GHS06 |
| Carcinogenicity GHS chapter 3.6 | Category 2 | H351 | GHS08 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure GHS chapter 3.9 | Category 1 | H372 | GHS08 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 3 | H412 | — |
Nitrobenzene 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>. |
| H360F | May damage fertility. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H311 | Toxic in contact with skin. |
| H301 | Toxic 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>. |
| H412 | Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Nitrobenzene. 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 Nitrobenzene
Our own Nitrobenzene safety data sheet walks through all sixteen sections of the published data. What it is not is the document an inspector asks for: an SDS is issued for a product by its supplier, so the sheet covering the grade actually standing in your store exists only in that supplier’s version. Collecting those and keeping them current as suppliers revise them is a separate job.
04 · Precautionary statements
Nitrobenzene precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 16 precautionary statements to Nitrobenzene. 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
Nitrobenzene 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 | нитробензен |
| Spanish español | Nitrobenceno |
| Czech čeština | nitrobenzen |
| Danish dansk | nitrobenzen |
| German Deutsch | Nitrobenzol |
| Estonian eesti | nitrobenseen |
| Greek ελληνικά | νιτροβενζόλιο |
| English English | nitrobenzene |
| French français | nitrobenzène |
| Croatian hrvatski | nitrobenzen |
| Italian italiano | nitrobenzene |
| Latvian latviešu | nitrobenzols |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | nitrobenzenas |
| Hungarian magyar | nitrobenzol |
| Maltese Malti | nitrobenżen |
| Dutch Nederlands | nitrobenzeen |
| Polish polski | nitrobenzen |
| Portuguese português | nitrobenzeno |
| Romanian română | nitrobenzen |
| Slovak slovenčina | nitrobenzén |
| Slovenian slovenščina | nitrobenzen |
| Finnish suomi | nitrobentseeni |
| Swedish svenska | nitrobensen |
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
Nitrobenzene GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Nitrobenzene, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Nitrobenzene
- Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- May damage fertility.
- Toxic if inhaled.
- Toxic in contact with skin.
- Toxic 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>.
- Harmful 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/…
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Nitrobenzene in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Nitrobenzene health hazards and exposure limits
Nitrobenzene hazard summary
Nitrobenzene is an industrial chemical. It is an oily yellow liquid with an almond-like odor. It dissolves only slightly in water and will evaporate to air. It is produced in large quantities for use in industry. Most of the nitrobenzene produced in the United States is used to manufacture a chemical called aniline. Nitrobenzene is also used to produce lubricating oils such as those used in motors and machinery. A small amount of nitrobenzene is used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, pesticides, and synthetic rubber.
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Nitrobenzene carcinogenicity classification
Cancer Classification: Group D Not Classifiable as to Human Carcinogenicity
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Under the Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (U.S. EPA, 2005), nitrobenzene is classified as "likely to be carcinogenic to humans" by any route of exposure. While there are no human carcinogenicity data on nitrobenzene, the cancer characterization is based on evidence of the compound's tumorigenicity in a single well-conducted study in two animal species.
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.
Nitrobenzene occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 1.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 1 ppm (5 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 1 ppm (5 mg/m3) [skin] | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 1 ppm (5 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 1 ppm (5 mg/m3) [skin] | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 200 ppm (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 200.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 200 ppm | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
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
Nitrobenzene 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.
Nitrobenzene boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 210.8 °C (411.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| 210.56 °C (411 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 210.78 °C (411.4 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Nitrobenzene melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 5.7 °C (42.3 °F) | HSDB | |
| 5.56 °C (42 °F) | NIOSH |
Nitrobenzene density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.2 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 1.2037 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.199 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Nitrobenzene solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in carbon tetrachloride; very soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, acetone, benzene | HSDB | |
| Soluble in ~500 parts water; freely soluble in alcohol, benzene, ether, oils | HSDB | ||
| Readily soluble in most organic solvents and is completely miscible with diethyl ether, benzene, and alcohol. | HSDB |
Nitrobenzene vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0.15 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC |
| 0.3 mmHg | at 25 °C | NIOSH |
Nitrobenzene flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 87.78 °C (190 °F) | HSDB | |
| 88 °C (190.4 °F) | CAMEO |
Nitrobenzene autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 482.22 °C (900 °F) | HSDB | |
| 495.56 °C (924 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 480 °C (896 °F) | ICSC |
Nitrobenzene lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.8 % by volume | HSDB |
Nitrobenzene upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 40 % by volume | ICSC | |
| 1.8 % by volume | OSHA |
Nitrobenzene vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 4.25 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 4.3 (air = 1) | CAMEO | ||
| 4.2 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Nitrobenzene odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Odor detection in air: 1.46x10-2 mg/l, purity not specified. | vapor | HSDB |
| Odor recogniton in air: 4.70x10-3 ppm, chemically pure. | HSDB | ||
| Odor detection in air: 1.90 ppm, chemically pure. | HSDB |
Nitrobenzene critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 446.67 °C (836 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Nitrobenzene 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.
Nitrobenzene fire potential
/Fire hazard is/ moderate when exposed to heat, flame, or oxidizers.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Nitrobenzene storage and handling
Nitrobenzene reactive group
CAMEO Chemicals places Nitrobenzene in the reactive group Nitro, Nitroso, Nitrate, and Nitrite Compounds, Organic. Compatibility with other chemicals is worked out from the group, not from the individual substance — which is why two substances you have never seen react can still be flagged as a pair that must be separated.
A reactive group is a CAMEO Chemicals (US NOAA) grouping, not a GHS hazard class: it has no code, no category and no legal force. It is what the storage compatibility matrix on this site computes from.
Nitrobenzene safe storage
Separated from combustible substances, reducing agents, strong oxidants, strong acids and food and feedstuffs. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Nitrobenzene storage conditions
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated, dark location. Separate from acids, bases, oxidizing materials, and metals.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Nitrobenzene incompatible materials
Explosive reaction with solid or concentrated alkalai + heat (eg, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide), aluminum chloride + phenol (at 120 °C), aniline + glycerol + sulfuric acid, nitric + sulfuric acid + heat.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Nitrobenzene reactivity
Aluminum chloride added to NITROBENZENE containing about 5% phenol caused a violent explosion [Chem. Eng. News 31:4915. 1953]. Heating a mixture of nitrobenzene, flake sodium hydroxide and a little water led to an explosion, discussed in [Bretherick's 5th ed. 1995]. Mixed with oxidants, i.e. dinitrogen tetraoxide, fluorodinitromethane, nitric acid, peroxodisulfuric acid, sodium chlorate, tetranitromethane, uranium perchlorate, etc., forms highly sensitive explosive, [Bretherick 5th ed, 1995]. Heated mixtures of nitrobenzene and tin(IV) chloride produce exothermic decomposition with gas production [Bretherick, 5th Ed., 1995].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Nitrobenzene in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Nitrobenzene 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.
Nitrobenzene under UN 1662 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NITROBENZENE | 6.1 | T1 | II | |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrobenzene | 6.1 | II | |
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
Nitrobenzene — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Nitrobenzene?
The CAS number of Nitrobenzene is 98-95-3. Its EC number is 202-716-0.
What is the chemical formula of Nitrobenzene?
The molecular formula of Nitrobenzene is C6H5NO2 and its molecular weight is 123.11 g/mol.
What does a Nitrobenzene label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Nitrobenzene carries the pictograms Skull and crossbones and Health hazard and the signal word is Danger.
Is Nitrobenzene flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Nitrobenzene 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 87.78 °C (190 °F) (HSDB).
Is Nitrobenzene a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI assigns Nitrobenzene H351 — suspected of causing cancer. That is category 2: the evidence points that way but is not conclusive. IARC places it in Group 2B: possibly carcinogenic to humans.
What is the exposure limit for Nitrobenzene?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Nitrobenzene is 1.0 [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 Nitrobenzene?
The boiling point reported for Nitrobenzene is 210.8 °C (411.4 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Nitrobenzene?
The melting point reported for Nitrobenzene is 5.7 °C (42.3 °F) (HSDB).
How should Nitrobenzene be stored?
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated, dark location. Separate from acids, bases, oxidizing materials, and metals. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Nitrobenzene
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