Substance profile
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate is a tetragonal holohedra from acetone + alcohol with a faint, mild odor.
01 · Identification
What Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate is
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate is a tetragonal holohedra from acetone + alcohol with a faint, mild odor. Its molecular formula is C5H8N4O12 and its molecular weight is 316.14 g/mol. It boils at 210 °C, melts at 141 °C, is soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger.
02 · Identifiers
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate identifiers and molecular data
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate CAS number and EC number
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate
- P.E.T.N.
03 · GHS classification
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate pictograms and signal word
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explosives GHS chapter 2.1 | Category Unstable explosive | H200 | GHS01 |
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H200 | Unstable explosives. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Pentaerythritol Tetranitra…. 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 Pentaerythritol Tetranitra…
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 Pentaerythritol… 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
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 1 precautionary statement to Pentaerythritol Tetranitra…. 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.
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
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate 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 | пентаеритритолтетранитрат пентаеритриттетранитратP.E.T.N. |
| Spanish español | Tetranitrato de pentaeritritol tetranitrato de pentaeritritaP.E.T.N. |
| Czech čeština | pentaerythritol-tetranitrát pentritPETN |
| Danish dansk | pentaerythritoltetranitrat pentaerythrittetranitratPETN |
| German Deutsch | Pentaerythritoltetranitrat PentaerythrittetranitratP.E.T.N. |
| Estonian eesti | pentaerütritooltetranitraat pentaerütriittetranitraatP.E.T.N. |
| Greek ελληνικά | τετρανιτρική πενταερυθριτόλη τετρανιτρικός πενταερυθρίτηςP.E.T.N. |
| English English | pentaerythritol tetranitrate pentaerythrite tetranitrateP.E.T.N. |
| French français | tétranitrate de pentaérythritol tétranitrate de pentaérythriteP.E.T.N. |
| Croatian hrvatski | pentaeritritol-tetranitrat pentaeritrit-tetranitratP.E.T.N. |
| Italian italiano | tetranitropentaeritrite pentriteP.E.T.N. |
| Latvian latviešu | pentaeritritola tetranitrāts pentaeritrīta tetranitrātsPETN |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | pentaeritritolio tetranitratas pentaeritrito tetranitratasP.E.T.N. |
| Hungarian magyar | pentaeritritol-tetranitrát pentaeritrit-tetranitrátP.E.T.N. |
| Maltese Malti | tetranitrat tal-pentaeritritol tetranitrat tal-pentaeritritP.E.T.N. |
| Dutch Nederlands | pentaërytritoltetranitraat pentaërytriettetranitraatPETNpentriet |
| Polish polski | tetraazotan(V) pentaerytrytolu tetraazotan(V) pentaerytrytupentryt |
| Portuguese português | tetranitrato de pentaeritritol P.E.T.N. |
| Romanian română | tetranitrat de pentaeritritol tetranitrat de pentaeritritP.E.T.N. |
| Slovak slovenčina | tetranitrát pentaerytritolu P.E.T.N. |
| Slovenian slovenščina | pentaeritritol tetranitrat pentaeritrit tetranitratP.E.T.N. |
| Finnish suomi | pentaerytritolitetranitraatti pentaerytrityylitetranitraattiP.E.T.N. |
| Swedish svenska | pentaerytritoltetranitrat pentaerytrittetranitratP.E.T.N. |
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
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Pentaerythritol Tetranitra…, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate
- Unstable explosives.
- Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Pentaerythritol Tetranitra… in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate health hazards and exposure limits
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate hazard summary
Ingestion of large amounts may induce methemoglobinemia. [HSDB] May explode on heating, shock, friction, or concussion; May cause lowering of blood pressure; [ICSC] A high explosive and strong oxidizing agent; [CAMEO]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate carcinogenicity classification
Under the conditions of these 2-year feed studies, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of PETN, NF, for male and female F344/N rats, based on a marginal increase in neoplasms of the Zymbal gland. Female rats might have tolerated a higher dose. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of PETN, NF, for male or female B6C3F1 mice fed diets containing 25,000, or 50,000 ppm for 2 years. No nonneoplastic lesions were attributed to PETN, NF, administration.
Source: US National Toxicology Program · TR-365: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (CASRN 78-11-5) with 80% D-Lactose Monohydrate (PETN, NF) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Feed Studies) (1989 )
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.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate 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.
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 210 °C (410 °F) | range, midpoint shown | HSDB |
| 180 °C (356 °F) | at 50 mmHg (reduced pressure) | HSDB |
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 140.5 °C (284.9 °F) | HSDB | |
| 138 °C (280.4 °F) | ICSC | ||
| 140 °C (284 °F) | DrugBank |
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.77 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 1.773 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Soluble in acetone. Sparingly soluble in alcohol, ether | HSDB | |
| Very soluble in acetone | HSDB | ||
| Soluble in benzene, pyrene | HSDB |
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 1.36e-7 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
| 1.4e-7 mmHg | Haz-Map | ||
| Vapor pressure at 25 °C: negligible | at 25 °C | ICSC |
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 160 dec C | HSDB |
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | SEVERE EXPLOSION HAZARD. Detonation may occur from heavy impact, static or excessive heating - particularly under confinement. | HSDB | |
| Explodes on percussion; more sensitive to shock than TNT. | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Pentaerythritol Tetranitra… 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.
Fire and explosion
The primary hazard is blast where the entire load can explode instaneously and not from flying projectiles and fragments. Under prolonged exposure to fire or heat they can explode. /Pentaerythrite tetranitrate; Pentaerythrite tetranitrate, wetted/
Source: HSDB
10 · Handling and storage
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate storage and handling
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate safe storage
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate storage conditions
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate incompatible materials
Avoid all contact with other chemicals. Avoid contact with other explosives, pyrotechnics, solvents, adhesives, paints, cleaners and unauthorized metals, plastics, packing equipment and materials. Avoid contamination with acids, alkalis, amines, phosphorus, and reducing agents.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate reactivity
PENTAERYTHRITE TETRANITRATE is a high explosive. An oxidizing agent. May begin a vigorous reaction that culminates in a detonation if mixed with reducing agents, including hydrides, sulfides and nitrides. Emits highly toxic nitrogen oxide fumes on decomposition.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Pentaerythritol Tetranitr… in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate?
The CAS number of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate is 78-11-5. Its EC number is 201-084-3.
What is the chemical formula of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate?
The molecular formula of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate is C5H8N4O12 and its molecular weight is 316.14 g/mol.
What does a Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate carries the pictogram Exploding bomb and the signal word is Danger.
Is Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate 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 Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate. 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 Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate?
The boiling point reported for Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate is 210 °C (410 °F), range, midpoint shown (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate?
The melting point reported for Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate is 140.5 °C (284.9 °F) (HSDB).
How should Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate be stored?
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants. Store in an area without drain or sewer access. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
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