Substance profile
Pentane
Pentane is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor.
01 · Identification
What Pentane is
Pentane is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Its molecular formula is C5H12 and its molecular weight is 72.15 g/mol. It boils at 36.1 °C, melts at -130 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 4th degree.
02 · Identifiers
Pentane identifiers and molecular data
Pentane CAS number and EC number
Pentane molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Pentane hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Pentane pictograms and signal word
Pentane hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 2 | H225 | GHS02 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 narcotic | H336 | GHS07 |
| Aspiration hazard GHS chapter 3.10 | Category 1 | H304 | GHS08 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 2 | H411 | GHS09 |
Pentane hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H304 | May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. |
| H336 | May cause drowsiness or dizziness. |
| H411 | Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
Pentane supplemental EU statements (EUH)
| Code | Statement |
|---|---|
| EUH066 | Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Pentane. 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 Pentane
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 Pentane 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
Pentane precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 8 precautionary statements to Pentane. 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.
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
Pentane 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 | пентан |
| Spanish español | Pentano |
| Czech čeština | pentan |
| Danish dansk | pentan |
| German Deutsch | Pentan |
| Estonian eesti | pentaan |
| Greek ελληνικά | πεντάνιο |
| English English | pentane |
| French français | pentane |
| Croatian hrvatski | pentan |
| Italian italiano | pentano |
| Latvian latviešu | pentāns |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | pentanas |
| Hungarian magyar | pentán |
| Maltese Malti | pentan |
| Dutch Nederlands | pentaan |
| Polish polski | pentan |
| Portuguese português | pentano |
| Romanian română | pentan |
| Slovak slovenčina | pentán |
| Slovenian slovenščina | pentan |
| Finnish suomi | pentaani |
| Swedish svenska | pentan |
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
Pentane GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Pentane, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Pentane
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
- May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
- Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking.
- 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.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Collect spillage.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Pentane in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Pentane health hazards and exposure limits
Pentane hazard summary
Ingestion can cause aspiration into the lungs; May cause CNS effects; High atmospheric concentrations can cause oxygen deficiency leading to unconsciousness or death; [ICSC] Very high vapor concentrations may cause narcosis; Harmful by ingestion (may cause lung damage by aspiration); Vapor is not irritating to eyes or throat; Nearly harmless by skin contact; [CHRIS] Causes painful burning sensation and itching on skin contact; Five hour exposure causes blisters but no anesthesia; [HSDB] May cause irritation; Inhalation may cause drowsiness or dizziness; An aspiration hazard by ingestion (may cause lung injury); Targets the CNS, heart, and lungs; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Pentane occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 1000.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 1000 ppm (2950 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 1000 ppm (2950 mg/m3) See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 120 ppm (350 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 610 ppm (1800 mg/m³) [15 min] | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 120 ppm (350 mg/m3) C 610 ppm (1800 mg/m3) [15-minute] | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 1500 ppm ; Based on 10% of the lower explosive limit. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 1500.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 1500 ppm | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
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
Pentane 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.
Pentane boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 36.06 °C (96.9 °F) | HSDB | |
| 36.11 °C (97 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 36.11 °C (97 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Pentane melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -129.67 °C (-201.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| -130 °C (-202 °F) | NIOSH |
Pentane density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.63 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 0.6262 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 0.626 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
Pentane solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Miscible with ethanol, ethyl ether, acetone, benzene, chloroform; soluble in carbon tetrachloride | HSDB | |
| 0.04% | NIOSH | ||
| In water, 38 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Pentane vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 420 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 514 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| 400 mmHg | at 18.5 °C | CAMEO |
Pentane flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | -49.44 °C (-57 °F) | NIOSH | |
| -49 °C (-56.2 °F) | ICSC |
Pentane autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 260 °C (500 °F) | HSDB |
Pentane lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.5 % by volume | HSDB |
Pentane upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 7.8 % by volume | HSDB |
Pentane vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 2.48 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 2.5 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Pentane odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | 2.2 ppm | HSDB | |
| Odor threshhold: 6.6 mg/cu m (low) and 3000 mg/cu m (high) | HSDB | ||
| Odor index @ 20 °C= 570 | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Pentane critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 196.55 °C (385.8 °F) | HSDB |
Pentane corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Will attack some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings. | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Pentane 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.
Pentane fire potential
Flammable in the presence of a source of ignition when the temperature is above the flash point.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Pentane storage and handling
Pentane safe storage
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants. Cool. Well closed. Store in an area without drain or sewer access. Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Pentane storage conditions
Storage temp: ambient. Venting: open (flame arrester) or pressure-vacuum.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Pentane incompatible materials
Strong oxidizers.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Pentane reactivity
N-PENTANE is incompatible with strong oxidizers. It is also incompatible with strong acids, alkalis, and oxygen. Mixtures with chlorine gas have produced explosions. It will attack some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings. (NTP, 1992).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Pentane in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Pentane — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Pentane?
The CAS number of Pentane is 109-66-0. Its EC number is 203-692-4.
What is the chemical formula of Pentane?
The molecular formula of Pentane is C5H12 and its molecular weight is 72.15 g/mol.
What does a Pentane label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Pentane carries the pictograms Flame, Health hazard, Exclamation mark and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Pentane flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Pentane H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is -49.44 °C (-57 °F) (NIOSH).
Is Pentane a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Pentane. 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 exposure limit for Pentane?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Pentane is 1000.0 [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 Pentane?
The boiling point reported for Pentane is 36.06 °C (96.9 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Pentane?
The melting point reported for Pentane is -129.67 °C (-201.4 °F) (HSDB).
How should Pentane be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Pentane the storage statement P403. Storage temp: ambient. Venting: open (flame arrester) or pressure-vacuum. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Pentane
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