Substance profile
Pentyl formate
Pentyl formate: n-amyl formate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a plum-like odor.
01 · Identification
What Pentyl formate is
Pentyl formate: n-amyl formate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a plum-like odor. Its molecular formula is C6H12O2 and its molecular weight is 116.16 g/mol. It boils at 129 °C, melts at -73.5 °C, is miscible with water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 3rd degree.
02 · Identifiers
Pentyl formate identifiers and molecular data
Pentyl formate CAS number and EC number
Pentyl formate molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Pentyl formate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Pentyl formate pictograms and signal word
Pentyl formate hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 3 | H226 | GHS02 |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation GHS chapter 3.3 | Category 2A | H319 | GHS07 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
Pentyl formate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H226 | Flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Pentyl formate. 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 Pentyl formate
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 Pentyl formate 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
Pentyl formate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 11 precautionary statements to Pentyl formate. 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.
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
Pentyl formate 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 | пентилов формат |
| Spanish español | Formiato de pentilo |
| Czech čeština | pentyl-formiát |
| Danish dansk | pentylformat |
| German Deutsch | Amylformiat n-Pentylformiat |
| Estonian eesti | pentüülformiaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | μυρμηκικός πεντυλεστέρας μυρμηκικό πεντύλιο |
| English English | pentyl formate |
| French français | formiate de pentyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | pentil-formijat |
| Italian italiano | formiato di pentile |
| Latvian latviešu | pentilformiāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | pentilformatas |
| Hungarian magyar | pentil-formiát |
| Maltese Malti | format tal-pentil |
| Dutch Nederlands | pentylformiaat |
| Polish polski | amylu mrówczan |
| Portuguese português | formiato de pentilo |
| Romanian română | formiat de pentil |
| Slovak slovenčina | pentyl-formiát |
| Slovenian slovenščina | pentil format |
| Finnish suomi | pentyyliformiaatti |
| Swedish svenska | pentylformiat |
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
Pentyl formate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Pentyl formate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Pentyl formate
- Flammable liquid and vapour.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes serious eye irritation.
- 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.
- Wash … thoroughly after handling.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF IN EYES:
- Get medical advice/attention.
- If eye irritation persists:
- Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Pentyl formate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Pentyl formate health hazards and exposure limits
Pentyl formate hazard summary
A mild skin irritant; [RTECS] Safe when used as a flavoring agent in food; [JECFA] An irritant; Targets the CNS, lungs, and kidney; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS] See Ethyl formate.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Pentyl formate 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.
Pentyl formate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 129 °C (264.2 °F) | range, midpoint shown | JECFA |
| 130.5 °C (266.9 °F) | range, midpoint shown, at 760 mmHg | HMDB |
Pentyl formate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -73.5 °C (-100.3 °F) | HMDB |
Pentyl formate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.884 g/cm³ | range, midpoint shown | JECFA |
Pentyl formate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | miscible with alcohol, ether, most organic solvents | JECFA | |
| (in ethanol) | JECFA |
Pentyl formate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 26.11 °C (79 °F) | CAMEO |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Handling and storage
Pentyl formate storage and handling
Pentyl formate reactivity
N-AMYL FORMATE 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.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Pentyl formate in the storage compatibility matrix →
10 · Questions
Pentyl formate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Pentyl formate?
The CAS number of Pentyl formate is 638-49-3. Its EC number is 211-340-6.
What is the chemical formula of Pentyl formate?
The molecular formula of Pentyl formate is C6H12O2 and its molecular weight is 116.16 g/mol.
What does a Pentyl formate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Pentyl formate carries the pictograms Flame and Exclamation mark and the signal word is Danger.
Is Pentyl formate flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Pentyl formate H226 — flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is 26.11 °C (79 °F) (CAMEO).
Is Pentyl formate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Pentyl formate. 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 Pentyl formate?
The boiling point reported for Pentyl formate is 129 °C (264.2 °F), range, midpoint shown (JECFA).
What is the melting point of Pentyl formate?
The melting point reported for Pentyl formate is -73.5 °C (-100.3 °F) (HMDB).
How should Pentyl formate be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Pentyl formate the storage statement P403.
Nearby
Substances next to Pentyl formate
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