Substance profile
Propionic anhydride
Propionic anhydride is a colorless liquid with a very rancid odor.
01 · Identification
What Propionic anhydride is
Propionic anhydride is a colorless liquid with a very rancid odor. Its molecular formula is C6H10O3 and its molecular weight is 130.14 g/mol. It boils at 170 °C, melts at -45 °C, is soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
02 · Identifiers
Propionic anhydride identifiers and molecular data
Propionic anhydride CAS number and EC number
Propionic anhydride molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Propionic anhydride hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Propionic anhydride pictograms and signal word
Propionic anhydride hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 1A or 1B or 1C | H314 | GHS05 |
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.
Propionic anhydride hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Propionic anhydride. 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 Propionic anhydride
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 Propionic anhydride 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
Propionic anhydride precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 5 precautionary statements to Propionic anhydride. 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
Propionic anhydride 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 | пропионов анхидрид |
| Spanish español | Anhídrido propiónico |
| Czech čeština | propionanhydrid |
| Danish dansk | propionsyreanhydrid |
| German Deutsch | Propionsäureanhydrid |
| Estonian eesti | propioonanhüdriid |
| Greek ελληνικά | προπιονικός ανυδρίτης |
| English English | propionic anhydride |
| French français | anhydride propionique |
| Croatian hrvatski | propionski anhidrid |
| Italian italiano | anidride propionica |
| Latvian latviešu | propionskābes anhidrīds |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | propiono rūgšties anhidridas |
| Hungarian magyar | propionsav-anhidrid |
| Maltese Malti | anidride propjoniku |
| Dutch Nederlands | propionzuuranhydride |
| Polish polski | bezwodnik propionowy |
| Portuguese português | anidrido propiónico |
| Romanian română | anhidridă propionică |
| Slovak slovenčina | propiónanhydrid |
| Slovenian slovenščina | anhidrid propionske kisline |
| Finnish suomi | propionihappoanhydridi |
| Swedish svenska | propionsyraanhydrid |
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
Propionic anhydride GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Propionic anhydride, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Propionic anhydride
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Propionic anhydride in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Propionic anhydride health hazards and exposure limits
Propionic anhydride hazard summary
Liquid may cause first degree burns after brief skin contact; [CHRIS] Corrosive to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Pulmonary edema may be delayed after an inhalation exposure; [ICSC] Skin sensitization has not been reported. [OECD SIDS]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Propionic anhydride 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.
Propionic anhydride boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 170 °C (338 °F) | HSDB | |
| 168.89 °C (336 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| 167 °C (332.6 °F) | ICSC |
Propionic anhydride melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -45 °C (-49 °F) | HSDB | |
| -42.78 °C (-45 °F) | CAMEO |
Propionic anhydride density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 1.011 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.01 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
Propionic anhydride solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Soluble in alkalies | HSDB | |
| Miscible with ether; slightly soluble in carbon tetraachloride | HSDB | ||
| Decomposed by water; soluble in methanol, ethanol, ether and chloroform | decomposes | HSDB |
Propionic anhydride vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 1 mmHg | at 20.6 °C | HSDB |
| 0.7501 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC | |
| 1.36 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Propionic anhydride flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 73.89 °C (165 °F) | HSDB | |
| 62.78 °C (145 °F) | HSDB |
Propionic anhydride autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 285 °C (545 °F) | HSDB |
Propionic anhydride lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.3 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 1.48 % by volume | CAMEO |
Propionic anhydride upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 9.5 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 11.9 % by volume | CAMEO |
Propionic anhydride vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 4.49 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 4.5 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Propionic anhydride 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.
Propionic anhydride fire potential
Combustible liquid
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Propionic anhydride storage and handling
Propionic anhydride safe storage
Dry. Ventilation along the floor. Separated from bases, oxidants and food and feedstuffs. Store only in original container.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Propionic anhydride storage conditions
Separated from acids, bases, oxidants, food and feedstuffs. Dry. Ventilation along the floor.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Propionic anhydride incompatible materials
The substance decomposes on contact with water producing corrosive propionic acid. Reacts violently with acids, bases and oxidants causing fire and explosion hazard.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Propionic anhydride reactivity
PROPIONIC ANHYDRIDE reacts exothermically with water. The reactions are sometimes slow, but can become violent when local heating accelerates their rate. Acids accelerate the reaction with water. Incompatible with acids, strong oxidizing agents, alcohols, amines, and bases.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Propionic anhydride in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Propionic anhydride 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.
Propionic anhydride under UN 2496 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PROPIONIC ANHYDRIDE | 8 | C3 | III | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 8 is “Corrosive 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Propionic anhydride | 8 | III | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 8 is “Corrosive material” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Propionic anhydride — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Propionic anhydride?
The CAS number of Propionic anhydride is 123-62-6. Its EC number is 204-638-2.
What is the chemical formula of Propionic anhydride?
The molecular formula of Propionic anhydride is C6H10O3 and its molecular weight is 130.14 g/mol.
What does a Propionic anhydride label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Propionic anhydride carries the pictogram Corrosion and the signal word is Danger.
Is Propionic anhydride flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Propionic anhydride 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 73.89 °C (165 °F) (HSDB).
Is Propionic anhydride a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Propionic anhydride. 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 Propionic anhydride?
The boiling point reported for Propionic anhydride is 170 °C (338 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Propionic anhydride?
The melting point reported for Propionic anhydride is -45 °C (-49 °F) (HSDB).
How should Propionic anhydride be stored?
Separated from acids, bases, oxidants, food and feedstuffs. Dry. Ventilation along the floor. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Propionic anhydride
Keep going: substances starting with P, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.