Substance profile
Propyl chloroformate
Propyl chloroformate is a colorless liquid.
01 · Identification
What Propyl chloroformate is
Propyl chloroformate is a colorless liquid. Its molecular formula is C4H7ClO2 and its molecular weight is 122.55 g/mol. It boils at 112 °C, is miscible with water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 3rd degree.
02 · Identifiers
Propyl chloroformate identifiers and molecular data
Propyl chloroformate CAS number and EC number
Propyl chloroformate molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Propyl chloroformate
- chloroformic acid propylester
- n-propyl chloroformate
03 · GHS classification
Propyl chloroformate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Propyl chloroformate pictograms and signal word
Propyl chloroformate hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 2 | H225 | GHS02 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H331 | GHS06 |
| 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.
Propyl chloroformate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Propyl chloroformate. 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 Propyl chloroformate
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 Propyl chloroformate 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
Propyl chloroformate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 12 precautionary statements to Propyl chloroformate. 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
Propyl chloroformate 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 | пропилов хлороформат пропилов естер на хлоромравчената киселина n -пропилов хлороформат |
| Spanish español | Cloroformiato de propilo éster propílico del ácido clorofórmicocloroformiato de n -propilo |
| Czech čeština | propyl-chlorformiát propylester chlormravenčí kyselinyn -propyl-chlorformiát |
| Danish dansk | propylchlorformiat chlormyresyrepropylestern -propylchlorformiat |
| German Deutsch | Propylchlorformiat Chlorameisensäurepropylestern -Propylchlorformiat |
| Estonian eesti | propüülkloroformiaat klorosipelghappe propüülestern -propüülkloroformiaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | χλωρομυρμηκικός προπυλεστέρας χλωρομυρμηκικό προπύλιοπροπυλεστέρας του χλωρομυρμηκικού οξέοςχλωρομυρμηκικός n -προπυλεστέραςχλωρομυρμηκικό n -προπύλιο |
| English English | propyl chloroformate chloroformic acid propylestern -propyl chloroformate |
| French français | chloroformiate de propyle propylester de l'acide chloroformiquechloroformiate de n -propyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | propil-klorformijat propil-ester klormravlje kiselinen -propil-klorformijat |
| Italian italiano | propil cloroformiato propilestere dell’acido cloroformicon - propil cloroformiato |
| Latvian latviešu | propilhlorformiāts hlorskudrskābes propilesterisn -propilhlorformiāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | propilchlorformiatas chlorskruzdžių rūgšties propilesterisn -propilchlorformiatas |
| Hungarian magyar | propil-klórformiát klórhangyasav-propil-észtern -propil-klórformiát |
| Maltese Malti | kloroformat tal-propil propilester tal-aċidu kloroformikukloroformat ta’ n -propil |
| Dutch Nederlands | propylchloorformiaat chloormierenzuur, propylestern -propylchloorformiaat |
| Polish polski | chloromrówczan propylu ester propylowy kwasu chloromrówkowego |
| Portuguese português | cloroformiato de propilo éster propílico de ácido clorofórmicocloroformiato de n -propilo |
| Romanian română | cloroformat de propil propilesterul acidului cloroformiccloroformat de n -propil |
| Slovak slovenčina | propyl-chlórmetanoát propylester kyseliny chlórmetánovejn -propyl-chlórmetanoát |
| Slovenian slovenščina | propil kloroformat propilni ester kloromravljinčne kislinen -propil kloroformat |
| Finnish suomi | propyyliklooriformiaatti kloorimuurahaishappopropyyliesterin -propyyliklooriformiaatti |
| Swedish svenska | propylklorformiat klormetansyrapropylestern -propylklorformat |
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
Propyl chloroformate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Propyl chloroformate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Propyl chloroformate
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- Toxic if inhaled.
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- 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.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF INHALED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Propyl chloroformate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Propyl chloroformate health hazards and exposure limits
Propyl chloroformate hazard summary
A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Inhalation can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] A strong eye and mucous membrane irritant; [HSDB] See CHLOROFORMATES.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Propyl chloroformate 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.
Propyl chloroformate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 112.4 °C (234.3 °F) | HSDB | |
| 115 °C (239 °F) | ICSC | ||
| 115 °C (239 °F) | range, midpoint shown, at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Propyl chloroformate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.09 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 1.091 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.09 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
Propyl chloroformate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | MISCIBLE WITH BENZENE, CHLOROFORM, ETHER | HSDB | |
| Insoluble in water | HSDB | ||
| Solubility in water: reaction | ICSC |
Propyl chloroformate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 19.5016 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC |
| 20 mmHg | at 25.3 °C | HSDB | |
| 20 mmHg | Haz-Map |
Propyl chloroformate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | -50 °C (-58 °F) | HSDB | |
| 26 °C (78.8 °F) | ICSC |
Propyl chloroformate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 475 °C (887 °F) | ICSC |
Propyl chloroformate vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 4.2 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 4.23 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Handling and storage
Propyl chloroformate storage and handling
Propyl chloroformate safe storage
Fireproof. Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Separated from acids, alcohols, amines, bases, oxidants and food and feedstuffs. Dry. Well closed. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Propyl chloroformate storage conditions
OWING TO THE FACT THAT THESE COMPOUNDS DECOMP EASILY, STORAGE CONTAINERS SHOULD BE VENTED. /CHLOROFORMATES/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Propyl chloroformate reactivity
Unstable, decomposes spontaneously to form hydrochloric acid and other products. Avoid moist air. [EPA, 1998]. May react vigorously or explosively if mixed with diisopropyl ether or other ethers in the presence of trace amounts of metal salts [J. Haz. Mat., 1981, 4, 291].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Propyl chloroformate in the storage compatibility matrix →
10 · Transport
Propyl chloroformate 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.
Propyl chloroformate under UN 2740 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n-PROPYL CHLOROFORMATE | 6.1 | TFC | I | |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| n-Propyl chloroformate | 6.1 | I | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 6.1 is “Poisonous materials” (49 CFR 173.2).
11 · Questions
Propyl chloroformate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Propyl chloroformate?
The CAS number of Propyl chloroformate is 109-61-5. Its EC number is 203-687-7.
What is the chemical formula of Propyl chloroformate?
The molecular formula of Propyl chloroformate is C4H7ClO2 and its molecular weight is 122.55 g/mol.
What does a Propyl chloroformate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Propyl chloroformate carries the pictograms Flame, Skull and crossbones and Corrosion and the signal word is Danger.
Is Propyl chloroformate flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Propyl chloroformate H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is -50 °C (-58 °F) (HSDB).
Is Propyl chloroformate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Propyl chloroformate. 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 Propyl chloroformate?
The boiling point reported for Propyl chloroformate is 112.4 °C (234.3 °F) (HSDB).
How should Propyl chloroformate be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Propyl chloroformate the storage statement P403. OWING TO THE FACT THAT THESE COMPOUNDS DECOMP EASILY, STORAGE CONTAINERS SHOULD BE VENTED. /CHLOROFORMATES/ (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Propyl chloroformate
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