Substance profile
Valeric acid
Valeric acid is a colorless liquid with an unpleasant odor, similar to butyric acid.
01 · Identification
What Valeric acid is
Valeric acid is a colorless liquid with an unpleasant odor, similar to butyric acid. Its molecular formula is C5H10O2 and its molecular weight is 102.13 g/mol. It boils at 185 °C, melts at -34.5 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
02 · Identifiers
Valeric acid identifiers and molecular data
Valeric acid CAS number and EC number
Valeric acid molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Valeric acid hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Valeric acid pictograms and signal word
Valeric acid 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 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 3 | H412 | — |
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.
Valeric acid hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| H412 | Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Valeric acid. 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 Valeric acid
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 Valeric acid 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
Valeric acid precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 7 precautionary statements to Valeric acid. 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.
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
Valeric acid 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 | валерианова киселина |
| Spanish español | Ácido valérico |
| Czech čeština | pentanová kyselina |
| Danish dansk | valerianesyre |
| German Deutsch | Valeriansäure Pentansäure |
| Estonian eesti | palderjanhape |
| Greek ελληνικά | βαλεριανικό οξύ |
| English English | valeric acid |
| French français | acide valérique |
| Croatian hrvatski | valerinska kiselina |
| Italian italiano | acido valerico |
| Latvian latviešu | baldriānskābe |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | valerijonų rūgštis |
| Hungarian magyar | valeriánsav |
| Maltese Malti | aċidu valeriku |
| Dutch Nederlands | valeriaanzuur |
| Polish polski | kwas walerianowy kwas pentanowykwas butanokarboksylowy |
| Portuguese português | ácido valérico |
| Romanian română | acid valeric |
| Slovak slovenčina | kyselina valerová |
| Slovenian slovenščina | valerianska kislina |
| Finnish suomi | valeriaanahappo |
| Swedish svenska | valeriansyra |
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
Valeric acid GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Valeric acid, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Valeric acid
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Valeric acid in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Valeric acid health hazards and exposure limits
Valeric acid hazard summary
A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; [ICSC] Emergency treatment: Acids; [HSDB] Causes altered sleep time and seizures in intravenous, lethal-dose studies of mice; [RTECS] Safe when used as a flavoring agent in food; [JECFA] A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis; [MSDSonline]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Valeric acid 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.
Valeric acid boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 185 °C (365 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
| 186.4 °C (367.5 °F) | at 760 mmHg | DOE PAC | |
| 186 °C (366.8 °F) | JECFA |
Valeric acid melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -34.5 °C (-30.1 °F) | HSDB |
Valeric acid density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.939 g/cm³ | CAMEO | |
| 0.94 g/cm³ | ICSC | ||
| 0.939 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Valeric acid solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Freely soluble in alcohol, ether | HSDB | |
| Soluble in oxygenated solvents. | HSDB | ||
| Slightly soluble in carbon tetrachloride | HSDB |
Valeric acid vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0.15 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC |
| 0.196 mmHg | at 25 °C | DOE PAC | |
| 1 mmHg | at 42.22 °C | CAMEO |
Valeric acid flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 96.11 °C (205 °F) | HSDB | |
| 88.89 °C (192 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 86 °C (186.8 °F) | ICSC |
Valeric acid autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 400 °C (752 °F) | HSDB |
Valeric acid lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.6 % by volume | HSDB |
Valeric acid upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 7.6 % by volume | HSDB |
Valeric acid vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 3.5 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 3.52 (air = 1) | CAMEO |
Valeric acid odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Odor Threshold Low: 0.00062 [ppm] | Haz-Map | |
| Odor Threshold High: 0.0008 [ppm] | Haz-Map | ||
| [Hawley] Odor threshold (low) and (100% recognition) from CHEMINFO | Haz-Map |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Valeric acid 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.
Valeric acid fire potential
Combustible liquid.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Valeric acid storage and handling
Valeric acid safe storage
Separated from strong bases.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Valeric acid storage conditions
Separated from strong bases.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Valeric acid reactivity
PENTANOIC ACID is a carboxylic acid. Exothermically neutralizes bases, both organic and inorganic, producing water and a salt. Can react with active metals to form gaseous hydrogen and a metal salt. Reacts with cyanide salts to generate gaseous hydrogen cyanide. Flammable and/or toxic gases and heat are generated by reaction with diazo compounds, dithiocarbamates, isocyanates, mercaptans, nitrides, and sulfides. Reacts with sulfites, nitrites, thiosulfates and dithionites to generate flammable and/or toxic gases and heat. Reacts with carbonates and bicarbonates to generate a harmless gas (carbon dioxide) but still heat. Can be oxidized by strong oxidizing agents and reduced by strong reducing agents. These reactions generate heat. May initiate polymerization reactions. May catalyze (increase the rate of) chemical reactions.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Valeric acid in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Valeric acid — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Valeric acid?
The CAS number of Valeric acid is 109-52-4. Its EC number is 203-677-2.
What is the chemical formula of Valeric acid?
The molecular formula of Valeric acid is C5H10O2 and its molecular weight is 102.13 g/mol.
What does a Valeric acid label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Valeric acid carries the pictogram Corrosion and the signal word is Danger.
Is Valeric acid flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Valeric acid 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 96.11 °C (205 °F) (HSDB).
Is Valeric acid a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Valeric acid. 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 Valeric acid?
The boiling point reported for Valeric acid is 185 °C (365 °F), at 760 mmHg (CAMEO).
What is the melting point of Valeric acid?
The melting point reported for Valeric acid is -34.5 °C (-30.1 °F) (HSDB).
How should Valeric acid be stored?
Separated from strong bases. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Valeric acid
Keep going: substances starting with V, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.