Substance profile
Vinyl Acetate
Vinyl Acetate is colorless, mobile liquid with an initially pleasant odor which quickly becomes sharp and irritating Not.
01 · Identification
What Vinyl Acetate is
Vinyl Acetate is colorless, mobile liquid with an initially pleasant odor which quickly becomes sharp and irritating Not. It boils at 72.8 °C, melts at -93.2 °C, is soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
Vinyl Acetate identifiers and molecular data
Vinyl Acetate CAS number and EC number
Vinyl Acetate molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Vinyl Acetate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Vinyl Acetate pictograms and signal word
Vinyl Acetate 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 4 | H332 | GHS07 |
| Carcinogenicity GHS chapter 3.6 | Category 2 | H351 | GHS08 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
Vinyl Acetate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H351 | Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H332 | Harmful if inhaled. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Vinyl Acetate. 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 Vinyl Acetate
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 Vinyl Acetate 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
Vinyl Acetate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 13 precautionary statements to Vinyl Acetate. 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
Vinyl Acetate 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 | винилов ацетат |
| Spanish español | Acetato de vinilo |
| Czech čeština | vinyl-acetát |
| Danish dansk | vinylacetat |
| German Deutsch | Vinylacetat |
| Estonian eesti | vinüülatsetaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | οξικός βινυλεστέρας οξικό βινύλιο |
| English English | vinyl acetate |
| French français | acétate de vinyle |
| Croatian hrvatski | vinil-acetat |
| Italian italiano | acetato di vinile vinile acetato |
| Latvian latviešu | vinilacetāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | vinilacetatas |
| Hungarian magyar | vinil-acetát |
| Maltese Malti | aċetat tal-vinil |
| Dutch Nederlands | vinylacetaat |
| Polish polski | octan winylu ester winylowy kwasu octowego |
| Portuguese português | acetato de vinilo |
| Romanian română | acetat de vinil |
| Slovak slovenčina | vinyl-acetát |
| Slovenian slovenščina | vinil acetat |
| Finnish suomi | vinyyliasetaatti |
| Swedish svenska | vinylacetat |
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
Vinyl Acetate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Vinyl Acetate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Vinyl Acetate
- Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Harmful if inhaled.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Obtain special instructions before use.
- 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 INHALED:
- IF exposed or concerned:
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Vinyl Acetate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Vinyl Acetate health hazards and exposure limits
Vinyl Acetate hazard summary
Vinyl acetate is an industrial chemical that is produced in large amounts in the United States. It is a clear, colorless liquid with a sweet, fruity smell. It is very flammable and may be ignited by heat, sparks, or flames. Vinyl acetate is used to make other industrial chemicals. These chemicals are used mainly to make glues for the packaging and building industries. They are also used to make paints, textiles, and paper. Vinyl acetate is also used as a coating in plastic films for food packaging and as a modifier of food starch.
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Vinyl Acetate carcinogenicity classification
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
Vinyl Acetate occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | none See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 4 ppm (15 mg/m³), [15 minutes] | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | C 4 ppm (15 mg/m3) [15-minute] | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | N.D. | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
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
Vinyl Acetate 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.
Vinyl Acetate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 72.8 °C (163 °F) | HSDB | |
| 72.22 °C (162 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 72.7 °C (162.9 °F) | ICSC |
Vinyl Acetate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -93.2 °C (-135.8 °F) | HSDB | |
| -93.33 °C (-136 °F) | NIOSH |
Vinyl Acetate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.93 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 0.932 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Vinyl Acetate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Sol in ethane, acetone, chloroform | HSDB | |
| Soluble in organic liquids | HSDB | ||
| > 10% in ethyl ether; > 10% in ethanol; > 10% in benzene | HSDB |
Vinyl Acetate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 83 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 140 mmHg | CAMEO | ||
| 90.2 mmHg | at 20 °C, extrapolated | HSDB |
Vinyl Acetate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | -8 °C (17.6 °F) | CLOSED CUP | HSDB |
| -7.78 °C (18 °F) | NIOSH |
Vinyl Acetate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 402 °C (755.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 402.22 °C (756 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 385 °C (725 °F) | ICSC |
Vinyl Acetate lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 2.6 % by volume | HSDB |
Vinyl Acetate upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 13.4 % by volume | HSDB |
Vinyl Acetate vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 3 (air = 1) | HSDB |
Vinyl Acetate odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | 0.12 ppm | HSDB | |
| Odor Threshold Low: 0.36 [ppm] | Haz-Map |
Vinyl Acetate critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 252.22 °C (486 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Vinyl Acetate 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.
Vinyl Acetate fire potential
It is a highly flammable liq and a dangerous fire hazard.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Odor
50% recognition threshold /the concn at which 50% of the odor panel defined the odor as being representive of the odorant being studied/: 0.40 ppm; 100% recognition threshold: 0.55 ppm.
Source: HSDB
10 · Handling and storage
Vinyl Acetate storage and handling
Vinyl Acetate peroxide formation
C: Compounds that autopolymerize due to peroxide formation if inhibitors are depleated or not present
Source: Lab and Research Safety, University of Minnesota
Vinyl Acetate safe storage
Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants, acids and bases. Keep in the dark. Well closed. Store only if stabilized. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Vinyl Acetate storage conditions
It can be stored in steel, aluminum, or stainless steel containers under nitrogen. It is not necessary to add stabilizers at lower temperatures. If the vinyl acetate is to be warmed, stabilizers, such as hydroquinone, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, or diphenylamine are added. The quantity of stabilizer used is small, e.g., 3 -20 ppm hydroquinone, so that it does not generally need to be removed during the later polymerization.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Vinyl Acetate incompatible materials
Vinyl acetate vapor may react vigorously in contact with silica gel or alumina.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Vinyl Acetate reactivity
VINYL ACETATE may undergo spontaneous exothermic polymerization on exposure to light. Reacts with air or water to produces peroxides that initiate explosively violent polymerization. Reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form explosive peracetic acid. Reacts with oxygen to form explosive peroxides. Forms explosive vinyl acetate ozonide on contact with ozone. Undergoes violent or explosive reactions with 2-aminoethanol, chlorosulfonic acid, ethylenediamine, mineral acids (hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, oleum), and peroxides [Lewis, 3rd ed., 1993, p. 1311]. Polymerization initiated by dibenzoyl peroxide in ethyl acetate accelerated out of control, ignited and exploded [Vervalin, 1973, p. 81]. Polymerization in toluene solution has caused several large industrial explosions [MCA Case History No. 2087].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Vinyl Acetate in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Vinyl Acetate 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.
Vinyl Acetate under UN 1301 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VINYL ACETATE, STABILIZED | 3 | F1 | II | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 3 is “Flammable liquids” (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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl acetate, stabilized | 3 | II | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 3 is “Flammable and combustible liquid” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Vinyl Acetate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Vinyl Acetate?
The CAS number of Vinyl Acetate is 108-05-4. Its EC number is 203-545-4.
What does a Vinyl Acetate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Vinyl Acetate carries the pictograms Flame, Health hazard and Exclamation mark and the signal word is Danger.
Is Vinyl Acetate flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Vinyl Acetate H225 — highly flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is -8 °C (17.6 °F), CLOSED CUP (HSDB).
Is Vinyl Acetate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI assigns Vinyl Acetate H351 — suspected of causing cancer. That is category 2: the evidence points that way but is not conclusive. IARC places it in Group 2B: possibly carcinogenic to humans.
What is the exposure limit for Vinyl Acetate?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Vinyl Acetate is none See Appendix G (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)). 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 Vinyl Acetate?
The boiling point reported for Vinyl Acetate is 72.8 °C (163 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Vinyl Acetate?
The melting point reported for Vinyl Acetate is -93.2 °C (-135.8 °F) (HSDB).
How should Vinyl Acetate be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Vinyl Acetate the storage statement P403. It can be stored in steel, aluminum, or stainless steel containers under nitrogen. It is not necessary to add stabilizers at lower temperatures. If the vinyl acetate is to be warmed, stabilizers, such as hydroquinone, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, or diphenylamine are added. The quantity of stabilizer used is small, e.g., 3 -20 ppm hydroquinone, so that it does not generally need to be removed during the later polymerization. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Vinyl Acetate
Keep going: substances starting with V, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.