Safety data for ethylene glycol

Click here for data on ethylene glycol in student-friendly format, from the HSci project

Glossary of terms on this data sheet.

The information on this web page is provided to help you to work safely, but it is intended to be an overview of hazards, not a replacement for a full Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). MSDS forms can be downloaded from the web sites of many chemical suppliers.

General

Synonyms: 1,2-dihydroxyethane, 1,2-ethanediol, EG, ethane-1,2-diol, glycol, glycol alcohol, monoethylene glycol, ethylene alcohol, MEG, Norkool, tescol, Dowtherm SR 1, Du Pont Zonyl FSO, Fridex, ucar 17, antifreeze, anti-freeze
Use: antifreeze
Molecular formula: C₂H₆O₂
CAS No: 107-21-1
EC No: 203-473-3
EC Index No: 603-027-00-1

Physical data

Appearance: colourless viscous liquid
Melting point: -13 C
Boiling point: 196-198 C
Specific gravity: 1.113
Vapour pressure: 0.08 mm Hg at 20 C
Vapour density: 2.1 (air = 1)
Flash point: 110 C
Explosion limits: 3.2% - 15.3%
Autoignition temperature: 400 C
Water solubility: miscible in all proportions

Stability

Stable. Substances to be avoided include strong bases, strong acids, strong oxidizing agents, perchloric acid, chromyl chloride. Protect from moisture.

Toxicology

Harmful if swallowed. Eye irritant. Typical OEL 10 - 25 ppm. Laboratory experiments have shown teratogenic effects.

Toxicity data
(The meaning of any abbreviations which appear in this section is given here.)
ORL-HMN LDLO 786 mg kg^-1
ORL-RAT LD50 4700 mg kg^-1
IPR-MUS LD50 5614 mg kg^-1

Risk phrases
(The meaning of any risk phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
R22 R36.

Personal protection

Safety glasses.

Safety phrases
(The meaning of any safety phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
S26 S36 S37 S39 S45 S53.

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This information was last updated on July 10, 2009. Although we have tried to make it as accurate and useful as possible, we can take no responsibility for its use or misuse.

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