Page 163 - Handbook of Hazardous Chemical Properties

ETHANE 153

Vapor (Gas) Specific Gravity: Not pertinent; Ratio of Specific Heats of Vapor (Gas): 1.155; Latent Heat
of Vaporization: 176,97.9,4.10; Heat of Combustion: -8143,4524, -189.4; Heat ofDecomposition:
Not pertinent.
Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment: Air pack or organic
canister mask; protective gloves and goggles; Symptoms Following Exposure: Vapor is irritating to
eyes, nose, and throat; may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, and central nervous system depression.
Rapidly fatal if swallowed, i.e. nausea, vomiting, and collapse. Skin contact is irritating; General
Treatment for Exposure: INHALATION: remove victim to fresh air, keep him warm and quiet, and
get medical attention immediately; if breathing stops, start artificial respiration. INGESTION induce
vomiting (but only if victim is conscious and without convulsions) and call a physician promptly; no
specific antidote known. EYES OR SKIN: immediately flush with water for at least 15 min. and get
medical attention; remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse; Toxicity by Inhalation
(Threshold Limit Value): 5 ppm; Short-Tern Inhalation Limits: 10 ppm for 30 min.; Toxicity by
Ingestion: Grade 3, LD, 50 to 500 mg/kg; Late Toxicity: Causes cancer in experimental animals;
Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics: Vapor is moderately irritating such that personnel will not usually
tolerate moderate or high vapor concentrations; Liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics: Fairly severe
skin irritant. May cause pain and second-degree burns after a few minutes contact; Odor lhreshold
10 ppm.
Fire Hazards - Flash Point (deg. F): 92 OC; 100 CC; FlAk Limits in Air (%): 3.8 - 21.0; Fire
Extinguishing Agents: Alcohol foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray; Fire Extinguishing
Agents Not To Be Used: Avoid use of dry chemical if fire occurs in container with confined vent;
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic irritating vapors are generated when heated; Behavior
in Fire: Containers may explode in fire because of polymerization; Ignition Temperature (deg. F): 804;
Electrical Hazard: Not pertinent; Burning Rate: 2.6 dmin.
Chemical Reactivity -Reactivity with Water: Mild reaction; not likely to be hazardous; Reactivity with
Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and
Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Can polymerize in presence of strong acids and bases,
particularly when hot; Inhibitor of Polymerization: None used.

ETHANE
Chemical Designations - Synonyms: Methylmethane; Chemical Formula: C,H,
Observable characteristics - Physical State (as normally shipped): Liquid or compressed gas; Color:
Colorless; Odor: Weak, sweetish.
Physical and Chemical Properties - Physical State at 15 "c and I arm.: Gas; Molecular Weight:
30.07; Boiling Point at 1 am.: -127.5, -88.6, 264.6; Freezing Point: -279.9, -183.3, 89.9; Critical
Temperature: 90.1, 32.3, 305.5; Critical Pressure: 708.0, 48.16, 4.879; specific Gravity: 0.546 at -
88.6"C (liquid); Vapor (Gas) Density: 1.1; Ratio of Specflc Heats of Vapor (Gas): 1.191; Latent Heat
of Vaporization: 211, 117, 4.90; Heat of Combustion: -20.293, -11.274, -472.02; Heat of
Decomposition: Not pertinent.
Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment: Self-contained breathing
apparatus for high vapor concentrations; Symptoms Following Exposure: In high vapor concentrations,
can act as simple asphyxiant. Liquid causes severe frostbite; General Treatment for Exposure: Remove
from Exposure, support respiration; Toxicity by Inhalation (Threshold Limit Value): Not pertinent;
Short-Tern Exposure Limits: Not pertinent; Toxicity by Ingestion: Not pertinent; Late Toxicity: None;
Vapor ((As) Irritant Characteristics: Vapors are nonirritating to the eyes and throat; Liquid or Solid
Irritant Characteristics: Not pertinent; appreciable hazard. Practically harmless to the skin because is
very volatile and evaporates quickly; Odor Threshold 899 ppm.
Fire Hazards -Flash Point (deg. e: -211; FlammableLimits in Air (%): 2.9 - 13.0; Fire Extinguishing
Agents: Stop flow of gas; Fire Extinguishing Agents Not To Be Used: Data not available; Special
Hazards of Combustion Products: Not pertinent; Behavior in Fire: Not pertinent; Ignition Temperature
(deg. F): 940; Electrical Hazard: Class I, Group D; Burning Rate: 7.3 mdmin.
Chemical Reactivity - Reactivity with Water: No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No