Page 261 - Handbook of Hazardous Chemical Properties

METHYL ALCOHOL 251
high vapor concentrations; rubber gloves; chemical goggles or face shield; Symptoms Following
Exposure: May irritate skin, eyes, respiratory system, and gastrointestinal tract. Fumes cause tears;
General Treatment for Exposure: INHALATION: remove to fresh air; lay patient down; keep him
warm; administer artificial respiration if breathing has stopped; administer oxygen. SKIN OR EYES:
flush with plenty water for 15 min.; consult physician for eye exposure; Toxicity by Inhalation
(Threshold Limit Value): 10 ppm; Short-Tern Inhalation Limits: 25 ppm for 30 min.; Toxicity by
Ingestion: Grade 3; LD, 50 to 500 mgkg (rabbit); Late Toxicity: Data not available; Vapor (Gas)
Irritant Characteristics: Vapors cause moderate irritation such that personnel will find high
concentrations unpleasant.. The effect is temporary; Liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics: Causes
smarting of the skin and first-degree burns on short exposure; may cause secondary burns on long
exposure; Odor Threshold Data not available.
Fire Hazards - Flash Point (&g. F): 2.7 CC; 44 OC; Flammable Limits in Air (W): 2.8 - 25; Fire
Extinguishing Agents: Foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide; Fire Extinguishing Agents Not To Be
Used: Water may be ineffective; Special Hazardr of Combustion Products: Irritating vapors are
generated in fires; Behavior in Fire: May polymerize. Vapor is heavier than fire and may travel a
considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back; Ignition Tempemture: Data not available;
Electrical Hazard: Not pertinent; Burning Rate: Data not available.
Chemical Reactivity - Reactivity with Water: No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No
reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents forAcidr and Caustics: Not pertinent;
Polymerization: Heat may cause an explosive polymerization. Strong ultraviolet light can also initiate
polymerization; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Hydroquinone and its methyl ether, in presence of air .
METHYL ALCOHOL
Chemical Designations - Synonyms: Colonial spirit; Wood alcohol; Columbian spirit; Wood naphtha;
Methanol; Wood spirit; Chemical Formula: CH,OH.
Observable Characteristics - Physical State (as shipped) : Liquid; Color: Colorless; Odor: Faint
alcohol; like ethyl alcohol; faintly sweet; characteristic pungent.
Physical and Chemical Properties - Physical State at 15 "c and 1 atm. : Liquid; Molecular Weight:
32.04; Boiling Point at I am.: 148.1, 64.5, 337.7; Freezing Point: -144.0, -97.8, 175.4; Critical
Temperature: 464, 240, 513; Critical Pressure: 1142.0, 77.7, 7.87; Specijic Gravity: 0.792 at 20 "C
(liquid); Vapor (Gas) Specijic Gravity: 1.1 ; Ratio of Specific Heats of Vapor (Gas): 1.254; Lutent Heat
of Vaporization: 473.0, 262.8, 11.00; Heat of Combustion: -8419, -4677, -195.8; Heat of
Decomposition: Not pertinent.
Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment: Approved canister mask
for high vapor concentrations; safety goggles; rubber gloves; Symptoms Following Exposure: Exposure
to excessive vapor causes eye irritation, headache, fatigue and drowsiness. High concentrations can
produce central nervous system depression and optic nerve damage. 50,000 ppm will probably cause
death in 1 to 2 hrs. Can be absorbed trough skin. Swallowing may cause death or eye damage; General
Treatment for Exposure: Remove victim from exposure and apply artificial respiration if breathmg has
ceased. INGESTION: induce vomiting, then give 2 teaspoons of baking soda in glass of water; call a
physician. EYES or SKIN: flush with water for 15 min.; Toxicity by Inhalation (Threshold Limit
Value) : 200 ppm; Short-Term InhaIation Limits: 260 mg/m3 for 60 min. ; Toxicity by Ingestion: Grade
1; 5 to 15 g/kg (rat); Lute Toxicity: None; Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics: Vapors causes a slight
smarting of the eyes or respiratory system if present in high concentrations. The effect is temporary;
Liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics: Minimum hazard. If spilled on clothing and allowed to remain,
may cause smarting and reddening of skin; Odor 7hreshOld: 100 ppm.
Fire Hazards - Flash Point (deg. F): 54 CC; 61 OC; Flammable Limits in Air (%): 6.0 - 36; Fire
Extinguishing Agents: Alcohol foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide; Fire Extinguishing Agents Not To
Be Used: Water may be ineffective; Special Hazardr of Combustion Products: Not pertinent; Behavior
in Fire: Containers may explode; Ignition Temperature (deg. F): 867; Electrical Hazard: Class I,
Group D; Burning Rate: 1.7 mm/min.
Chemical Reactivity - Reactivity with Water: No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No