Substance profile
1,2-Dichloroethane
1,2-Dichloroethane is a heavy liquid with a pleasant, chloroform-like odor.
01 · Identification
What 1,2-Dichloroethane is
1,2-Dichloroethane is a heavy liquid with a pleasant, chloroform-like odor. It boils at 83.4 °C, melts at -35.6 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
Other names for 1,2-Dichloroethane
- ethylene dichloride
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H350 | May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
Precautionary statements: P201, P210, P233, P241, P242, P264, P270, P280, P301, P302, P305, P308, P312, P313, P330, P332, P337, P338, P352, P403
This page lists only the codes assigned to 1,2-Dichloroethane. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
03 · Physical and chemical properties
1,2-Dichloroethane 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.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 83.4 °C (182.1 °F) | HSDB | |
| 83.33 °C (182 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 83.5 °C (182.3 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| Melting point | -35.6 °C (-32.1 °F) | HSDB | |
| -35.56 °C (-32 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -35.28 °C (-31.5 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 1.253 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 1.2454 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Solubility | Solubility in water at 20 °C: 0.86% wt | at 20 °C | HSDB |
| 0.869 g/100 mL water at 20 °C | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| In water, 8,600 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Vapor pressure | 64 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 60 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 78.9 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Flash point | 13 °C (55.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| 13.33 °C (56 °F) | HSDB | ||
| 18.33 °C (65 °F) | HSDB | ||
| Autoignition temperature | 412.78 °C (775 °F) | HSDB | |
| 440 °C (824 °F) | ICSC | ||
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 6.2 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 16 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 15.9 % by volume | CAMEO | ||
| Vapor density | 3.4 (air = 1) | CAMEO | |
| 3.42 (air = 1) | ICSC | ||
| Odor threshold | Detection in air= 2.5x10-2 mg/L (gas), chemically pure | HSDB | |
| Critical temperature and pressure | 289.85 °C (553.7 °F) | HSDB | |
| Corrosivity | Corrodes iron and other metals at elevated temperatures when in contact with water. | HSDB | |
| Will not corrode metals | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Source notes
Further notes on 1,2-Dichloroethane
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.
Corrosivity
Iron and zinc do not corrode when dry 1,2-dichloroethane is used, whereas aluminum shows strong dissolution. Increased water content leads to increased corrosion of iron and zinc; aluminum, however, corrodes less.
Source: HSDB
Odor
Of 20 subjects, 13 could detect ethylene dichloride at 6 ppm (23.2-24.9 mg/cu m), 6 persons could detect it at 4.5 ppm (17.5 mg/cu m), and 1 person at 3 ppm (12.2 mg/cu m).
Source: HSDB
Odor is not a dependable guide for avoiding dangerous chronic exposures to EDC. The odor may be considered pleasant until well above 180 ppm, and may be missed below 100 ppm.
Source: HSDB
05 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling 1,2-Dichloroethane
Storage conditions
Fireproof. Separated from food and feedstuffs and incompatible materials. See Chemical Dangers. Cool. Dry. Well closed. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Strong oxidizing agents.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
Liquid ammonia and ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE can cause an explosion when mixed, NFPA 491M, 1991. A tank of dimethyl amino propyl amine exploded violently when it reacted with wet ethylene dichloride which had been the tank's previous contents [Doyle 1973]. Halogenated aliphatic compounds, such as ethylene dichloride, are moderately or very reactive. Halogenated organics generally become less reactive as more of their hydrogen atoms are replaced with halogen atoms. Materials in this group are incompatible with strong oxidizing and reducing agents. Also, they are incompatible with many amines, nitrides, azo/diazo compounds, alkali metals, epoxides, aluminum
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check 1,2-Dichloroethane in the storage compatibility matrix →
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for 1,2-Dichloroethane
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 1,2-Dichloroethane 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.
Nearby
Substances next to 1,2-Dichloroethane
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