Substance profile
Butan-1-ol
Butan-1-ol is a colorless liquid with a harsh fusel odor with banana.
01 · Identification
What Butan-1-ol is
Butan-1-ol is a colorless liquid with a harsh fusel odor with banana. Its molecular formula is C4H10O and its molecular weight is 74.12 g/mol. It boils at 118 °C, melts at -88.6 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 3rd degree.
Other names for Butan-1-ol
- n-butanol
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 |
|---|---|
| H226 | Flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H336 | May cause drowsiness or dizziness. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H318 | Causes serious eye damage. |
Precautionary statements: P210, P233, P241, P242, P264, P270, P280, P301, P302, P305, P310, P312, P313, P330, P332, P338, P352, P403
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Butan-1-ol 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 | 117.6 °C (243.7 °F) | HSDB | |
| 117.22 °C (243 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 117.72 °C (243.9 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| Melting point | -88.6 °C (-127.5 °F) | HSDB | |
| -89.44 °C (-129 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| Density | 0.81 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 0.8098 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 0.81 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| Solubility | In water, 68 g/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
| In water, 6.32X10+4 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Vapor pressure | 6 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 15.51 mmHg | CAMEO | ||
| 7 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Flash point | 36.67 °C (98 °F) | HSDB | |
| 28.89 °C (84 °F) | HSDB | ||
| Autoignition temperature | 343.33 °C (650 °F) | HSDB | |
| 345 °C (653 °F) | ICSC | ||
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.4 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 11.2 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Vapor density | 2.6 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| Odor threshold | 2.50 ppm (detection in water, chemically pure) | HSDB | |
| 2.77 ppm (detection in air, chemically pure) | HSDB | ||
| Critical temperature and pressure | 289.85 °C (553.7 °F) | HSDB | |
| Corrosivity | Attack some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Source notes
Further notes on Butan-1-ol
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.
Odor
Water odor threshold: 7.1 mg/L. Air odor threshold: 0.83 ppm. Odor safety class: B. B= odor safety factor 26-550. 50-90% of distracted persons perceive warning of TLV.
Source: HSDB
05 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Butan-1-ol
Incompatible materials
Butanol, used as a solvent in an autoclave preparation at 100 °C, severely attacked the aluminum gasket, liberating hydrogen which caused a sharp rise in pressure. Other alcohols would behave similarly ... .
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
N-BUTYL ALCOHOL attacks plastics. [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 236]. Mixtures with concentrated sulfuric acid and strong hydrogen peroxide can cause explosions. May form explosive butyl hypochlorite by reacting with hypochlorous acid. May form butyl explosive butyl hypochlorite with chlorine.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Butan-1-ol in the storage compatibility matrix →