Substance profile
Phenol
Phenol is colorless acicular crystals or white, crystalline mass with a distinct aromatic, somewhat sickening sweet and acrid odor.
01 · Identification
What Phenol is
Phenol is colorless acicular crystals or white, crystalline mass with a distinct aromatic, somewhat sickening sweet and acrid odor. Its molecular formula is C6H6O and its molecular weight is 94.11 g/mol. It boils at 182 °C, melts at 40.9 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
Other names for Phenol
- carbolic acid
- C6H5OH
- Baker'S P And S Liquid And Ointment
- Benzenol
- Ent 1814
- Hydroxybenzene
- Liquefied Phenol
- Middle Oil
- Monohydroxybenzene
- Monophenol
- Oxybenzene
- Phenic Acid
- Phenol (Carbolic Acid)
- Phenol Alcohol
- monohydroxybenzene
- phenylalcohol
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 |
|---|---|
| H341 | Suspected of causing genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H311 | Toxic in contact with skin. |
| H301 | Toxic if swallowed. |
| H373 | May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
Precautionary statements: P201, P260, P270, P271, P280, P301, P302, P304, P308, P310, P313, P314, P330, P331, P352
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Phenol 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 | 181.75 °C (359.2 °F) | at 759.813 mmHg | HSDB |
| 181.67 °C (359 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 182.22 °C (360 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| Melting point | 40.91 °C (105.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 42.78 °C (109 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| Density | 1.071 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 1.06 g/cm³ | NIOSH | ||
| Solubility | 1 g/15 ml water | HSDB | |
| 1 g/12 ml benzene | HSDB | ||
| Very soluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether, glycerol, carbon disulfide, petrolatum, volatile and fixed oils, and aqueous alkali hydroxides | HSDB | ||
| Vapor pressure | 0.4 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 0.2 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 0.35 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Flash point | 79 °C (174.2 °F) | Closed cup | HSDB |
| 85 °C (185 °F) | Open cup | HSDB | |
| 79.44 °C (175 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| Autoignition temperature | 715 °C (1319 °F) | HSDB | |
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.8 % by volume | NIOSH | |
| 1.7 % by volume | CAMEO | ||
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 8.6 % by volume | NIOSH | |
| Vapor density | 3.24 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| Odor threshold | The phenol odor threshold of 19 people was measured and the lowest range of concentrations detected was 0.022-0.094 mg/cu m (0.006-0.024 ppm). | HSDB | |
| Critical temperature and pressure | 421.05 °C (789.9 °F) | HSDB | |
| Corrosivity | Caustic | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Source notes
Further notes on Phenol
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
Threshold odor concentration: 0.047-0.5 ppm; Absolute odor threshold: 0.048 ppm; Recognition threshold: median 0.65 ppm, upper-16.4 ppm; Population identification threshold: 0.01-0.47 ppm.
Source: HSDB
In water odor detection threshold: 5.90 ppm /chemically pure/; In air odor recognition threshold: 4.70x10-2 ppm; /chemically pure/; In air odor detection threshold: 1.00 ppm /purity not specified/; In air odor recognition threshold 4.70x10-2 ppm /pure/; In air odor threshold (type not specified): 7.70x10+10 molecules/cu cm /purity not specified/; In air odor threshold (type not specified): 2.60x10+11 molecules/cu cm /purity not specified/; In water taste threshold (type not specified): 6.00x10+1 ppm /purity not specified/; Odor threshold (medium & type of threshold not specified): 1.05x10+2 ppm /purity not specified/; Taste detection threshold in synthetic deodorized butter: 1.00x10-2 ppm /chemically pure/; Taste detection threshold (medium not specified): 1.00x10-2 ppm /purity not specified/; In beer taste recognition threshold: 2.71x10+1 moles/l /chemically pure/; In beer taste detection threshold: 1.25x10+1 ppb /chemically pure/; In water taste detection threshold: 2.50x10+1 ppm /purity not specified/; Taste recognition threshold (medium not specified): 1.00x10-2 ppm /purity not specified/
Source: HSDB
05 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Phenol
Storage conditions
Keep well closed and protected from light.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Addition of aluminum chloride to a large volume of recovered nitrobenzene containing 5% phenol caused a violent explosion. Experiment showed that mixtures containing all three components reacted violently at 120 °C.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
PHENOL is a weak acid. Reacts exothermically with bases. Reacts with strong oxidizing agents. Emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes when heated to decomposition. Undergoes, in the presence of aluminum chloride, potentially explosive reactions with nitromethane, butadiene, formaldehyde, peroxodisulfuric acid, peroxosulfuric acid, and sodium nitrite. Reacts violently with sodium nitrate in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid [Bretherick, 5th ed., 1995, p. 770]. May corrode lead, aluminum and its alloys, certain plastics, and rubber. Phenol may explode in contact with peroxodisulfuric acid (D'Ans, J. Ber., 1910, 43, 1880; Z. Anorg. Chem., 1911, 73, 1911.) or peroxomonosulfuric acid. (Sidgwick, 1950, 939)
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Phenol in the storage compatibility matrix →
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