Substance profile
Vinyl Acetate
Vinyl Acetate is colorless, mobile liquid with an initially pleasant odor which quickly becomes sharp and irritating Not.
01 · Identification
What Vinyl Acetate is
Vinyl Acetate is colorless, mobile liquid with an initially pleasant odor which quickly becomes sharp and irritating Not. It boils at 72.8 °C, melts at -93.2 °C, is soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
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. |
| H351 | Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H332 | Harmful if inhaled. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
Precautionary statements: P201, P210, P233, P241, P242, P260, P271, P280, P304, P308, P312, P313, P403
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Vinyl Acetate 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 | 72.8 °C (163 °F) | HSDB | |
| 72.22 °C (162 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 72.7 °C (162.9 °F) | ICSC | ||
| Melting point | -93.2 °C (-135.8 °F) | HSDB | |
| -93.33 °C (-136 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| Density | 0.93 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 0.932 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| Solubility | Sol in ethane, acetone, chloroform | HSDB | |
| Soluble in organic liquids | HSDB | ||
| > 10% in ethyl ether; > 10% in ethanol; > 10% in benzene | HSDB | ||
| Vapor pressure | 83 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 140 mmHg | CAMEO | ||
| 90.2 mmHg | at 20 °C, extrapolated | HSDB | |
| Flash point | -8 °C (17.6 °F) | CLOSED CUP | HSDB |
| -7.78 °C (18 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| Autoignition temperature | 402 °C (755.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 402.22 °C (756 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 385 °C (725 °F) | ICSC | ||
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 2.6 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 13.4 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Vapor density | 3 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| Odor threshold | 0.12 ppm | HSDB | |
| Odor Threshold Low: 0.36 [ppm] | Haz-Map | ||
| Critical temperature and pressure | 252.22 °C (486 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Source notes
Further notes on Vinyl Acetate
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
50% recognition threshold /the concn at which 50% of the odor panel defined the odor as being representive of the odorant being studied/: 0.40 ppm; 100% recognition threshold: 0.55 ppm.
Source: HSDB
05 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Vinyl Acetate
Storage conditions
It can be stored in steel, aluminum, or stainless steel containers under nitrogen. It is not necessary to add stabilizers at lower temperatures. If the vinyl acetate is to be warmed, stabilizers, such as hydroquinone, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, or diphenylamine are added. The quantity of stabilizer used is small, e.g., 3 -20 ppm hydroquinone, so that it does not generally need to be removed during the later polymerization.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Vinyl acetate vapor may react vigorously in contact with silica gel or alumina.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
VINYL ACETATE may undergo spontaneous exothermic polymerization on exposure to light. Reacts with air or water to produces peroxides that initiate explosively violent polymerization. Reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form explosive peracetic acid. Reacts with oxygen to form explosive peroxides. Forms explosive vinyl acetate ozonide on contact with ozone. Undergoes violent or explosive reactions with 2-aminoethanol, chlorosulfonic acid, ethylenediamine, mineral acids (hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, oleum), and peroxides [Lewis, 3rd ed., 1993, p. 1311]. Polymerization initiated by dibenzoyl peroxide in ethyl acetate accelerated out of control, ignited and exploded [Vervalin, 1973, p. 81]. Polymerization in toluene solution has caused several large industrial explosions [MCA Case History No. 2087].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Vinyl Acetate in the storage compatibility matrix →