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Chemical Name: 2,2-Dimethoxypropane
Synonyms: Dimethyl-2,2-propanediol acetal
CAS Number: 77-76-9
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid with a noticeable ether-like odor
Common Usage: Labs use it as a dehydrating agent in organic synthesis, especially for transforming diols into ketals and acetals. It often finds its way into pharmaceuticals and some analytic procedures because of its water-removal properties.
Risk Type: Flammable liquid, harmful through inhalation and skin contact
Primary Hazards: Highly flammable, vapors can form explosive mixtures with air, irritating to eyes, skin, respiratory tract
Signal Words and Pictograms: Flammable liquid symbol, health hazard symbol often included in proper signage to keep users aware
Acute Symptoms: Exposure brings dizziness, headaches, or nausea; skin contact sometimes results in dryness or redness; splash to the eye has a stinging, burning impact
Long-Term Risk: Regular or prolonged contact risks dermatitis and respiratory discomfort. Repeated exposure in high levels could affect the nervous system.
Main Component: 2,2-Dimethoxypropane
Purity: Products rarely contain major stabilizers or additives
Impurities: Trace amounts of methanol can be found due to hydrolysis over time; careful storage helps minimize this risk since methanol itself carries significant toxic risk
Inhalation: Person should move to fresh air instantly; if symptoms persist, monitor for headache or dizziness, and medical attention may be necessary
Skin Contact: Wash affected area with soap and water; seek medical advice if skin irritation doesn’t clear up
Eye Contact: Rinse under running water for at least 15 minutes without pausing to keep eyelids apart; a medical consultation helps ensure there’s no long-term damage
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, never induce vomiting; alert medical professionals quickly since aspiration and central nervous system effects need early treatment
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Alcohol-resistant foam, dry powder, or carbon dioxide. Water can spread the fire and should be ignored except for cooling containers
Special Hazards: Vapors ignite rapidly; fire brings risk of thermal decomposition and release of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide
Protective Actions: Firefighters require full turnout gear, self-contained breathing apparatus; keeping distance is prudent due to vapor cloud explosion hazard
Advice: Stay upwind, avoid inhaling smoke, evacuate area quickly if fire is close to stored liquid
Personal Precautions: Evacuate unnecessary people, eliminate ignition sources, use protective gear including chemical splash goggles and impervious gloves
Containment: Ventilate area, stop leak if safe to do so; use non-sparking tools and inert absorbents like sand to soak up liquid
Clean-up: Collect spillage in a container for approved disposal, wash down contaminated area with water after removal; prevent spill from spreading to sewers or open drains
Environmental Cautions: Avoid direct discharge into the environment since aquatic life shows sensitivity to organic solvents; keep run-off from storm drains or waterways by building berms if possible
Storage Conditions: Keep tightly closed in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and heat sources
Handling Practices: Use explosion-proof equipment; avoid all ignition sources in the vicinity, ground containers during transfer
Incompatibilities: Store away from oxidizing agents, strong acids, and bases; avoid exposure to moisture as it slowly hydrolyzes to acetone and methanol
Advice: Post clear hazard warnings and train staff on spill response and fire safety—preparing for the worst makes the odds of an accident causing harm much lower
Workplace Controls: Use only with local exhaust or proper ventilation to keep airborne concentration low
Exposure Limits: No specific OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH exposure limit for this solvent, but follow general organic vapor thresholds to remain cautious
Personal Protection: Safety goggles, gloves made from nitrile or butyl rubber, long sleeves, and lab coats form a minimum standard; respiratory protection like NIOSH-approved vapor masks recommended during handling in confined spaces
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands after use, remove contaminated clothing promptly, store personal protective equipment separately to avoid spread of contamination through common spaces
Physical State: Liquid
Color: Colorless
Odor: Ether-like, sweet
Boiling Point: About 85°C
Melting Point: Below -50°C
Flash Point: 10°C (closed cup, highly flammable)
Vapor Pressure: High for organics at room temperature; enough to present inhalation risk in enclosed environments
Solubility: Miscible with organic solvents, slight solubility in water—excess moisture speeds up hydrolysis
Relative Density: 0.86 g/cm³
Volatility: Loss due to evaporation can result in higher inhalation risk, so open containers with caution
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage; exposure to strong acids, bases, or moisture can lead to breakdown
Hazardous Reactions: Hydrolysis yields methanol and acetone, both hazardous in their own right; reacts violently with oxidizing agents
Thermal Decomposition: High temperature exposure releases dangerous gases including carbon monoxide, which presents grave inhalation hazards during fire
Incompatibles: Acid chlorides, strong acids, strong bases, and oxidizers can create unsafe conditions or even trigger fire or gas release
Major Exposure Routes: Inhalation, skin absorption, eye contact, ingestion
Acute Effects: Central nervous system depression, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, irritation of mucous membranes
Chronic Exposure: Extended contact might cause dermatitis, lingering respiratory tract irritation
Carcinogenicity and Sensitization: Available data hasn’t shown clear evidence of carcinogenic risk, though related solvents often show chronic toxicity if mishandled
Animal Testing: Acute oral and inhalation toxicity observed in laboratory animals mostly attributed to hydrolysis products like methanol, showing rapid onset of metabolic acidosis and neurological effects
Mobility: Volatile and mobile in soil and water; hydrolyzes slowly in the environment, releasing methanol as a breakdown product
Aquatic Impact: Organic solvents like this carry moderate to high risk for aquatic life; simple exposure can harm fish and invertebrate populations in small water bodies
Persistence and Bioaccumulation: Tendency to break down over days to weeks; bioaccumulation not considered significant due to its rapid hydrolysis but methanol and acetone produced are more concerning in surface water after release
Other Effects: High vapor pressure means a portion escapes into the atmosphere quickly, further degrading under sunlight
Recommended Practices: Collection of used or spilled liquid in sealed containers for incineration at licensed chemical waste facilities
Avoided Practices: Never flush down household or lab drains due to water system contamination risks
Advice: Clean containers thoroughly before disposal; contaminated absorbent and waste material handled as hazardous waste by registered disposal firms
Classification: Flammable liquid for shipping; UN1993, Flammable Liquid, n.o.s. (contains 2,2-dimethoxypropane) for global transport standards
Packing Group: II
Labeling: Clearly marked as flammable; use of red flammable warning diamond on all shipping containers
Special Precautions: Avoid transport with oxidizing agents or across high-heat routes; carriers must keep emergency procedures and spill kits ready for response
Global Inventory Status: Found on international chemical inventories like TSCA, EINECS
Hazard Communication: Classified as a hazardous material in major regulatory systems because of flammability and acute toxicity
Restriction: No residential or consumer product uses in most jurisdictions due to high volatility and flammable risks
Employer Responsibility: Workers get training on hazards, PPE, emergency response; clear labeling as per OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
