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Chemical Name: 2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol
Common Names: Dinitro-o-cresol (DNOC), 2-Methyl DNOC
CAS Number: 534-52-1
Type: Yellow to orange crystalline solid, strong phenolic odor
Classification: Toxic solid, strong oxidizer, environmental hazard, skin and eye irritant, acute toxicologic risk through inhalation and ingestion, risk of respiratory tract irritation
Health Hazards: Rapid absorption through skin or mucous membranes disrupts metabolic functions and can trigger acute symptoms: sweating, headache, rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting, respiratory distress, tremors, risk of death from collapse or convulsions at higher doses. Eyes are highly susceptible to corrosive injury.
Environmental Hazards: High toxicity to aquatic life, long-lived in the soil and groundwater, strong bioaccumulation risk.
Main Component: 2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol, typically above 98 percent purity in reagent or laboratory use
Impurities: Trace amounts of related nitrophenols or incomplete nitration byproducts in technical grades
Molecular Formula: C7H6N2O5
Molecular Weight: 198.13 g/mol
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, rinse affected skin with copious running water, wash thoroughly using mild soap, seek medical evaluation for signs of irritation or systemic absorption
Eye Contact: Immediately flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes with eyelids held open, seek urgent medical attention for any persistent pain or vision changes
Inhalation: Move person into fresh air promptly, provide oxygen or artificial respiration if breathing stops, immediate hospitalization if symptoms of poisoning develop
Ingestion: Seek medical care without delay, do not induce vomiting due to corrosive effects, activated charcoal and gastric lavage applied only under medical direction, risk of fatal poisoning demands close monitoring of vital signs.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical powder, foam, or CO2 recommended for small fires; avoid water use if possible due to runoff risk
Hazards from Combustion: Release of toxic gases, including nitrogen oxides and potentially phenol vapors
Protective Equipment: Full firefighting turnout gear, self-contained breathing apparatus needed to prevent inhalation of decomposition fumes
Fire/Explosion Risk: Dust may form explosive mixture with air, reacts violently with strong reducing agents, applications near oxidizable materials or hot surfaces heighten risk.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate non-essential personnel, ventilate contaminated area, wear chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, impervious clothing, and respiratory protection for cleanup
Cleanup Procedures: Collect solid with non-sparking tools, seal in labeled containers, do not sweep or compress dust, isolate potential ignition sources
Decontamination: Wash residues with detergent, avoid use of bleach or reducing agents on spill
Environmental Considerations: Prevent substance from entering waterways, storm drains, or soil, collect wash water for controlled disposal.
Safe Handling: Use only in chemical fume hoods or ventilated spaces, avoid skin, eye, and respiratory contact, do not eat, drink, or smoke during use, change contaminated clothing promptly
Storage: Keep containers sealed, store in cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat and direct sunlight, segregate from strong acids, reducing agents, and combustible materials, use containers that prevent light exposure
Incompatibilities: Strong acids, alkalis, organic reducing substances, and combustible materials.
Engineering Controls: Fume hoods, local exhaust, emergency eyewash and shower stations nearby
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical splash goggles, nitrile gloves or equivalent, long-sleeved protective clothing, NIOSH-approved respirator for dusts and fumes
Exposure Limits: No established OSHA or ACGIH limits specific to DNOC, but recognized as highly toxic; minimize exposure as much as possible
Hygiene Measures: Wash thoroughly after handling, launder clothing before reuse.
Appearance: Yellow-orange needle-like crystals
Odor: Strongly phenolic
Melting Point: Around 87–89°C
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, more readily in ethanol and organic solvents, pH dependent solubility
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at ambient temperatures
Density: About 1.5–1.6 g/cm³
Stability: Slowly decomposes on exposure to light, sensitive to friction, shock, and heat.
Chemical Stability: Stable at room temperature in dark, sealed containers; heat, light, and mechanical shock speed decomposition
Incompatible Materials: Reacts with reducing agents, strong bases and acids, organic materials may initiate violent reactions
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Releases toxic nitrogen oxides, phenolic fumes, and carbon monoxide during burning or decomposition
Polymerization: Not expected under normal conditions.
Acute Effects: DNOC is highly toxic by all exposure routes; doses as low as a few milligrams per kilogram can provoke systemic effects in adults, such as hyperthermia, metabolic acidosis, possible death
Chronic Effects: Long-term exposure linked to weight loss, nervous system effects, cataracts, and potential reproductive toxicity
Mutagenicity/Carcinogenicity: Not enough human evidence to classify definitively, but structural similarity to known carcinogenic nitrophenols raises concern
Target Organs: Liver, kidneys, central nervous system, eyes
Symptoms: Sweating, headache, dizziness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, convulsions, severe muscle weakness, kidney and respiratory failure.
Aquatic Toxicity: Highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates; persistent residues in surface water disrupt algae and plant life
Persistence and Degradability: Breaks down slowly in the environment, residues persist for weeks to months depending on exposure to sunlight and biological activity
Bioaccumulation: Accumulates in aquatic and terrestrial organisms, moves up the food chain, presents longer-term storage in adipose tissues
Soil Impact: Tends to bind to organic matter, can contaminate groundwater and surface waters through leaching
Wider Impact: Use near farmland, rural water sources, or wildlife habitats brings risk of secondary poisoning and ecosystem disruption.
Disposal: Treat all residues and contaminated materials as hazardous waste; incineration at regulated facilities under controlled conditions recommended
Container Disposal: Cleaned and decontaminated containers need destruction or professional recycling
Precautions: Never dispose via landfill, surface water, or regular trash streams due to persistence and toxicity
Legal Requirements: Follow state and national hazardous waste rules, document chain of custody for all destroyed or stored waste.
UN/ID Number: Classified as a hazardous substance under several international codes
Packaging: Must ship in sturdy, labeled, sealed containers; substantial packaging needed to prevent leaks, accidental spills, or fire risks during transit
Handling During Transport: Trained personnel, emergency response instructions supplied, avoid stacking or storing near food, feed, or household items
Prohibited Transit Locations: Avoid air shipment, keep away from baggage and passenger areas in vehicles or trains due to high health risk.
Banned or Severely Restricted Use: Listed as a banned or restricted pesticide in the United States, European Union, and many other countries, status may vary regionally
Workplace Regulation: Regulatory oversight under OSHA hazardous substances framework, specific requirements for use, storage, and disposal, strong emphasis on worker safety and record-keeping
Environmental Rules: EPA, REACH, and analogous authorities treat this chemical as a priority pollutant, reporting required for spills or releases above threshold limits
User Obligations: Written risk assessments, training for handlers, control measures, periodic exposure monitoring if used in laboratories or industrial settings.
