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Chemical Name: Chloromethyl methyl ether
CAS Number: 107-30-2
Common Uses: This chemical finds use in organic synthesis, often as an alkylating agent in the lab. Industrial settings sometimes use it in resin manufacturing processes. Most people outside the chemistry world rarely encounter it, but for those in certain trades, it stands out as an example of a substance demanding respect and discipline around safety routines.
Signal Word: Danger
Main Hazards: Carcinogenicity, acute toxicity by inhalation, skin contact or ingestion; produces corrosive effects to eyes, respiratory tract, and skin. People working with this ether need to know its record as a potent lung carcinogen, especially with chronic exposure.
Exposure Routes: Inhalation, skin absorption, direct contact
Symptoms: Severe irritation, burning of mucous membranes, coughing, difficulty breathing. Inhalation sometimes leads to delayed pulmonary edema.
Long-Term Effects: Cancer risk is well documented and recognized globally in workplace hazard regulations.
Main Component: Chloromethyl methyl ether (Purity: Usually over 98%)
Related Impurities: Sometimes traces of hydrochloric acid or dimethoxyethane show up. Handling technical grade material can bring minor surprises, always reason enough to demand analytical certificates before use.
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable. If breathing proves difficult, oxygen support often becomes essential. Seek immediate medical attention.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Wash skin thoroughly with soap and plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Immediate medical attention is essential since skin burns or blisters often appear late.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for no less than 15 minutes. Eyes affected by this ether can sustain lasting damage, so medical intervention always follows.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth thoroughly. Urgent hospital care is always advised here.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide, or foam. Water sometimes causes dangerous splatter, so responders rely on dry methods.
Hazardous Combustion Products: Toxic gases (mainly hydrogen chloride and phosgene) often develop during a fire. Smoke from this ether’s fire is never ordinary.
Protective Equipment: Full-face self-contained breathing apparatus, chemical protective clothing.
Special Concerns: Fire scenes involving this substance need perimeter controls, with responders positioned upwind.
Evacuation: Move people away from spill area unless involved in clean-up.
Containment: Absorb small spills with inert material like sand, avoid any contact with water.
Cleanup: Only trained personnel in full protection gear should approach. Containerize waste for safe disposal. Limit vapor spread using exhaust if inside.
Ventilation: Essential for indoor episodes due to rapid vapor buildup.
Handling: Chemical fume hoods, gloves (nitrile or better), splash goggles, full-body protection. Working alone with this ether breaks good work practices. Labeling and routine checks on containers stay non-negotiable.
Storage: Store in tightly closed containers, away from acids, water, and oxidizers. Well-ventilated, secure, temperature-controlled spaces reduce runaway vapor risks. Never leave large stocks outside locked cabinets.
Incompatibilities: Water, strong bases, alcohols — mixtures often release corrosive fumes.
Engineering Controls: Operational fume extraction or local exhaust is always present.
Personal Protection: High-quality chemical-resistant gloves, full-face respirator, lab coat or chemical suit.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands after use, never touch face with contaminated gloves.
Occupational Exposure Limit: Most health and safety bodies set stringent permissible exposure levels; for OSHA, the ceiling is 0.001 ppm.
Appearance: Colorless liquid with pungent, suffocating odor
Boiling Point: About 60 °C
Solubility: Very low in water but mixes well with organic solvents
Vapor Pressure: High enough to raise serious concerns in enclosed spaces
Relative Density: Higher than water
Reactivity: Water contact always generates heat and acidic vapors
Stability: Chemically unstable in presence of water, acids, strong bases
Hazardous Reactions: Contact with water or moist air leads to hydrolysis, releasing formaldehyde and hydrogen chloride.
Decomposition Products: Hydrochloric acid, formaldehyde, phosgene
Incompatibles: Alkalis, oxidizing agents, aluminum, and porous materials cause runaway reactions
Acute Toxicity: Tiny amounts inhaled can kill mammals; accidental human exposures have triggered fatal pneumonitis
Carcinogenicity: Listed as a known human carcinogen by IARC and NTP; workers exposed in the past developed lung cancer at frightening rates
Other Effects: Skin burns, eye injury, irreversible lung damage from vapor or direct contact
Chronic Exposure: Lasting effects even from short-term high exposures
Aquatic Toxicity: Toxic to aquatic organisms due to fast hydrolysis and lingering breakdown products. Major spills upset local waterway chemistry.
Persistence: Breaks down to formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid — both worrisome in water bodies.
Mobility: Volatile and mobile in air; deposition brings the threat to soil and water ecosystems if released outside controlled facilities
Methods: Consult hazardous waste professionals since simple incineration produces hazardous gases. Specialized high-temperature facilities offer the safest solutions.
Container Care: Never reuse original drums; strong decontamination for even trace residues. Triple-rinse standards rarely apply — direct chemical destruction is safer.
Environmental Release: Strict prohibition on sewer or open land disposal
UN Number: 1239
Proper Shipping Name: Chloromethyl methyl ether
Hazard Class: 6.1 toxic substances
Packing Group: I (Highest danger category)
Requirements: Only fully trained hazmat handlers permitted. Leak-proof, shatterproof steel cylinders remain the only trusted containers; placarded vehicles and continuous monitoring throughout shipment.
Key Listings: US OSHA, NIOSH, EPA, European REACH, IARC
Handling Restrictions: Classified as a highly regulated carcinogen; most industrialized countries limit or outright ban open use
Worker Safety: Mandatory medical surveillance and recordkeeping. Health and safety officers must audit procedures and accident response plans at least annually.
