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Chemical Name: Diethylmagnesium
Chemical Formula: C4H10Mg
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid, often supplied as a solution in diethyl ether or heptane
Odor: Ether-like, flammable vapor
Common Uses: Reagent in organic synthesis, especially for Grignard-type and organometallic reactions in manufacturing pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals
CAS Number: 557-24-4
Hazard Class: Flammable liquids (Category 1), pyrophoric liquids (Category 1), reacts violently with water
Primary Hazards: Rapid ignition in air, severe eyes and skin damage, toxic inhalation risk
Signal Word: Danger
Main Risks: Burns, eye injury, toxic smoke exposure, environmental hazard due to reactivity with water
Main Ingredient: Diethylmagnesium, purity varies with supplier
Solvent Carriers: Often stabilized with hydrocarbons such as diethyl ether or heptane
Impurities: Trace metals or other organometallics from production process
Inhalation: Remove person from exposure, supply fresh air, seek medical attention for respiratory symptoms
Skin Contact: Flush immediately with plenty of water, remove contaminated clothing and shoes, get prompt medical assistance for burns
Eye Contact: Rinse carefully for at least fifteen minutes, lift eyelids occasionally, immediate medical care necessary
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, seek emergency medical care immediately
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry powder (such as Class D extinguishing agents for metals), sand
Unacceptable Media: Water, foam, CO2 due to violent reaction and risk of explosion
Hazardous Combustion Products: Highly flammable vapors, magnesium oxide fumes, carbon oxides
Protective Equipment: Full firefighting gear, self-contained breathing apparatus
Special Risks: Vapor travels, reignition possible, containers may explode under fire conditions
Personal Protection: Use full chemical suit, flame-resistant gloves, face shield
Environmental Precaution: Prevent spillage entering drains, sewers, soil, or waterways
Clean-Up Approach: Contain with dry sand or inert absorbent material, transfer into metal containers for disposal, ventilate area and keep sources of ignition away
Storage Conditions: Store in tightly closed containers under inert gas atmosphere (nitrogen or argon) in cool, dry, well-ventilated area
Separation: Isolate from moisture, heat, acids, oxidizers, and incompatible chemicals
Handling Practices: Ground and bond containers, avoid splashing, train personnel in flammable and pyrophoric handling, keep emergency procedures posted
Container Guidelines: Use only steel or certain types of plastic containers recommended for pyrophoric materials
Engineering Controls: Use fume hood or explosion-proof ventilated enclosure
Personal Protective Equipment: Flame-resistant lab coat, chemical splash goggles, nitrile or neoprene gloves, face shield, respiratory protection if vapors present
Exposure Limits: No established regulatory exposure limits, but treat as extremely hazardous
Personal Hygiene: Wash after handling, keep contaminated clothing separate, prohibit eating or drinking nearby
Appearance: Clear to pale yellow liquid
Boiling Point: Not well-defined due to stabilization in solvents
Melting Point: Not established for reagent
Vapor Pressure: Volatile in open air
Solubility: Reacts with water, soluble in organic solvents such as ethers and hydrocarbons
Density: Varies, approximately 0.8 to 1.0 g/cm³ (solution-dependent)
Smell: Ether-like, pungent
Stability: Stable when kept under inert gas and proper solvent; air and moisture will cause rapid decomposition and ignition
Hazardous Reactions: Violent with water and strong oxidizers, acids cause heat and dangerous product evolution
Decomposition Products: Can form magnesium oxide, flammable hydrocarbons, heat, and potentially toxic fumes
Avoid: All sources of ignition, incompatible substances (including halogens and strong acids)
Acute Hazards: Inhalation may cause dizziness, headache, chemical pneumonitis; skin contact causes burns; eye exposure can result in severe and permanent damage; ingestion leads to gastroenteritis, burns, possible systemic toxicity
Long-Term Effects: Chronic exposure risks not fully known, but analogy with similar organometallics points toward respiratory and skin sensitization risks
Absorption Routes: Inhalation, dermal, ocular
Immediate Medical Impact: Potential for fatal respiratory outcomes if not treated swiftly in serious cases
Environmental Impact: Reacts with water, can change aquatic pH, toxic to fish and invertebrates; magnesium compounds may persist in environment and cause local alkalinity
Mobility: Highly reactive, not likely to persist in original form, breakdown products may travel and impact wider area
Bioaccumulation: Not expected to bioaccumulate, but can cause acute harm at point of release
Precaution: Prevent discharge into environment and use closed systems for transfer
Disposal Method: Use chemical deactivation under controlled conditions (qualified personnel, inert gas blanket, proper neutralization), never pour down drain
Packaging: Keep in sealed original container, marked hazardous, and ship through licensed hazardous waste handler
Legal Guidance: Follow all regional, national, and international rules for hazardous waste
Community Health: Inform local waste treatment facilities before handling disposal
Classification: Flammable liquid, pyrophoric material, classed as a highly dangerous good
Requirements: Ship only with approved containers, proper labeling, fully trained shipping personnel, documentation for hazardous shipments
Transport Restrictions: Air, sea, road, and rail transport regulated, many airlines and carriers exclude pyrophoric shipments entirely
Safety Precaution: Emergency response plan required for transit incidents
International Status: Listed on most chemical inventories with restriction notes
OSHA: Strict workplace safety controls mandated
EPA: Hazardous under several environmental acts; not allowed in regular waste streams
Worker Right-to-Know: Regulations mandate training and documentation for all handling employees
Local Requirements: Cities and states often overlay additional restrictions due to pyrophoric, flammable, toxic, and environmental risks
