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Chemical Name: Diethylzinc
Chemical Formula: C4H10Zn
Synonyms: Zinc, diethyl-, or zinc ethyl
Appearance: Clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Pungent and disagreeable
Use: Most often used in organic synthesis, chemical vapor deposition, and specialized areas in research labs
Physical Hazards: Highly flammable, pyrophoric—can ignite spontaneously in air; vapor can spread far and flash back
Health Hazards: Acute inhalation or ingestion can be fatal. Causes burns to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Fumes and vapors irritate respiratory tract.
Environmental Hazards: Toxic to aquatic life. Reacts with water to produce flammable and corrosive gases.
GHS Classification: Flammable liquids—Category 1. Acute toxicity—oral, Category 3. Serious eye damage, Category 1. Skin corrosion, Category 1.
Pictograms: Flame, skull and crossbones, corrosion, environment
Main Ingredient: Diethylzinc, >95% purity
Impurities: May contain small amounts of triethylaluminum, zinc oxide, and other organozinc byproducts if not handled and stored correctly
Inhalation: Move to fresh air and seek immediate medical attention. Severe exposure can result in death; always assume inhalation is serious
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Chemical burns require urgent medical treatment
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes slowly and gently with water for at least 15 minutes, holding eyelids open. Get medical help.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Never attempt to neutralize. Rinse mouth with water and seek immediate emergency medical help.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry sand or special Class D fire extinguishers. Never use water, CO2, or foam—violent reactions can occur.
Specific Hazards: Vapors may ignite in air spontaneously. Fire or explosion from vapor cloud possible. Fumes include toxic zinc oxide and ethyl radicals.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Full chemical protective suit and positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus. Stay upwind.
Fire Fighting Advice: Evacuate area. Fight fire from a safe distance. Prevent runoff from entering sewers or waterways.
Personal Precautions: Wear full chemical protective suit, face shield, and respiratory protection. Evacuate unnecessary personnel.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent runoff into water, soil, or sewers. Notify emergency services.
Clean-Up Methods: Cover spill with dry sand or clay—never use water. Scoop up carefully into dry, inert containers for disposal. Ensure absolute dryness to avoid fire.
Handling: Only trained personnel should work with diethylzinc. Use air-free techniques and isolate from oxygen, air, and moisture. Handle under inert gas, such as argon.
Storage: Store in tightly sealed, well-grounded metal containers. Keep inside a dry, cool, well-ventilated facility, away from incompatible materials. Protect from physical damage.
Incompatible Materials: Water, oxidizers, alcohols, acids, halogenated compounds.
Engineering Controls: Use certified chemical fume hoods and explosion-proof ventilation.
Personal Protective Equipment: Lab coat, gloves made of nitrile or neoprene, goggles, face shield, flame-retardant suit, and, in case of large-scale use, supplied-air respirator.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands thoroughly after handling, before breaks, and before meals. Keep contaminated clothing contained and laundered separately.
State: Liquid
Melting Point: –28 °C
Boiling Point: 118 °C
Flash Point: <–17 °C (rapidly ignites in air)
Vapor Pressure: 40 mmHg at 25 °C
Solubility: Reacts rapidly with water; soluble in organic solvents like benzene
Density: 1.2 g/cm³
Odor Threshold: No reliable data—assume exposure before smell.
Autoignition Temperature: Spontaneously flammable in air at ambient conditions.
Chemical Stability: Unstable on contact with air or water. Can ignite spontaneously.
Reactivity: Violent reaction with water, acids, oxidizers, and halogenated hydrocarbons.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Ethane, ethylene, zinc oxide fumes, flammable gases.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin and eye contact, ingestion.
Acute Effects: Severe irritation, chemical burns, pulmonary edema, may be fatal. Systemic absorption may cause respiratory failure.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause liver and kidney damage, respiratory system effects.
Symptoms: Burning, pain, blisters, coughing, shortness of breath, delayed lung effects.
Aquatic Impact: Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-lasting harmful effects in aquatic environments.
Persistence and Degradability: Can persist if spilled, as zinc compounds are environmentally persistent.
Bioaccumulation Potential: Possible for zinc, but data for diethylzinc are limited.
Soil: Reaction products can contaminate soil with zinc residues.
Disposal Method: Handle as hazardous waste. Incinerate with careful control and neutralization of byproducts. Do not pour even trace amounts into drains or onto land. Seek certified hazardous waste disposal services.
Packaging: Use original, air-tight containers for disposal. Ensure containers are fully compatible and properly labeled.
Contaminated Packaging: Treat as hazardous waste and handle with same precautions as unused chemical.
Proper Shipping Name: Diethylzinc
Hazard Class: Flammable liquid, pyrophoric liquid, toxic
Packing Group: I
UN Number: UN 1366
Special Transport Conditions: Use dedicated carriers trained in handling pyrophoric and flammable materials. Transport in tightly sealed metal cylinders under inert gas.
US: Listed as an extremely hazardous substance under federal regulations. Included in the Clean Air Act for accidental release prevention. Subject to OSHA Process Safety Management.
EU: Classified under CLP as highly flammable, corrosive, and toxic. Requires REACH registration and proper documentation for handling and transport.
Environmental Regulations: Controls for air, water, and waste under various national and regional laws.
