© 2026 Sinochem Nanjing Corporation,
All Right Reserved
Chemical Name: Dimethylmagnesium
Synonyms: Magnesium, dimethyl-
Molecular Formula: C2H6Mg
Usage: Sought after in labs for organometallic syntheses, especially where Grignard reagents don’t cut it. Chemists lean on it for carbon-carbon bond construction, less so in big industry, more in specialty applications.
Physical Hazards: Catches fire easily, especially on exposure to air or moisture. Highly flammable, burns with an intense flame.
Health Hazards: Breathing its fumes, swallowing it, or skin contact goes bad fast—expect irritation, possible burns. If inhaled, lungs won’t thank you. Skin contact can bring blisters or worse.
Environmental Hazards: Not much data floats around but expect fires to spread contamination. Any spill, even small drips, threatens water and soil by aggressive reactivity.
Main Ingredient: Dimethylmagnesium
Concentration: Pure or in solution, often suspended in ethers like diethyl ether as stabilizer.
Impurities: Traces of ethers, unreacted magnesium, seldom much else if prepared fresh and stored tight.
Inhalation: Fresh air, immediate. Move to open space. Trouble breathing, get medical help.
Skin Contact: Wash with soap and a lot of water—small burns turn serious fast. Remove contaminated clothes. Seek care.
Eye Contact: Rinse with gentle water stream for at least 15 minutes. Don’t delay a doctor visit.
Ingestion: Swallowing is medical emergency territory. No induced vomiting—rush to hospital.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry powder or class D extinguishers only. Water worsens flames, so does carbon dioxide.
Hazards from Combustion: Fire spreads toxic metallic fumes. Magnesium burns at high temperatures.
Protective Equipment: Full body protection and breathing apparatus keep responders safer—smoke from burning organomagnesium compounds is no joke.
Personal Safety: Evacuate area, stop fires from spreading to solvent storage.
Personal Precautions: Shield skin, eyes, lungs—full PPE always. Keep upwind.
Environmental Precautions: Block from drains, soil, water. Reacts powerfully with moisture—contain with sand, not sawdust.
Spill Cleanup Methods: Scoop with non-sparking tools into metal container. No water wash down. Dispose of as hazardous waste.
Handling: Air and moisture keep it lively—transfer under inert atmosphere like nitrogen or argon. Handle with static-safe tools.
Storage: Store dry, cold, and away from oxidizers. Tight-sealed containers only, often submerged in hydrocarbon solvents or ether. Avoid glass stoppers—expansion cracks them.
Engineering Controls: Work in a glove box or with fume hood. No open flames or sparks nearby.
Personal Protective Equipment: At minimum, chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, face shield, fire-retardant lab coat. Respiratory protection if fumes possible.
Exposure Limits: Not well established, but all exposure should be regarded as potentially hazardous. Regular air checks vital.
Physical State: Waxy, white solid or solution in ether.
Odor: Sharp, ether-like—easy to pick up on a sniff.
Melting Point: Lower than magnesium metal, exact value depends on form.
Solubility: Not water soluble. Mixes with ethers and hydrocarbons.
Other Properties: Reacts vigorously with water and oxidizers. Decomposes on contact with air.
Stability: Only stable without air and moisture. Exposed, it self-ignites or decomposes.
Reactive Materials: Water, air, halogens, strong oxidizers—even a glimpse of these triggers violence.
Hazardous Decomposition: Methane, magnesium oxide dust, toxic fumes.
Polymerization Risk: None documented, but may attack some plastics, rubber.
Routes of Exposure: Skin, lungs, eyes, mouth all at risk.
Acute Symptoms: Burning, coughing, dizziness, blistering, chemical burns.
Chronic Effects: No broad studies, but repeat exposure likely scars skin and lungs.
Toxicity Data: Estimated high, actual LD50 for humans not publicly available.
Aquatic Toxicity: Detrimental if washed into waterways. Forms insoluble magnesium compounds and contaminates.
Persistence and Biodegradability: Does not degrade in environment; reacts, disperses, and lingers as metal salts.
Impact: Not widely researched, risks outweigh any benefit of dumping.
Disposal Methods: Burned-out only by professionals, or tightly packed out to hazardous waste facility. Never pour down drain or throw in trash.
Contaminated Containers: Triple rinse with inert solvent, puncture, label, and dispose of as hazardous.
Legal Requirements: Track all disposals, keep records for regulatory inspections.
Transport Hazard Class: Classified as a flammable solid.
Packaging Requirements: Metal drums/containers, airtight and dry. Clearly marked with hazard symbols.
Handling During Transit: No exposure to air, moisture, or rough handling.
International Regulations: Extra scrutiny at customs—many carriers won’t move it without advance notice.
Global Scheduling: Strictly regulated in US, Europe, Asia under flammable/reactive chemical regulations.
Occupational Restrictions: Workers face annual health monitoring, regular training on emergency response and PPE.
Lab Use Restrictions: Permits and safety training needed for purchase, handling, and disposal in most jurisdictions.
Environmental Release: Hefty fines for spills or unreported disposal; recordkeeping and incident logs required.
