Ethyl methyl ether
Agent Name
Ethyl methyl ether
CAS Number
540-67-0
Formula
C3-H8-O
Major Category
Solvents
Synonyms
Ethane, methoxy-; Ether, ethyl methyl; Methane, ethoxy; Methoxyethane; Methyl ethyl ether; [ChemIDplus] UN1039
Category
Ethers (<C12)
Description
Colorless liquid; bp = 10.8 deg C; [Hawley] bp = 7.4 deg C; [HSDB] Colorless gas with medicinal odor; bp = 11.1 deg C; [CAMEO] Colorless liquefied gas; bp = 7.4 deg C; [MSDSonline]
Sources/Uses
Used as an anesthetic; [Hawley]
Comments
Risk of fire and explosion; [Hawley] Extremely flammable; Forms spontaneously combustible peroxides on contact with air; Evaporating liquid can cause frostbite; [CAMEO] Acts as general anesthetic in inhalation animal experiments; [RTECS] Can form explosive mixtures with air; Inhalation can cause CNS depression and asphyxiation; [MSDSonline]
Biomedical References
Exposure Assessment
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (mice) = 1,082,000 mg/m3/15min
NFPA
burn readily
Adverse Effects
Neurotoxin
Acute solvent syndrome
Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: