MSDS Name: Acetonitrile
AC149520000, AC149520010, AC149520025, AC149520050, AC149520250,
AC149525000, AC167650000, AC258560000, AC258560010, AC258560025,
AC258560051, AC268260000, AC268260010, AC268270000, AC268270010,
AC325730000, AC325730010, AC325730025, AC326680000, AC326680010,
AC326680025, AC326750000, AC326750010, AC326750025, AC326810000,
AC326810010, AC326811000, AC326812500, AC364310000, AC364310010,
AC364311000, AC364315000, AC400130000, AC400132500, AC423250000,
AC423250010, AC423255000, AC610130040, AC61022019, AC61022019,
AC61022050, AC61022115, AC61022115, AC61022200, AC61022200, AC610500190,
AC610500500, AC610501150, AC610502000, AC610700190, AC610700500,
AC610701150, AC610702000, 16765-0010, 16765-2500, 26826-0025, 26827-0025,
26827-0040, 61001-0040, 61022-0010, 61022-1000, 61096-1000, 61110-0500,
61514-0025, A21-1, A21-20, A21-200, A21-4, A21200LC, A21FB115, A21FB19,
A21FB200, A21FB50, A21RB115, A21RS-50, A21RS115, A21RS19, A21RS200, A21RS28,
A955-1, A955-4, A9931, A993RS-19, A996-1, A996-4, A9964LC, A996J1,
A996N2-19, A996RS-115, A996RS-200, A996RS-28, A996RS-50, A996SK-4,
A996SS-115, A996SS-19, A996SS-200, A996SS28, A996SS50, A998-1, A998-212,
A998-4, A99818, A9984LC, A998J1, A998N1-19, A998N2-19, A998POP-50,
A998RS-115, A998RS-19, A998RS-200, A998RS-28, A998RS-50, A998SK-1, A998SK-4,
A998SS-115, A998SS-200, A998SS-28, A998SS-50, A999-4, BP1165-50, BP1170-4,
BP1170-450, BP1170N1-19, BP1170N2-19, BP1170POP-200, BP1170POP-50,
BP1170POP20, BP1170RS-115, BP1170RS-1350, BP1170RS-19, BP1170RS-200,
BP1170RS-28, BP1170RS-50, BP1170SS-115, BP1170SS-1350, BP1170SS-200,
BP1170SS-30, BP1170SS-50, BP2405-1, BP2405-4, BP2405SK-1, BP2405SK-4,
BP2600-100, NC9173153, NC9229342, NC9234885, NC9239862, NC9445091,
NC9574352, NC9585208, NC9638863, NC9647795, NC9677816, NC9708859, O1034-500,
Cyanomethane; Ethanenitrile; Ethyl nitrile; Methyl cyanide;
1 Reagent Lane
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
For information, call: 201-796-7100
Emergency Number: 201-796-7100
For CHEMTREC assistance, call: 800-424-9300
For International CHEMTREC assistance, call: 703-527-3887
Appearance: clear, colorless liquid. Flash Point: 2 deg C.
Warning! Flammable liquid and
vapor. Causes eye irritation. May be harmful if
swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. May cause skin and
respiratory tract irritation. Metabolized to cyanide in the body,
which may cause headache, dizziness, weakness, unconsciousness,
convulsions, coma and possible death. May cause liver and kidney
Target Organs: Kidneys, central nervous system,
liver, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, eyes.
Potential Health Effects
Causes eye irritation. Lachrymator (substance which increases the
flow of tears). May produce superficial reversible injury.
Causes mild skin irritation. If absorbed, causes symptoms similar to
those of inhalation. May be harmful if absorbed through the skin. May
be metabolized to cyanide which in turn acts by inhibiting cytochrome
oxidase impairing cellular respiration.
A Skin notation is recommended based upon the case report of child
poisoning from dermal contact. A LD50 >2000 mg/kg was obtained in a
well-conducted acute dermal toxicity study in rabbits.
May cause tissue anoxia, characterized by weakness, headache,
dizziness, confusion, cyanosis (bluish skin due to deficient
oxygenation of the blood), weak and irregular heart beat, collapse,
unconsciousness, convulsions, coma and death. Metabolism may release
cyanide, which may result in headache, dizziness, weakness,
collapse, unconsciousness and possible death.
Different animal species and individuals of the same species varied
widely in susceptibility to acetonitrile in single-dose toxicity
studies by various routes. The range of oral LD50 values for
acetonitrile in mammals is between 140 - 6762 mg/kg body weight.
Mouse and guinea pig seem to be the most sensitive species. In a
well-conducted study in mice, the oral LD50 of acetonitrile was
calculated to be 617 mg/kg.
May cause respiratory tract irritation. May cause lung damage. May
be harmful if inhaled.
Acetonitrile breaks down slowly in the body to release the cyanide
ion. Exposure to very high concentrations of acetonitrile can result
in cyanide poisoning. Symptoms are usually delayed several hours
after exposure. Early symptoms include weakness, headache,
giddiness, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, nausea and vomiting. In
severe cases, breathing is rapid, then becomes slow and gasping. The
victim may feel an irregular heart beat and tightness in the chest.
May be metabolized to cyanide which in turn acts by inhibiting
cytochrome oxidase impairing cellular respiration. Exposure to small
amounts of cyanide compounds over long periods of time is reported
to cause loss of appetite, headache, weakness, nausea, dizziness, and
symptoms of irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes.
Animal studies indicate that the product may affect the liver and
Animal evidence for acetonitrile and other cyanide compounds clearly
indicates that toxic effects would be expected in the fetus at
exposure levels which are toxic to the