Ethylene Oxide

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    75-21-8

    Molecular formula
    C2H4O

    SMILES
    C1CO1

    Safety labels

    Flammable
    Flammable

    Corrosive
    Corrosive

    Acute Toxic
    Acute Toxic

    Health Hazard
    Health

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Sweet 82.25%
    Ethereal 65.51%
    Solvent 50.25%
    Alcoholic 30.73%
    Musty 30.15%
    Pungent 28.76%
    Oily 27.94%
    Fermented 27.3%
    Caramellic 24.87%
    Rummy 23.79%

     

    Flavor
    Vegetable 28.36%
    Caramel 24.0%
    Cauliflower 22.55%
    Roasted 21.88%
    Shrimp 20.93%
    Alkaline 20.78%
    Oily 20.04%
    Fishy 19.68%
    Clam 19.16%
    Solvent 19.1%

     

    Odor impact est.
    Low

    Odor threshold

    • Odor Threshold Low: 257.0 [ppm]. Odor Threshold High: 690.0 [ppm]. Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 420 ppm)
    • Recognition: 1.5 mg/cu m= 0.8 ppm, mean detection concn: 700 ppm; absolute perception limit: 260 ppm; 50% recognition: 500 ppm; 100% recognition: 500 ppm
    • Low: 520 mg/cu m; High: 1400 mg/cu m
    • 300 ppm in air

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    -0.1

    pKa est.
    4.29 (weak acid)

    Molecular weight
    44.05 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra fast

    Melting point expt.

    • -170.5 °F (EPA, 1998)
    • -111.7 °C
    • -111 °C
    • -171 °F

    Boiling point

    • 51.3 °F at 760 mmHg (EPA, 1998)
    • 10.6 °C
    • 11 °C
    • 51 °F

    Flash point

    • -26.88 ˚C est.
    • -0.4 to 0 °F (EPA, 1998)
    • -20 °F (-29 °C) (closed cup)
    • -18 °C (open cup)
    • Flammable gas
    • -20 °F (liquid)
    • NA (Gas) -20 °F (Liquid)

    Solubility expt.

    • Miscible (NTP, 1992)
    • Soluble in benzene, acetone, ethanol, ether
    • Miscible with... carbon tetrachloride.
    • Miscible with water
    • Solubility in water: miscible
    • Miscible

  • Synonyms

    • Oxirane
    • ETHYLENE OXIDE
    • 75-21-8
    • Epoxyethane
    • 1,2-Epoxyethane
    • Oxacyclopropane
    • Dihydrooxirene
    • Oxidoethane
    • Oxyfume
    • Ethene oxide
    • Dimethylene oxide
    • Amprolene
    • Anprolene
    • Anproline
    • Aethylenoxid
    • 1,2-Epoxyaethan
    • Merpol
    • Oxiran
    • Oxyfume 12
    • T-Gas
    • Oxirene, Dihydro-
    • Ethyleenoxide
    • Oxiraan
    • Ethox
    • Etylenu tlenek
    • FEMA No. 2433
    • oxyde d'ethylene
    • Rcra waste number U115
    • Caswell No. 443
    • Qazi-ketcham
    • ETO
    • NCI-C50088
    • Etilene (ossido di)
    • alpha,beta-Oxidoethane
    • CCRIS 297
    • Ethylene (oxyde d')
    • ENT-26263
    • ethyleneoxy
    • HSDB 170
    • UN 1040
    • CHEBI:27561
    • Oxiranyl radical
    • UNII-JJH7GNN18P
    • JJH7GNN18P
    • EINECS 200-849-9
    • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 042301
    • E.O.
    • AI3-26263
    • CIBA-GEIGY 9138
    • DTXSID0020600
    • EC 200-849-9
    • epoxide or oxirane
    • Sterilizing gas ethylene oxide 100%
    • Oxirane; Ethylene oxide
    • Oxiraan [Dutch]
    • ETHYLENE OXIDE (IARC)
    • ETHYLENE OXIDE [IARC]
    • ETHYLENE OXIDE (MART.)
    • ETHYLENE OXIDE [MART.]
    • Aethylenoxid [German]
    • Ethyleenoxide [Dutch]
    • ethyleneoxide
    • ethylenoxide
    • Etylenu tlenek [Polish]
    • Oxide, Ethylene
    • 1,2-Epoxyaethan [German]
    • 1,2-Epoxy ethane
    • Ethylene (oxyde d') [French]
    • Ethylene Oxide 1000 microg/mL in Triacetin
    • Etilene (ossido di) [Italian]
    • UN1040
    • RCRA waste no. U115
    • monooxirane
    • Oxiranyl
    • ethylene-oxide
    • epoxy ethane
    • Caswell no 443
    • MFCD00014482
    • Fema no 2433
    • Epitope ID:116215
    • .alpha.,.beta.-Oxidoethane
    • ETHYLENE OXIDE [MI]
    • DTXCID60600
    • ETHYLENE OXIDE [FHFI]
    • ETHYLENE OXIDE [HSDB]
    • Ethylene oxide, >=99.5%
    • Ethylene oxide, >=99.9%
    • ALPHA, BETA-OXIDOETHANE
    • CHEMBL1743219
    • ETHYLENE OXIDE [WHO-DD]
    • DTXSID30185475
    • Ethylene oxide, purum, >=99.8%
    • c0527
    • AKOS009031564
    • MSK10755-1000T
    • USEPA/OPP Pesticide Code: 042301
    • FE167236
    • E0647
    • E0689
    • E0690
    • E0692
    • E0693
    • InChI=1/C2H4O/c1-2-3-1/h1-2H
    • NS00005032
    • C06548
    • D03474
    • Ethylene oxide Solution in Toluene, 1000ug/mL
    • Q407473
    • Ethylene oxide 50000 microg/mL in Dichloromethane
    • Ethylene oxide 10000 microg/mL in Dimethylsulfoxide
    • 200-849-9
    • E O
    • Ethylene oxide, or ethlene oxide with nitrogen up to a total pressure of 1Mpa (10 bar) at 50 degrees C
    • Ethylene oxide, or ethlene oxide with nitrogen up to a total pressure of 1Mpa (10 bar) at 50 degrees C [UN1040] [Poison gas]

  • Applications

    Ethylene Oxide, CAS 75-21-8, is a key intermediate for producing polyether polyols used in polyurethane foams and other polyol-based plastics; it also serves as the feedstock for ethoxylation to form nonionic surfactants for detergents, cleaners, and personal-care products; it enables the production of polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and related derivatives used as solvents, humectants, and processing aids in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals; ethoxylated alcohols and related derivatives are widely used as surfactants, wetting agents, and additives in coatings, inks, and adhesives; and it is also used for sterilization of medical devices and equipment via ethylene oxide gas (ETO), a process carried out under appropriate safety and regulatory controls.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 37.35
    methanol 67.06
    isopropanol 16.39
    water 1.12
    ethyl acetate 27.66
    n-propanol 19.83
    acetone 47.52
    n-butanol 16.47
    acetonitrile 57.39
    DMF 89.07
    toluene 8.34
    isobutanol 11.16
    1,4-dioxane 45.01
    methyl acetate 36.44
    THF 50.86
    2-butanone 27.31
    n-pentanol 10.12
    sec-butanol 10.63
    n-hexane 1.93
    ethylene glycol 29.17
    NMP 98.33
    cyclohexane 6.02
    DMSO 129.03
    n-butyl acetate 22.63
    n-octanol 6.24
    chloroform 142.87
    n-propyl acetate 17.41
    acetic acid 148.37
    dichloromethane 154.77
    cyclohexanone 50.58
    propylene glycol 14.97
    isopropyl acetate 12.41
    DMAc 51.89
    2-ethoxyethanol 26.43
    isopentanol 10.7
    n-heptane 3.35
    ethyl formate 33.18
    1,2-dichloroethane 72.42
    n-hexanol 11.03
    2-methoxyethanol 62.8
    isobutyl acetate 8.23
    tetrachloromethane 19.39
    n-pentyl acetate 12.05
    transcutol 91.22
    n-heptanol 5.52
    ethylbenzene 4.94
    MIBK 8.09
    2-propoxyethanol 27.63
    tert-butanol 13.62
    MTBE 7.56
    2-butoxyethanol 17.44
    propionic acid 47.74
    o-xylene 6.46
    formic acid 85.32
    diethyl ether 13.59
    m-xylene 4.71
    p-xylene 7.5
    chlorobenzene 32.02
    dimethyl carbonate 13.92
    n-octane 1.29
    formamide 112.26
    cyclopentanone 63.23
    2-pentanone 17.06
    anisole 13.85
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 16.84
    gamma-butyrolactone 102.86
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 28.7
    pyridine 82.01
    3-pentanone 15.32
    furfural 139.05
    n-dodecane 1.03
    diethylene glycol 40.0
    diisopropyl ether 3.15
    tert-amyl alcohol 9.7
    acetylacetone 29.36
    n-hexadecane 1.15
    acetophenone 19.95
    methyl propionate 24.28
    isopentyl acetate 16.09
    trichloroethylene 155.75
    n-nonanol 5.77
    cyclohexanol 16.97
    benzyl alcohol 18.93
    2-ethylhexanol 7.81
    isooctanol 4.61
    dipropyl ether 12.61
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 35.08
    ethyl lactate 12.93
    propylene carbonate 51.54
    n-methylformamide 71.92
    2-pentanol 8.15
    n-pentane 2.11
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 19.36
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 20.4
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 20.65
    mesitylene 3.62
    ε-caprolactone 47.68
    p-cymene 6.03
    epichlorohydrin 76.95
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 41.12
    2-aminoethanol 28.94
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 81.33
    sulfolane 127.45
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 0.98
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 29.7
    n-hexyl acetate 15.33
    isooctane 0.66
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 28.24
    sec-butyl acetate 8.35
    tert-butyl acetate 10.25
    decalin 2.18
    glycerin 35.07
    diglyme 58.35
    acrylic acid 70.72
    isopropyl myristate 6.4
    n-butyric acid 44.9
    acetyl acetate 27.12
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 9.12
    ethyl propionate 15.16
    nitromethane 184.93
    1,2-diethoxyethane 22.83
    benzonitrile 37.85
    trioctyl phosphate 5.99
    1-bromopropane 25.06
    gamma-valerolactone 89.06
    n-decanol 4.41
    triethyl phosphate 11.79
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 4.23
    propionitrile 32.93
    vinylene carbonate 62.0
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 105.3
    DMS 22.25
    cumene 4.04
    2-octanol 3.63
    2-hexanone 12.89
    octyl acetate 8.37
    limonene 8.92
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 41.58
    ethyl orthosilicate 9.76
    tributyl phosphate 8.99
    diacetone alcohol 16.36
    N,N-dimethylaniline 10.74
    acrylonitrile 66.65
    aniline 21.18
    1,3-propanediol 33.83
    bromobenzene 29.19
    dibromomethane 82.28
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 102.89
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 13.57
    tetrabutyl urea 12.83
    diisobutyl methanol 5.46
    2-phenylethanol 16.28
    styrene 8.49
    dioctyl adipate 13.37
    dimethyl sulfate 29.87
    ethyl butyrate 19.86
    methyl lactate 20.25
    butyl lactate 14.48
    diethyl carbonate 16.02
    propanediol butyl ether 17.81
    triethyl orthoformate 14.53
    p-tert-butyltoluene 5.26
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 17.63
    morpholine 50.4
    tert-butylamine 8.63
    n-dodecanol 3.67
    dimethoxymethane 28.88
    ethylene carbonate 39.94
    cyrene 24.17
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 19.73
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 13.34
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 43.72
    4-methylpyridine 39.55
    dibutyl ether 9.68
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 5.46
    DEF 31.63
    dimethyl isosorbide 38.31
    tetrachloroethylene 90.0
    eugenol 20.87
    triacetin 23.54
    span 80 20.24
    1,4-butanediol 12.04
    1,1-dichloroethane 44.66
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 7.57
    methyl formate 54.06
    2-methyl-1-butanol 9.84
    n-decane 1.57
    butyronitrile 26.77
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 6.6
    1-chlorooctane 5.55
    1-chlorotetradecane 2.63
    n-nonane 1.59
    undecane 1.22
    tert-butylcyclohexane 1.54
    cyclooctane 1.75
    cyclopentanol 24.31
    tetrahydropyran 29.29
    tert-amyl methyl ether 6.4
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 41.29
    1-hexene 5.94
    2-isopropoxyethanol 13.5
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 54.74
    methyl butyrate 22.89

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction