APPENDIX 2

 

FLASH POINTS AND BOILING POINTS OF

SOME COMMON LABORATORY SOLVENTS*

 

 

SOLVENT                                                      FLASH POINT                                  BOILING POINT

                                                                                  (°C)                                                     (°C)

           

Acetone                                                                  ‑20                                                            56

Benzene                                                                  ‑17                                                            80

2‑Butanone (methyl ethyl ketone)                                7                                                            80

n‑Butyl alcohol                                                         29                                                            118

tert‑Butyl alcohol                                                      11                                                            82

Carbon disulfide**                                                  ‑30                                                            46

Cyclohexane                                                           -20                                                            81

p‑Dioxane                                                                12                                                            101

Ethyl acetate                                                               4                                                            77

Ethyl alcohol                                                             13                                                            79

Ethyl ether**                                                           ‑45                                                            35

Heptane                                                                   - 4                                                            77

Hexane                                                                   ‑30                                                            68

Isopropyl alcohol                                                      12                                                            82

Methanol                                                                  11                                                            65

Nitromethane                                                            35                                                            108

Pentane                                                                   ‑49                                                            36

Petroleum ether (30‑60)                                          ‑57                                                            30‑60

Petroleum ether (60‑80)                                          ‑32                                                            60‑80

Propyl alcohol                                                          22                                                            97

Pyridine                                                                      8                                                            116

Tetrahydrofuran                                                      ‑14                                                            64

Toluene                                                                      4                                                            110

Xylenes                                                                    27‑32                                                       138‑144

 

 

* All of the solvents listed here have flash points below 38oC (100oF) and are considered by the Ministry of Labour to be flammable. This is not a complete listing of flammable substances.  All flammable substances should be stored in proper solvent safety cabinets or other approved locations.

 

** CS2 has an auto‑ignition temperature of about 100oC. Thus CS2 vapours can be ignited by contact with a hot plate or even a hot steam line. Diethyl ether has an auto‑ignition temperature of 180oC; take special precautions if hot plates or hot air guns are in use near diethyl ether vapours.

 

Note: Δ (Bp - Flash pt) ranges from 50-110oC.  Assume the worst (110oC) if using this "rule of thumb" to estimate the flash pt. of a material not on the list.