General Description
A clear colorless liquid with a petroleum-like odor. Flash point of-35°F. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Vapors are heavier than air.
Reactivity Profile
CYCLOPENTANE(287-92-3) is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents such as chlorine, bromine, fluorine. .
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.
Health Hazard
Inhalation causes dizziness, nausea, and vomiting; concentrated vapor may cause unconsciousness and collapse. Vapor causes slight smarting of eyes. Contact with liquid causes irritation of eyes and may irritate skin if allowed to remain. Ingestion causes irritation of stomach. Aspiration produces severe lung irritation and rapidly developing pulmonary edema; central nervous system excitement followed by depression.
Potential Exposure
Cyclopentane is used as a solvent.
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Containers may explode.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,
begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, includ-
ing resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting, guard against aspira-
tion. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to
48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema
may be delayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor
or authorized paramedic may consider administering a drug
or other inhalation therapy.
Shipping
UN1146 Cyclopentane, Hazard Class: 3; Labels:
3-Flammable liquid.
Incompatibilities
May form explosive mixture with air.
May accumulate static electrical charges, and may cause
ignition of its vapors. Contact with strong oxidizers may
cause fire and explosion.
Description
Cyclopentane is a colorless liquid. Molecularweight=70.15; Specific gravity=(H2O:1)=0.75; Boilingpoint=49℃; Freezing/Melting point=2 93.6℃; Vaporpressure=400 mmHg at 31℃; Relative vapor density (air-5 1)=2.42: Flash point=37.2℃; Autoignitiontemperature=361℃. Explosive limits in air: LEL=1.1%;UEL=8.7%. Hazard Identification (based on NFPA-704 MRating System): Health 1, Flammability 3, Reactivity 0.Insoluble in water
Waste Disposal
Dissolve or mix the material
with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinera-
tor equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. All federal,
state, and local environmental regulations must be
observed.
Physical properties
Colorless, mobile, flammable liquid with an odor resembling cyclohexane.
Definition
ChEBI: A cycloalkane that consists of five carbons each bonded with two hydrogens above and below the plane. The parent of the class of cyclopentanes.
Production Methods
Cyclopentane occurs in petroleum ether fractions and is
prepared by cracking cyclohexane in the presence of alumina
at high temperature and pressure or by reduction of cyclopentadiene.
Flammability and Explosibility
Highlyflammable
Chemical Reactivity
Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.
Source
Component of high octane gasoline (quoted, Verschueren, 1983). Harley et al. (2000)
analyzed the headspace vapors of three grades of unleaded gasoline where ethanol was added to replace methyl tert-butyl ether. Cyclopentane was detected at an identical concentration of 1.4 wt
% in the headspace vapors for regular, mid-, and premium grades.
Schauer et al. (1999) reported cyclopentane in a diesel-powered medium-duty truck exhaust at
an emission rate of 410 μg/km.
California Phase II reformulated gasoline contained cyclopentane at a concentration of 4.11
g/kg. Gas-phase tailpipe emission rates from gasoline-powered automobiles with and without
catalytic converters were 0.78 and 85.4 mg/km, respectively (Schauer et al., 2002).
Environmental Fate
Biological. Cyclopentane may be oxidized by microbes to cyclopentanol, which may oxidize to
cyclopentanone (Dugan, 1972).
Photolytic. The following rate constants were reported for the reaction of octane and OH
radicals in the atmosphere: 3.7 x 10-12 cm3/molecule?sec at 300 K (Hendry and Kenley, 1979); 5.40
x 10-12 cm3/molecule?sec (Atkinson, 1979); 4.83 x 10-12 cm3/molecule?sec at 298 K (DeMore and
Bayes, 1999); 6.20 x 10-12, 5.24 x 10-12, and 4.43 x 10-12 cm3/molecule?sec at 298, 299, and 300 K,
respectively (Atkinson, 1985), 5.16 x 10-12 cm3/molecule?sec at 298 K (Atkinson, 1990), and 5.02
x 10-12 cm3/mol·sec at 295 K (Droege and Tilly, 1987).
Chemical/Physical. Cyclopentane will not hydrolyze because it has no hydrolyzable functional
group. Complete combustion in air yields carbon dioxide and water.
At elevated temperatures, rupture of the ring occurs forming ethylene and presumably allene
and hydrogen (Rice and Murphy, 1942).
storage
Color Code—Red: Flammability Hazard: Store ina flammable liquid storage area or approved cabinet awayfrom ignition sources and corrosive and reactive materials.Prior to working with cyclopentane you should be trainedon its proper handling and storage. Before entering confinedspace where cyclopentane may be present, check to makesure that an explosive concentration does not exist. Store intightly closed containers in a cool well-ventilated area awayfrom strong oxidizers (such as chlorine, bromine, and fluorine). Use only nonsparking tools and equipment, especiallywhen opening and closing containers of cyclopentane.Metal containers involving the transfer of this chemicalshould be grounded and bonded. Where possible, automatically pump liquid from drums or other storage containers toprocess containers. Drums must be equipped with selfclosing valves, pressure vacuum bungs, and flame arresters.Use only nonsparking tools and equipment, especially whenopening and closing containers of this chemical. Sources ofignition, such as smoking and open flames, are prohibitedwhere this chemical is used, handled, or stored in a mannerthat could create a potential fire or explosion hazard.Wherever this chemical is used, handled, manufactured, orstored, use explosion-proof electrical equipment andfittings.
Purification Methods
Free it from cyclopentene by two passages through a column of carefully dried and degassed activated silica gel. It occurs in petroleum and is HIGHLY FLAMMABLE. [NMR: Christl Chem Ber 108 2781 1975, Whitesides et al. 41 2882 1976, Beilstein 5 III 10, 5 IV 4.]
