General Description
A colorless liquid or a gas (boiling point 62°F) with an odor of ammonia. Flash point less than 0°F. Density of liquid 5.7 lb/gal. Corrosive to the skin and eyes. Vapors are heavier than air. Produces toxic oxides of nitrogen during combustion. Exposure of the closed container to intense heat may cause ETHYLAMINE(75-04-7) to rupture violently and rocket.
Reactivity Profile
Sensitive to heat. Reacts vigorously with oxidizing agents. Incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. Incompatible with cellulose nitrate. Flammable gaseous hydrogen is generated in combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides. Also incompatible with oxidizing agents. A chemical base. Neutralizes acids to form salts plus water in an exothermic reaction Dissolves most paints, plastics and rubber .
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Water soluble.
Hazard
Strong irritant. Flammable, dangerous fire
risk, flammable limits in air 3.5–14%.
Health Hazard
Inhalation causes irritation of respiratory tract and lungs; pulmonary edema may result. Liquid causes severe irritation and burns of eyes and skin, and can permanently injure eyes after 15 seconds' contact. Ingestion causes severe burns of mouth and stomach; can be fatal.
Potential Exposure
Monoethylamine (MEA) is used as an
intermediate in the manufacture of the following chemicals:
triazine herbicides, 1,3-diethylthiourea (a corrosion inhibitor);
ethylamino-ethanol; 4-ethylmorpholine (urethane foam catalyst); ethyl isocyanate; and dimethylolethyltriazone (agent
used in wash-and-wear fabrics). The cuprous chloride salts of
MEA are used in the refining of petroleum and vegetable oil.
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, including 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 medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit
Shipping
UN1036, Ethylamine, Hazard Class: 2.1; Labels:
2.1-Flammable gas. Ethylamine, aqueous solution with not ,50% but not .70% ethylamine, Hazard Class: 3; Labels:
3-Flammable liquid, 8-Corrosive material. Cylinders must
be transported in a secure upright position, in a wellventilated truck. Protect cylinder and labels from physical
damage. The owner of the compressed gas cylinder is the
only entity allowed by federal law (49CFR) to transport
and refill them. It is a violation of transportation regulations to refill compressed gas cylinders without the express
written permission of the owner.
Incompatibilities
The aqueous solution is a strong base.
May form explosive mixture with air. Reacts violently
with strong acids; strong oxidizers; cellulose nitrate; and
organic compounds; causing fire and explosion hazard.
Also incompatible with organic anhydrides; isocyanates,
vinyl acetate; acrylates, substituted allyls; alkylene
oxides; epichlorohydrin, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols,
glycols, phenols, cresols, caprolactum solution. Attacksnonferrous metals: aluminum, copper, lead, tin, zinc, and
alloys; some plastics, rubber, and coatings.
Description
Ethylamine is a colorless gas or water-whiteliquid (below 17℃) with a strong, ammonia-like odor.Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas. Molecularweight = 45.10; Specific gravity (H2O:1) = 0.69 (liquid);Boiling point = 16.7℃; Freezing/Melting point = - 81℃;Vapor pressure = 847 mmHg at 20℃; Flash point≤ - 18℃; Autoignition temperature = 385℃. Explosivelimits: LEL = 3.5%; UEL = 14.0%. Hazard Identification(based on NFPA-704 M Rating System): Health 3,Flammability 4, Reactivity 0. Soluble in water
Waste Disposal
Return refillable compressed
gas cylinders to supplier. Controlled incineration; incinerator equipped with a scrubber or thermal unit to reduce
nitrogen oxides emissions
Physical properties
Colorless liquid or gas with a strong ammonia-like odor. An experimentally determined odor
threshold concentration of 21 ppbv was reported by Leonardos et al. (1969). Experimentally
determined detection and recognition odor threshold concentrations were 500 μg/m3 (270 ppbv)
and 1.5 mg/m3 (810 ppbv), respectively (Hellman and Small, 1974).
Definition
ChEBI: A two-carbon primary aliphatic amine.
Definition
ethylamine: A colourless flammablevolatile liquid, C2H5NH2; r.d. 0.69;m.p. –81°C; b.p. 16.6°C. It is a primaryamine made by reactingchloroethane with ammonia andused in making dyes.
Aroma threshold values
Very high strength odor; ammoniacal type; recommend smelling in a 0.01% solution or less
Chemical Reactivity
Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: Will strip and dissolve paint; dissolves most plastic materials; can cause swelling of rubber by absorption. The reactions are not hazardous; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Flush with water; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.
Industrial uses
Ethylamine has achieved widespread use as an intermediate in the manufacture of
a variety of products. It is used as a solvent for dyes, resins, and oils and as a
vulcanization accelerator for sulfur-cured rubbers as well as a stabilizer for rubber
latex (NIOSH 1981; HSDB 1989). The amine is used in the production of alkyl
isocyanates for intermediates in the manufacture of products such as pharmaceuticals
and resins. It also serves as an intermediate in the manufacture of triazine
herbicides, a corrosion inhibitor (1,3-diethyl thiourea), and an agent used in wash
and wear fabrics (dimethylolethyltriazone). Copious salts of ethylamine can also
be used in the refining of petroleum and vegetable oil (Sittig 1981). The amine also
has uses as an industrial solvent and as a chemical initiator in the preparation of
various solvents (HSDB 1989).
Environmental Fate
Photolytic. The rate constant for the reaction of ethylamine and ozone in the atmosphere is 2.76
x 10-20 cm3/molecule?sec at 296 K (Atkinson and Carter, 1984). Atkinson (1985) reported a rate
constant of 6.54 x 10-11 cm3/molecule?sec for the vapor-phase reaction of ethylamine and OH
radicals at 25.5 °C. The half-life for this reaction is 8.6 h.
Low et al. (1991) reported that the photooxidation of aqueous primary amine solutions by UV
light in the presence of titanium dioxide resulted in the formation of ammonium and nitrate ions.
Chemical/Physical. Reacts with OH radicals possibly forming acetaldehyde or acetamide
(Atkinson et al., 1978). When ethylamine over kaolin is heated to 600 °C, hydrogen and
acetonitrile formed as the major products. Trace amounts of ethylene, ammonia, hydrogen
cyanide, and methane were also produced. At 900 °C, however, acetonitrile was not produced
(Hurd and Carnahan, 1930).
Reacts with mineral acids forming water-soluble salts (Morrison and Boyd, 1971).
Metabolism
Ethylamine is readily absorbed from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.
When administered to humans as the HC1 form, about 32% of the ethylamine
could be recovered in the urine (Rechenberger 1984). It appears that ethylamine is
slowly oxidized by monoamine oxidase to form hydrogen peroxide and the
corresponding aldehyde. Subsequently, the peroxide is removed by catalase and
the aldehyde is likely converted to its carboxylic acid by aldehyde oxidase (Beard
andNoe 1981).
As with other alkylamines, a potential exists for in vivo nitrosation of ethylamine
from foods by the preservative sodium nitrite under the acidic conditions
found in the stomach (Lin et al 1983,1984).
storage
Ethylamine should be stored in a flammable-liquids storage room or cabinet. It shouldbe stored away from oxidizing materials andsources of ignition. It is shipped in steelcylinders or drums.
Purification Methods
Condense it in an all-glass apparatus cooled by circulating ice-water, and store it with KOH pellets below 0o. [Beilstein 4 IV 307.]
Toxicity evaluation
The effects of ethylamine appear due primarily to its corrosive
action at all points of contact with the body.
