General Description
A colorless moderately toxic liquid with an acrid odor. Flash point of 70°F. Boiling point 278°F. Vapors irritate the eyes and respiratory system. Less dense than water. Not soluble in water. Used to make polymers and other chemicals.
Reactivity Profile
May polymerize if heated for prolonged periods or accidentally contaminated. If polymerization takes place inside a container, the container may violently rupture. Can react with oxidizing materials. When heated to decomposition ETHYL METHACRYLATE(97-63-2) emits irritating fumes and acrid smoke [Sax, 9th ed., 1996, p. 1576].
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. A very dangerous fire and explosion hazard. Not soluble in water.
Hazard
Flammable, dangerous fire and explosion
hazard. An irritant.
Health Hazard
Inhalation may cause irritation of the mucous membrane. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach. Contact with liquid irritates eyes and skin.
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Sealed containers may rupture explosively if hot. Heat can cause a violent polymerization reaction with rapid release of energy. Vapors are heavier than air and can travel to a source of ignition and flash back.
Chemical Properties
colourless liquid with an unpleasant odour
Chemical Properties
Ethyl methacrylate is a clear, colorless, and highly flammable
liquid that polymerizes but at a slower rate than that of
the parent acrylate.
Production Methods
Ethyl methacrylate can be manufactured via a reaction of
methacrylic acid or methyl acrylate with ethanol.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
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: If proper concentration of inhibitor is not present or when material is hot, a violent polymerization reaction may occur; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Oxygen in the air inhibits polymerization.
Carcinogenicity
Not listed by ACGIH, California
Proposition 65, IARC, NTP, or OSHA.
Purification Methods
Wash the ester successively with 5% aqueous NaNO2, 5% NaHSO3, 5% NaOH, then water. Dry it over MgSO4, add 0.2% (w/w) of phenyl-.-naphthylamine, and distil it through a short Vigreux column (p 11) [Schultz J Am Chem Soc 80 1854 1958]. [Beilstein 2 IV 1523.]
