General Description
Usually colorless to light colored liquids with an ammonia-like odor. Flammable. May be very corrosive to skin, eyes, mucus membranes and metals. They are often used as fungicides and to manufacture other chemicals.
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Generally soluble in water and denser than water. When dissolved in water, vinylamine is a strong base
Reactivity Profile
React violently with acids, strong oxidants and halogens; attack copper, aluminum, zinc and their alloys; react with mercury and silver oxides to form shock sensitive compounds. [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980.. p. 139]; reacts with hypochlorites to give N-chloroamines, some of which, are explosives when isolated [Bretherick 1979. p. 108].
Health Hazard
May cause toxic effects if inhaled or ingested/swallowed. Contact with substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
Flammable/combustible material. May be ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Most vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard. Containers may explode when heated. Many liquids are lighter than water.
