MSDS - Methanol

Common synonyms	Methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, meths
Formula	Reproduced
Properties	Form: colourless liquid with a characteristic smell Stability: Stable, but very flammable Melting point: -98° C Boiling point: 64.7° C Flash point: 11°C Explosion limits 6% - 36% Water solubility: miscible in all proportions Specific gravity: 0.79
Principal hazards	Methanol is toxic. If ingested or inhaledit can cause a wide range of harmful effects, from sickness, heart and liver damage to reproductive harm, blindess or death. Methanol is often a component in "bootleg" liquor (illegally brewed and distilled alcohol) and there have been numerous cases in the past in which the consumption of such a drink has been fatal. Methanol is very flammable. The pure liquid catches fire easily and aqueous solutions containing a significant amount of methanol can also catch fire. The flame above burning methanol is virtually invisible, so it is not always easy to tell whether a methanol flame is still alight. The explosion limits for methanol (the lower and upper percentage limits of methanol in an air-methanol mixture giving a vapour that can explode) are unusually wide.
Safe handling	Always wear safety glasses. Remove any source of ignition from the working area. Don't forget that a hot air gun, a hot plate or even a radiator may be sufficiently hot to ignite the vapour. You should not breathe in the vapour, so use a fume cupboard if available. If this is not possible, ensure that the area in which you work is very well ventilated.
Emergency	Eye contact: Immediately flush the eye with plenty of water. Continue for several minutes and call for medical help. Skin contact: A person whose clothes are soaked in methanol will be at serious risk from fire, so immediately remove any contaminated clothing and store well away from a source of ignition (preferably outside). Wash exposed skin with soap and water. If the skin reddens or appears damaged, or if methanol may have been swallowed, call for medical aid. If swallowed: Call for immediate medical help; if the quantity swallowed is significant urgent medical action is vital.
Disposal	Trace amounts of methanol can be flushed down a sink with a large quantity of water, unless local rules prohibit this. Larger amounts should be collected in a non-chlorinated waste solvent container for disposal.
Protective equipment	Safety glasses. If you need gloves, butyl rubber is a suitable material.
Further information	More extensive safety data
Reproduced with kind permission of Oxford University. Last updated January 8, 2004