| Chemical Properties | clear liquid |
| Chemical Properties | Ethyl hexaldehyde is a colorless liquid with a
mild, pleasant odor. |
| Uses | 2-Ethylhexanal is used as an intermediate for chemical synthesis?and in the production of pharmaceuticals and odorous substances. |
| Uses | 2-Ethylhexanal may be used as an analytical standard for the determination of the analyte in the atmosphere of charcoal plants by high-performance liquid chromatography and UV detection. It may also be used as an internal standard for the determination of the analyte from wood pellets(6) by chromatography-based techniques. |
| Uses | Organic synthesis, perfumes. |
| Definition | ChEBI: A fatty aldehyde that is heptane in which one of the hydrogens at position 3 has been replaced by a formyl group. It is a metabolite of the plasticisers di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA). |
| Synthesis Reference(s) | Journal of the American Chemical Society, 77, p. 359, 1955 DOI: 10.1021/ja01607a036
Synthesis, p. 767, 1976 DOI: 10.1055/s-1976-24198 |
| General Description | White liquid with a mild odor. Floats on water. |
| Air & Water Reactions | Spontaneously flammable in air. [Steele and Dugan, Chem. Eng. 66:160(1960)]. Insoluble in water. |
| Reactivity Profile | 2-ETHYLHEXANAL are aldehydes. Aldehydes are frequently involved in self-condensation or polymerization reactions. These reactions are exothermic; they are often catalyzed by acid. Aldehydes are readily oxidized to give carboxylic acids. Flammable and/or toxic gases are generated by the combination of aldehydes with azo, diazo compounds, dithiocarbamates, nitrides, and strong reducing agents. Aldehydes can react with air to give first peroxo acids, and ultimately carboxylic acids. These autoxidation reactions are activated by light, catalyzed by salts of transition metals, and are autocatalytic (catalyzed by the products of the reaction). The addition of stabilizers (antioxidants) to shipments of aldehydes retards autoxidation. |
| Hazard | Ignites in air. |
| Health Hazard | Inhalation may be irritating to mucous membrane; overexposure may cause dizziness and collapse. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach. Contact with eyes or skin causes irritation. |
| Fire Hazard | HIGHLY FLAMMABLE: Will be easily 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. |
| Safety Profile | Moderately toxic by
ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. Mildly
toxic by inhalation and skin contact. An eye
and severe skin irritant. See also
ALDEHYDES. Dangerous fire hazard;
spontaneously flammable in air. To fight
fire, use foam, CO2, dry chemical, water
spray, mist, fog. Incompatible with oxidizing
materials. When heated to decomposition it
emits acrid and irritating fumes. |
| Potential Exposure | It is used as a solvent extraction
chemical; in organic synthesis; perfume formulation,
disinfectant |
| Shipping | UN1191 Octyl aldehydes, Hazard Class: 3;
Labels: 3-Flammable liquid |
| Incompatibilities | May form explosive mixture with air.
Violent reaction with oxidizers. Incompatible with strong
acids; caustics, ammonia, amines. May ignite spontaneously when spilled on clothing or other absorbent materials.
May form unstable peroxides on contact with air; under
certain conditions ignites spontaneously with air. |
| Waste Disposal | Dissolve or mix the material
with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. All federal,
state, and local environmental regulations must be observed. |
