Educational content for trained professionals. Not a Safety Data Sheet, not medical advice. In an emergency, call your local poison control or emergency services immediately. Terms of use.
Methyl isothiocyanate
Also known as: METHYL ISOTHIOCYANATE · 556-61-6 · Isothiocyanatomethane · Mitc
- CAS No.
- 556-61-6
- Formula
- C2H3NS
- Molar mass
- 73.12 g/mol
- PubChem CID
- 11167
Corrosive
Toxic
Harmful / Irritant
Health hazard
Environmental hazard
Summary
Methyl isothiocyanate (C2H3NS), CAS 556-61-6. Common in labs and industry. Read on for hazards, storage, PPE and mixing rules.
Background
Loading background from Wikipedia…
Physical properties
No experimental physical properties indexed yet. Try PubChem for the raw record.
Hazards
Attacks skin, eyes and materials.
May be fatal even in small doses.
May cause skin, eye or respiratory irritation.
Serious long-term health effects (CMR, respiratory sensitizer).
Toxic to aquatic organisms.
Hazard statements
- H301: Toxic if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]
- H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage [Danger Skin corrosion/irritation]
- H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction [Warning Sensitization, Skin]
- H331: Toxic if inhaled [Danger Acute toxicity, inhalation]
- H400: Very toxic to aquatic life [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard]
- H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard]
- H310: Fatal in contact with skin [Danger Acute toxicity, dermal]
- H330: Fatal if inhaled [Danger Acute toxicity, inhalation]
- H318
- H335: May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure
- H315: Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]
- H319: Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]
Storage
Keep at room temperature, below 30 °C, out of direct heat.
Store somewhere well-ventilated and away from any ignition source.
Metal drums or tinted glass, tightly sealed.
Strong acids, strong bases and powerful oxidizers.
Personal protective equipment
Nitrile or butyl, at least 0.4 mm thick.
Safety goggles with side shields.
A2 organic-vapor cartridge if the room isn't well ventilated.
Occupational exposure limits (HSE)
Loading NIOSH / OSHA exposure limits…
EU harmonised classification (ECHA C&L)
Loading ECHA C&L (CLP Annex VI)…
Transport
Loading transport data from PubChem…
FDA recalls & enforcement
Searching OpenFDA enforcement reports…
Compatibilities
Try the compatibility checker in Free tools.
Compare
Put this chemical against another one.
Open comparator with Methyl isothiocyanatePractical safety notes
- Corrosive. Wear chemical goggles, faceshield and chemical-resistant gloves. Have an eyewash within reach.
- Acute toxicity. Work under a fume hood, restrict access, keep a specific antidote plan available.
- Irritant / harmful. Ventilate the workspace and avoid skin contact.
- Serious health hazard (carcinogen, mutagen, reprotoxic, respiratory sensitizer). Substitute if possible; otherwise closed systems and medical surveillance.
- Environmental hazard. Do not release to sewers or waterways; collect for hazardous waste disposal.
Derived from the GHS classification shown above. These notes are generic guidance and do not replace the manufacturer's SDS or your local risk assessment.
FAQ
Is Methyl isothiocyanate flammable?+
Methyl isothiocyanate (CAS 556-61-6) does not carry the GHS02 flame pictogram in our records. Always confirm with the manufacturer's SDS section 9 (flash point) before assuming a product is non-flammable.
What PPE should I wear when handling Methyl isothiocyanate?+
Chemical-splash goggles and a faceshield, chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or butyl) and an apron are the minimum. Work inside a fume hood or use a suitable respirator. Check SDS section 8 for material-specific breakthrough times.
How should Methyl isothiocyanate be stored?+
Store Methyl isothiocyanate (CAS 556-61-6) in tightly closed original containers, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from incompatible materials. Segregate acids from bases and keep away from metals that can be attacked.
Is Methyl isothiocyanate dangerous for the environment?+
Yes. Methyl isothiocyanate carries the GHS09 environment pictogram. Do not release to drains, soil or waterways; collect residues for hazardous-waste disposal in line with local regulations.
Where can I find the official Safety Data Sheet for Methyl isothiocyanate?+
Official, up-to-date SDS documents are published by each manufacturer (Sigma-Aldrich, Merck, Thermo Fisher, VWR, Carl Roth, etc.) and by regulators such as ECHA and NIOSH. This page is an educational summary and does not replace the manufacturer's SDS.
Ask about this product
AI-generated content may be inaccurate or outdated. Do not rely on it for emergency response, medical treatment, or regulatory compliance decisions. Terms of use.
Try one of these, or ask anything about this compound.
AI answers can be wrong. Always check the official SDS for definitive safety information.
Reference information only. Not a Safety Data Sheet. Always consult the manufacturer's official SDS and your local regulations before handling, storing or transporting any chemical. Terms of use.