Ethyl formate is a formate ester resulting from the formal condensation of formic acid with ethanol.
Definition
Ethyl formate is a formate ester resulting from the formal condensation of formic acid with ethanol. It has a role as a fumigant and a plant metabolite. It is an ethyl ester and a formate ester.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 0K3E2L5553 · registered name Ethyl formate · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 109-94-4
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 203-721-0
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID6040117
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID4020117
- IUPAC
- Ethyl formate
- Molecular formula
- C3H6O2
- Molecular weight
- 74.079 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Ethyl formate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Flash point -4 °F. Less dense than water. Vapors heavier than air. · Colorless liquid with a fruity odor, [NIOSH]
- Odour
- Fruity odor.
- Boiling point
- 129.6 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999) · 54.5 °C @ 760 MM HG
- Melting point
- -110 °F (USCG, 1999) · -80.5 °C
- Solubility
- 9 % at 64 °F (NIOSH, 2024) · SOLUBILITY IN WATER: 9 PARTS/100 @ 18 °C, MISCIBLE WITH BENZENE
- Density
- 0.922 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.9168 @ 20 °C
- Colour
- colourless
- Melting/freezing point
- -80.5 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 54.5 ℃
- Flash point
- -20 ℃
- Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits
- 16.5 / 2.7 %
- Vapour pressure
- 200 ㎜Hg (20.6℃)
- Water solubility
- 88250 ㎎/ℓ (25℃)
- Vapour density
- 2.56
- Relative density
- 0.9168 (20℃)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 1.504 (25 °C, pH=4.61 )
- Auto-ignition temperature
- 440 ℃
- Decomposition temperature
- -220X10+5 (J/KG)
- Molecular weight
- 74.09
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 12 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Fragrance10
- Flavouring and nutrient2
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
3 skin studies and 5 eye studies are on record.
The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 8 studies
- Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening - Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening - Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across - Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across - Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Authoritative - Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening - Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Screening - Category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
Linked databases 15
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese