n-Hexane can cause male reproductive toxicity according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts.
Definition
n-Hexane can cause male reproductive toxicity according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 2DDG612ED8 · registered name Hexane · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
- Banned
- Argentina · ASEAN · Brazil · China · European Union · South Korea · United Kingdom
Source: ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex II (prohibited substances), entry 999
Restriction II/999
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 110-54-3
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 203-777-6
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID0021917
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID001917
- IUPAC
- Hexane
- Molecular formula
- C6H14
- Molecular weight
- 86.178 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- N-hexane is a clear colorless liquids with a petroleum-like odor. Flash points -9 °F. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Vapors heavier than air. Used as a solvent, paint thinner, and chemical reaction medium. · Gas Vapor, Liquid, Large Crystals
- Odour
- Gasoline-like odor
- Boiling point
- 156 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 68.73 °C
- Melting point
- -139 °F (NTP, 1992) · -95.35 °C
- Solubility
- less than 1 mg/mL at 61.7 °F (NTP, 1992) · In water, 9.5 mg/L at 25 °C
- Density
- 0.659 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.6606 g/cu cm at 25 °C
- Viscosity
- 0.377 cP at 15 °C · 3.26X10-4 Pa-s at 20 °C
- Colour
- colourless
- Odour threshold
- 60 ppm
- Melting/freezing point
- -95.35 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 68.73 ℃
- Flash point
- -22 ℃
- Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits
- 7.5 / 1.1 %
- Vapour pressure
- 153 ㎜Hg (25℃)
- Water solubility
- 0.0013 g/100㎖ (20 ℃)
- Vapour density
- 2.97
- Relative density
- 0.66 (25℃)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 3.9
- Auto-ignition temperature
- 225 ℃
- Decomposition temperature
- 4163.2 ( kJ/mol)
- Molecular weight
- 86.18
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 61 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.
- Solvent26
- Processing aids not otherwise specified15
- Fuel4
- No specific technical function3
- Intermediate3
- Lubricating agent2
- Cleaning agent2
- Anti-adhesive/cohesive2
4 other uses
- Propellants, non-motive (blowing agents)1
- Viscosity modifier1
- Fragrance1
- Catalyst1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
7 skin studies and 2 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 9 studies
- Skin Irrit. 2
Skin Irritation · Authoritative - Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening - Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening - Skin Irrit. 2
Skin Irritation · Screening - Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA) · Screening · equivalent or similar to OECD Guideline 429 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay) - Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across - Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening - Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening - Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Investigation of the Effects of Pentane, Hexane, Heptane, and Octane on Bovine Skin Papillomatosis · 2025
- [Neuropathy in n-hexane poisoning]. · 2024
- Comparative Anti Inflammatory Activity of Hexane and Aqueous Extract of Mucuna pruriens · 2021
- Toxicity of n-hexane extract of mundar (Garcinia forbesii King) pericarp · 2020
- PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF THE PHYTOTOXIC EFFECT OF THE HEXANE FRACTION FROM THE LEAVES OF Smilax brasiliensis (SMILACACEAE) · 2019
Linked databases 21
- ASEAN Cosmetic Directive
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- EU Cosmetics Regulation
- EU prohibited substances (Annex II)
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information 2 3
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS) 2
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
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