| Physical Description |
Tetrahydrofuran appears as a clear colorless liquid with an ethereal odor. Less dense than water. Flash point 6 °F. Vapors are heavier than air. |
| Color/Form |
Colorless, mobile liquid |
| Odor |
Ether-like odor |
| Taste |
PUNGENT TASTE |
| Boiling Point |
151 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) |
| Melting Point |
-163.3 °F (NTP, 1992) |
| Flash Point |
6 °F (NTP, 1992) |
| Solubility |
greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 68 °F (NTP, 1992) |
| Density |
0.888 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water; will float |
| Vapor Density |
2.5 (NTP, 1992) - Heavier than air; will sink (Relative to Air) |
| Vapor Pressure |
114 mmHg at 59 °F ; 145 mmHg at 68 °F (NTP, 1992) |
| LogP |
log Kow = 0.46 |
| Henry's Law Constant |
Henry's Law constant = 7.05X10-5 atm-cu m/mole at 25 °C |
| Stability/Shelf Life |
Tetrahydrofuran will auto-oxidize in the presence of light & O2 to form resinous products that color water from pink to brown at conc above 100-250 mg/l. |
| Autoignition Temperature |
610 °F (USCG, 1999) |
| Decomposition |
When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke & irritating fumes. |
| Viscosity |
0.53 cP at 20 °C |
| Corrosivity |
Tetrahydrofuran will attack some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings. |
| Heat of Combustion |
-14,990 BTU/lb = -8330 cal/g = -348.8X10+5 J/kg |
| Heat of Vaporization |
180 BTU/lb= 98.1 cal/g= 4.1X10+5 J/kg |
| Surface Tension |
26.4 dynes/cm at 25 °C |
| Ionization Potential |
9.45 eV |
| Polymerization |
Hazardous polymerization may occur. |
| Odor Threshold |
Odor Threshold Low: 0.09 [mmHg] Odor Threshold High: 61.0 [mmHg] Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 31 ppm) |
| Refractive Index |
Index of refraction: 1.4050 at 20 °C/D |
| Dissociation Constants |
pKa = -2.08 |
| Relative Evaporation Rate |
8 (Butyl acetate = 1) |
| Kovats Retention Index |
617 630 626 609 610 620 622 626 629 619 636 612.5 620 613.7 614.3 615 615 638 608 612 627 615 638 618 |
| Other Experimental Properties |
CONVERSION FACTOR: 1 PPM = 2.94 MG/CU M; 1 MG/L = 340 PPM |
| Chemical Classes |
Solvents -> Ethers (<C12) |
