N-BUTYL METHYL ETHER

General Description

A clear liquid. Flash point 95°F. Less dense than water and slightly soluble in water. Vapors heavier than air. May be toxic by inhalation or skin absorption and irritating to skin. Used as a gasoline additive.

Air & Water Reactions

Highly flammable. Oxidizes readily in air to form unstable peroxides that may explode spontaneously [Bretherick 1979 p.151-154, 164]. Less dense than water and slightly soluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

N-BUTYL METHYL ETHER can act as a base to form salts or addition compounds with strong acids. May react violently with strong oxidizing agents. Oxidizes readily in air. Relatively unreactive in other reactions, which typically involve the breaking of the carbon-oxygen bond.

Health Hazard

Inhalation or contact with material may irritate or burn skin and eyes. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire control may cause pollution.

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

Poison by inhalation. A flammable liquid. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating vapors.

Purification Methods

Dry it with CaSO4, pass it through an alumina column to remove peroxides, and fractionally distil it. [Beilstein 1 IV 1518.]