Product Name: 1-Hexyl-2,3-Dimethylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate
Chemical Formula: C11H21BF4N2
CAS Number: 666822-87-7
Synonyms: [HMIM][BF4], 1-Hexyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate
Recommended Use: Used in research laboratories, electrochemistry, ionic liquid preparation, catalysis studies, solvents for chemical synthesis
Supplier Details: Manufacturer and supplier address and emergency phone number included on original package or product label
GHS Classification: Eye Irritant (Category 2), Skin Irritant (Category 2), Acute Toxin (Oral, Category 4)
Hazard Statements: Causes eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation. Harmful if swallowed. May cause skin mild irritation or redness on contact.
Signal Word: Warning
Pictograms: Exclamation mark symbol
Precautionary Statements: Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Do not inhale vapors or dust. Use only with adequate ventilation.
Potential Health Effects: Prolonged exposure can lead to discomfort in breathing, redness in the eyes, coughing, or mild dermatitis.
Environmental Hazards: Material may cause harm to aquatic life or persist in water systems.
Chemical Identity: 1-Hexyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate
Concentration: >95%
Impurities: Water (≤2%), other imidazolium salts (<1%)
CAS Number: 666822-87-7
EINECS Number: Not yet assigned
Molecular Weight: 272.11 g/mol
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air and keep at rest. Seek medical attention for any breathing difficulty or if symptoms persist.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin thoroughly with soap and plenty of water. Wash affected area for at least 15 minutes.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing and seek medical advice.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water, do not induce vomiting, and get medical assistance. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Most Important Symptoms: Irritation of eyes, respiratory tract, mild headache, and nausea possible with significant exposure.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or alcohol-resistant foam. Select extinguishing agent based on surroundings.
Special Hazards: Thermal decomposition can generate toxic fumes including boron trifluoride, hydrogen fluoride, and nitrogen oxides; dense smoke may form.
Protective Equipment: Firefighters should wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective clothing. Approach fire from upwind.
Specific Methods: Cool containers with water spray if exposed to flames. Avoid inhaling vapors or gases produced by combustion. Collect contaminated fire water separately; do not allow to enter drains or waterways.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate unnecessary personnel, ventilate area, use appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, lab coat, and face mask.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. Avoid discharge into drains, sewers, or waterways.
Methods for Clean-Up: Absorb spill with inert material like dry sand or earth. Use non-sparking tools to transfer spilled product to a suitable container for disposal. Clean area thoroughly with water after removal.
Reference to Other Sections: For disposal, see the section on waste management. For exposure controls, refer to PPE recommendations.
Handling: Use only with good ventilation, do not handle near sources of ignition, sparks, or flames. Wash thoroughly after handling fluids, avoid contact with eyes or prolonged skin exposure, and keep containers tightly closed.
Precautions: Ground/bond container and receiving equipment. Use explosion-proof electrical/ventilating/lighting equipment where necessary.
Storage: Keep product in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space away from sunlight, moisture, acids, and bases. Store at room temperature between 15–25°C in original, sealed packaging.
Incompatibilities: Avoid strong oxidizers, corrosive agents, strong alkalis, and water-reactive substances. Segregate from food, feed, and incompatible materials.
Engineering Controls: Provide local exhaust ventilation or laboratory fume hood. Emergency eye wash stations and safety showers recommended.
Respiratory Protection: Use approved NIOSH/MSHA respirators with particulate filters when airborne exposure levels exceed limits.
Hand Protection: Wear chemical-resistant gloves such as nitrile or neoprene; inspect gloves before use; wash hands after removing gloves.
Eye Protection: Chemical safety goggles or face shield, especially during transfer or handling of larger quantities.
Skin Protection: Lab coat or suitable protective clothing; avoid contact with skin; remove contaminated clothing promptly.
Exposure Limits: Not established for this specific compound; keep workplace airborne levels as low as possible.
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid or crystalline solid, depending on temperature and purity
Odor: Very mild, faint chemical smell
pH: Neutral, slightly acidic in aqueous solution (pH 6–7)
Melting Point: Range 10–20°C
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling, above 300°C
Flash Point: >150°C (closed cup method)
Solubility: Readily soluble in water, alcohols, acetone, and common polar solvents
Density: 1.07–1.13 g/cm3 at 20°C
Viscosity: 80–120 cP at 25°C
Partition Coefficient: Log Kow value not available
Vapor Pressure: Very low at room temperature
Chemical Stability: Stable under standard laboratory temperatures and handling conditions.
Conditions to Avoid: Store away from heat, moisture, open flames, and sunlight; avoid extreme temperatures.
Incompatible Materials: Contact with strong acids, oxidizers, alkalis, and halogenated compounds increases risk of violent reaction.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: High temperatures or fire produce boron trifluoride, hydrogen fluoride, carbon oxides, and nitrogen oxides.
Possibility of Hazardous Reactions: Can react violently with strong oxidizing chemicals or incompatible halides.
Acute Toxicity: Data on LD50 (oral, rat) not fully established; similar ionic liquids can present moderate oral toxicity.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact.
Symptoms: Redness, itching, tearing, coughing, headache, and stomach upset are possible. No strong evidence for chronic toxicity.
Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Classified as skin irritant for sensitive individuals.
Serious Eye Damage: Causes eye irritation; pain, redness, blurred vision possible.
Respiratory Sensitization: Vapors or aerosols may irritate respiratory tract.
Mutagenicity or Carcinogenicity: Long-term risks not completely studied. No evidence to classify as mutagen or carcinogen so far.
Other Effects: Prolonged or repeated contact dried or cracked skin.
Aquatic Toxicity: Not acutely toxic at low concentrations, but ionic liquids can pose long-term aquatic hazards, especially with persistence in sediments.
Persistence/Degradability: Expected to be persistent and resist rapid biodegradation in soil or aquatic environments.
Bioaccumulation: Low to moderate potential, based on molecular structure and available literature on similar compounds.
Soil Mobility: High water solubility increases risk of groundwater contamination in case of spills.
Other Adverse Effects: Avoid discharge to waterways; ionic species may impact growth of aquatic microorganisms and disrupt water quality if not managed.
Waste Treatment Methods: Collect liquid remains and contaminated absorbent for disposal as special chemical waste according to local regulations.
Incineration: May be incinerated in approved facilities with appropriate gas scrubbing for fluoride-containing gases.
Avoid Release: Never flush to surface water, drains, or environment; contain and label waste appropriately.
Empty Containers: Triple-rinse with water or compatible solvent before disposal or recycling.
Regulatory Notes: Follow federal, state, and local environmental agency guidance for final disposal procedures. Confirm waste code assignment with regulatory agency.
UN Number: Not assigned for this substance
Proper Shipping Name: Chemical, N.O.S. (not otherwise specified)
Transport Hazard Class: Not regulated as dangerous goods under ADR, IATA, IMDG for transport, but verify packaging compatibility
Packing Group: Not assigned
Special Precautions: Seal packages tightly, protect from moisture, handle with care during loading and unloading
Labeling: Affix “chemical, laboratory use only” transport label and emergency contact as standard
Labelling According to REACH and GHS: Follows globally harmonized system classification for skin/eye irritancy
U.S. Federal Regulations: Product not listed on SARA Title III, Section 302, or CERCLA; not classified as hazardous under OSHA criteria
EU Regulations: Not listed in Annex XVII, no special restriction for manufacture or use within EU, but regular chemical hygiene and control applies
Other Country Restrictions: Check with national agencies for workplace exposure limits or specific reporting requirements
Inventory Status: May be listed or notified in some national inventories; verify status in the region of use
Additional Guidance: Chemical hygiene plans and personal exposure monitoring programs recommended for users handling regularly
