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Short answer
A hexane safety data sheet (SDS) describes a highly flammable liquid (flash point -7 °F, about -22 °C) that is an aspiration, skin, and nervous-system hazard and toxic to aquatic life. Classifications differ between suppliers, so read the sheet that came with your bottle, and use the NIOSH and PubChem figures below to check it.
This page is for lab staff and EHS officers who have an n-hexane SDS open and need to know what each section means for bench work. It is general safety information, not a substitute for the supplier’s own sheet or your institution’s chemical hygiene plan.
Definition and scope
An SDS is the 16-section hazard document a chemical supplier provides under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). For the legacy format, see SDS vs MSDS. This page covers n-hexane (CAS 110-54-3), the compound used as a laboratory solvent. Product labels such as “hexanes” or “hexane (isomers)” describe mixtures, so the composition in Section 3 of your sheet decides which values apply.
Hexane hazards: what the GHS classification says
PubChem’s GHS summary for hexane (CID 8058) shows pictograms GHS02 (flame), GHS07 (exclamation mark), GHS08 (health hazard) and GHS09 (environment), with the signal word Danger. The most commonly notified hazard statements, from 4,001 ECHA Classification and Labelling reports, are:
| H-statement | Meaning | Share of reports |
|---|---|---|
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapour | 98.2% |
| H304 | May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways | 98.2% |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation | 98.1% |
| H336 | May cause drowsiness or dizziness | 97.4% |
| H361 | Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child | 93.7% |
| H373 | May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure | 95.4% |
| H411 | Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects | 99.9% |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation | 11.5% |
A smaller set of 224 reports differs: H317 (skin sensitisation) at 46.9% and H412 at 46.4%. The practical point is that two hexane SDSs can legitimately carry different hazard statements, so the sheet for your product is the controlling document. Source: PubChem GHS classification, hexane, read 2026-11-07.
NIOSH lists the exposure routes as inhalation, ingestion and skin or eye contact, and the target organs as the eyes, skin, respiratory system, central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.
Where it matters for labs and supply decisions: reading the hexane SDS section by section
Where each topic lives on a 16-section sheet, and what the independent sources say to check it against:
| SDS section | What to look for for hexane |
|---|---|
| 2 Hazard identification | Pictograms, signal word, H and P statements. Compare with the table above; note which of H361, H373, H317 and H412 your supplier lists. |
| 3 Composition | Whether the product is pure n-hexane or an isomer mixture. |
| 7 Handling and storage | Ignition-source controls and storage separation (see below). |
| 8 Exposure controls and PPE | Exposure limits and glove choice. See the limits table below. |
| 9 Physical properties | Flash point -7 °F, lower explosive limit 1.1%, upper 7.5%, boiling point 156 °F, vapor pressure 124 mmHg (NIOSH Pocket Guide). Boiling point detail: hexane boiling point. |
| 10 Stability and reactivity | Incompatible with strong oxidizers (NIOSH). |
| 13 Disposal | Follow the supplier’s Section 13 and local hazardous-waste rules. |
Hexane flash point and exposure limits compared
The flash point of -7 °F means the liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite well below room temperature; the NIOSH Pocket Guide gives the explosive range as 1.1% to 7.5% in air. The same guide lists three different exposure numbers, which SDSs often reproduce side by side:
| Value | n-Hexane | Status |
|---|---|---|
| OSHA PEL (8-hour TWA) | 500 ppm (1800 mg/m3) | Federal legal limit |
| NIOSH REL (TWA) | 50 ppm (180 mg/m3) | Recommendation, not enforceable |
| NIOSH IDLH | 1100 ppm [10% of the LEL] | Immediately dangerous to life or health |
The federal PEL is ten times the NIOSH REL. OSHA’s annotated tables show Cal/OSHA’s enforceable PEL for n-hexane at 50 ppm. For how PELs, TLVs and RELs relate, see permissible exposure limits vs TLVs and RELs.
Hexane storage
Storage statements compiled in PubChem give these points: from the ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Card, fireproof storage, separated from strong oxidants, container well closed; from IPCS HSG 59, a well-ventilated area with fire-resistant containers, and metal containers electrically grounded while liquid is transferred. For the wider rules, see chemical storage compatibility and segregation rules.
Hexane PPE and spills
NIOSH advises preventing skin and eye contact, washing skin that has been contaminated, and removing wet clothing because it is flammable. For respirators it lists tiers by concentration. Glove material should come from breakthrough data for hexane, not from assumption; see nitrile glove chemical resistance. For spill response, follow the supplier’s Section 6 and your institution’s spill procedure.
Hexane disposal
Disposal is set by Section 13 of the supplier’s SDS together with local and national hazardous-waste rules. Most notifications classify hexane as toxic to aquatic life (H411), which is why the P273 and P501 statements on the sheet matter: avoid release to the environment and dispose of contents through an approved waste route. Your EHS office sets the container and pickup procedure.
Types or related concepts: n-hexane versus “hexanes”
Pure n-hexane (CAS 110-54-3) is a single compound, and the NIOSH values above apply to it. Products sold as “hexanes” or “hexane (isomers)” are mixtures, so their SDS may list different components, classifications and limits in Section 3 and Section 2. Related solvent sheets show the same 16-section layout with different values: ethyl acetate and sulfuric acid. For the legacy format, see SDS vs MSDS.
Common misunderstandings
- “Hexane” and “n-hexane” are the same sheet. Not always: “hexanes” products are mixtures, so check Section 3.
- The PEL is the safe level. The PEL is 500 ppm while NIOSH recommends 50 ppm.
- All hexane SDSs list the same hazards. Notified classifications vary (see H361 versus H317 and H412 above).
- Old MSDS and new SDS are interchangeable. Format and content differ; see the comparison.
FAQ
What is the flash point of hexane?
-7 °F (about -22 °C) per the NIOSH Pocket Guide for n-hexane.
What are the main hexane hazards?
Highly flammable liquid and vapour (H225), aspiration hazard (H304), skin irritation (H315), drowsiness or dizziness (H336), suspected reproductive toxicity (H361), organ damage on repeated exposure (H373) and aquatic toxicity (H411), per the most-notified GHS classification.
How should hexane be stored?
Fireproof, closed, separated from strong oxidants, in a well-ventilated area, with metal containers grounded during transfer.
How is hexane disposed of?
By following Section 13 of the specific SDS and local hazardous-waste rules; ask your EHS office.
Is an n-hexane SDS different from a hexane SDS?
It can be: the identity and hazard statements depend on the product’s composition and supplier. Compare other solvent sheets such as ethyl acetate and sulfuric acid to see how layouts match while values differ.
Sources
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, n-Hexane: cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0322.html (read 2026-11-07).
- PubChem, Hexane (CID 8058), GHS classification and handling and storage: pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8058 (read 2026-11-07).
- OSHA Annotated Table Z-1, n-Hexane: osha.gov/annotated-pels.
