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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Physical & Chemical properties

Additional physico-chemical information

Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

2,6-Xylenol is considered to be:
- Not a self-reactive substance;
- Not sensitive to self-ignition; and
- Potentially corrosive to metals.

Additional information

Self-reactive substances or mixtures are thermally unstable liquid or solid substances or mixtures liable to undergo a strongly exothermic decomposition even without participation of oxygen (air). Considering the chemical structure of the substance and taking into account Appendix 6 for self-reactive substances (particularly Tables A6.1 and A6.2) of the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria, 2,6-Xylenol is considered not to contain any chemical groups indicating self-reactive properties.

 

Regarding the potential for self-ignition, and following the ECHA Guidance to regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packing (CLP) of substances and mixtures (2009), substances with a low melting point (less than 160 °C) should not be considered for classification in this hazard class since the melting process is endothermic and the substance-air surface is drastically reduced. This criterion is only applicable if the substance is completely molten up to this temperature. Based on the melting point of 2,6-Xylenol, this substance is not considered to be sensitive to self-ignition.

 

A substance or a mixture that is corrosive to metals will, by chemical action, materially damage, or even destroy metals. The following substances and mixtures have to be considered for classification as corrosive to metals (ECHA Guidance to regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packing (CLP) of substances and mixtures, 2009): substances and mixtures having acidic or basic functional groups; substances or mixtures containing halogen; substances able to form complexes with metals and mixtures containing such substances.

2,6-Xylenol has an acidic functional group (OH). In general, aromatic alcohols are considered to be slightly acidic. The pKa confirms that 2,6-Xylenol is a very weak acid; the proton will only be released under basic conditions. Based on its skin corrosive properties however, potential corrosivity to metals cannot be ruled-out and hence 2,6-Xylenol should be considered as potentially corrosive to metals.