PENTANE | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PENTANE†

Chemical Identification
CAS #	109-66-0
Formula	C₅H₁₂
Synonyms	n-pentane; normal pentane; amyl hydride

Physical Properties
Physical description	Colorless liquid with a gasoline-like odor.
Boiling point	97°F	Molecular weight	72.2
Freezing point/melting point	-202°F	Vapor pressure	420 mmHg
Flash point	-57°F	Vapor density	2.48
Specific gravity	0.63	Ionization potential	10.34 eV
Lower explosive limit (LEL)	1.5%	Upper explosive limit (UEL)	7.8%
NFPA health rating	1	NFPA fire rating	4
NFPA reactivity rating	0	NFPA special instruction
Vapor hazard ratio (VHR)
Historical exceedance percentage
Target organs

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA
Analyte code (IMIS no.)	1990
Sampling group	OVSG-1
Sampler/Sampling media	CSC tube (100/50 mg) [SKC 226-01]
Sampling time^*	45 min
Sampling volume (TWA)^*	2.25 L
Sampling flow rate (TWA)^*	0.05 L/min
Sampling volume (STEL/Peak/C)^*
Sampling flow rate (STEL/Peak/C)^*
Analytical method instruments	GC-FID
Method reference	OSHA 5000 (fully validated)
Notes
Special requirements

^* All sampling instructions above are recommended guidelines for OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs), please see the corresponding OSHA method reference for complete details.

Bulk/Wipe Method
Wipe Sampler/Sampling media
Bulk Method

On-Site Screening Techniques
Device
Model/Type
Sampling information (see manufacturer instructions)

**Exposure Limits**
OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak		NIOSH REL Up to 10-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		ACGIH TLV© 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		CAL/OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak
PEL-TWA	1000 ppm (2950 mg/m³)	REL-TWA	120 ppm (350 mg/m³)	TLV-TWA	1000 ppm [2013]	PEL-TWA	600 ppm (1800 mg/m³)
PEL-STEL		REL-STEL		TLV-STEL		PEL-STEL
PEL-C		REL-C	610 ppm (1800 mg/m³) [15 min]	TLV-C		PEL-C
Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N
Notes: See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1. OSHA Construction and Maritime Industry PEL is 500 ppm (1500 mg/m³) as an 8-hr TWA. See 29 CFR 1926.55 Table 1 and 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards.		Notes:		Notes:		Notes:
Health factors: See NIH-NLM PubChem.		IDLH	1500 ppm
Carcinogenic classifications: Not listed		Notes: 10% of LEL
AIHA emergency response planning guidelines - ERPG-1/ERPG-2/ERPG-3:

Additional Resources and Literature References

NOAA: CAMEO Chemicals - N-Pentane

NIOSH: Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - n-Pentane

Literature References

ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Pentane, all isomers. See annual publication for most recent information.
Galvin, J.B. and Marashi, F.: n-Pentane. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 58(1-2): 35-56, 1999.
Loiseaux-Meunier, M.N., Bedu, M., Gentou, C., Pepin, D., Coudert, J. and Caillaud, D.: Basal production of pentane in expired gas from healthy humans. Clin. Chim. Acta 310(2): 123-130, 2001.
Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Pentane. Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1805-1807.

Last Updated Date : 06/03/2022

Group Sampling Information
Sampling Media	Sampling Time (If there are exceptions they will be in Notes)	TWA Sampling Volume (If there are exceptions they will be in Notes)	TWA Flow Rate (If there are exceptions they will be in Notes)
CSC Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh), [SKC 226-01]	240 min	12 L	0.05 L/min

Analytes Sampling Information
Analytes	IMIS Code	Wipe Sampling
Isobutyl Acetate	1534	No
n-Butyl Acetate	0440	No
sec-Butyl Acetate	0441	No
tert-Butyl Acetate	0442	No
Toluene**	2460	No
Ethyl Benzene	1080	No
Perchloroethylene (Tetrachloroethylene)**	2020	No
Trichloroethylene**	2490	No
Xylene	2590	No
Trimethylbenzene	2505	No
Benzene***	0320	No
Ethyl Acetate****	1040	No
n-Propyl Acetate‡	2180	No
Pentane‡‡	1990	No
Cyclohexane‡‡‡	0810	No
Heptane*	1371	No
n-Hexane‡‡‡‡	1380	No
Nonane*	N807	No
Octane*	1957	No

Notes

Request any (up to three (3)) of these analytes together.

Alternatively request IMIS Code Q115 and SLTC will report any significant amounts of these analytes.

Results for unrequested analytes in this group will be reported if significant amount are found.

Toluene, sec-Butyl Acetate, Benzene and Isobutyl Alcohol all have/are known interferences. Please indicate on the 91A which of these compounds are known to be present.

There is no need to contact SLTC before sampling.

*80 min (4L)

**Peak sampling 1 min (0.05 L) and Ceiling sampling 5 min (0.25 L)

***STEL sampling 15 min (0.75 L)

****120 min (6 L)

‡200 min (10 L)

‡‡45 min (2.25 L)

‡‡‡190 min (9.5 L)

‡‡‡‡98 min (4.9 L)

PENTANE†

Chemical Identification

Physical Properties

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA

Bulk/Wipe Method

On-Site Screening Techniques

Exposure Limits

Additional Resources and Literature References