UN/NA Number Reference
DOT Class 3 Flammable Liquid placard

UN 1161: Dimethyl carbonate

49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table·ERG 2024

DOT Classification and Shipping

UN 1161 is assigned the proper shipping name Dimethyl carbonate in the U.S. DOT Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101). It is classified as a Class 3 Flammable Liquid material, Packing Group II. Required label(s): 3.

Packing group indicates the degree of danger within a hazard class: PG I is high danger, PG II medium, PG III low. The proper shipping name, hazard class, UN number, and packing group together form the basic shipping description that must appear on shipping papers and, where required, on the package and placard.

Emergency Response (ERG Guide 129)

Hazards: Flammable. Irritating vapor. May cause dizziness. Toxic if inhaled or absorbed through skin.

Fire: Alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, CO2, water spray.

Spill: Eliminate ignition sources. Ventilate area. Absorb with earth or sand.

Chemical and Physical Properties

Dimethyl carbonate appears as a clear, colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Denser than water and slightly soluble in water. Vapors are heavier than air. Used to make other chemicals and as a special purpose solvent.

CAS Number: 616-38-6
Molecular Formula: C3H6O3
Molecular Weight: 90.08 g/mol
Color / Form: Colorless liquid
Odor: Pleasant odor
Boiling Point: 90.5 C
Melting Point: 0.5 °C
Flash Point: 31 F
Autoignition: 458 °C
Specific Gravity: 1.0636 g/cu cm
Vapor Pressure: 55.36 [mmHg]
Vapor Density: 3.1 (heavier than air)
Water Solubility: Miscible with alcohol and ether

Special Provisions

49 CFR 172.102 special provision codes for this entry: IB2, T4, TP1. These codes modify the general requirements (packaging, quantity limits, exceptions) for this specific material. Look up each code in 49 CFR 172.102 for the full text.

Need the full interactive record? Open UN 1161 in the SpillNerd lookup tool for the live database entry with placard graphics, GHS pictograms, full segregation tables, and synonym search. For another material, use the UN number and chemical lookup.

Reference data compiled from the DOT Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101), the 2024 Emergency Response Guidebook, and public chemical databases (PubChem, NIOSH, EPA). Always verify the correct shipping description against the current regulation and the manufacturer's SDS Section 14 before shipping.