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Chemical Name: Glycine Methyl Ester Hydrochloride
Synonyms: Methyl glycinate hydrochloride
Uses: Known as a useful building block for organic synthesis, often used in pharmaceutical, biochemical, and laboratory settings because it offers a simple amino acid structure with a reactive methyl ester group. Researchers lean on this compound for peptide coupling and protected amino acid derivatives, sometimes expanding its use into flavor chemistry and fine chemistry. Its white crystalline form lends itself well to bench work and storage is usually quite straightforward under standard conditions.
Hazard Classification: Irritant
Potential Health Effects: Skin can react with redness or itching after direct contact. Eyes experience burning or stinging when dust or powder makes contact. Inhalation of fine particles may cause coughing or throat discomfort. Accidental ingestion might cause mild gastrointestinal distress. Not considered a carcinogen or a reproductive hazard under ordinary laboratory use, but carelessness can invite unnecessary risk.
Component: Glycine Methyl Ester Hydrochloride
Chemical Formula: C3H8ClNO2
Purity: Often marketed as 98% or greater, with the remainder being trace impurities not typically hazardous by themselves. The hydrochloride group is present as a strong acid, making contact with sensitive tissues a mild risk, but this is mostly a lab-scale concern.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air, rinse mouth with water if irritation occurs.
Skin Contact: Wash skin with plenty of soap and water, remove contaminated clothing if needed, watch for persistent rash.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes with water for several minutes, gently holding eyelids apart, seek medical help if burning continues.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, drink water, do not induce vomiting, seek medical attention if feeling unwell.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical, foam, carbon dioxide.
Hazards: During combustion, oxides of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen chloride gas may form. Smoke can be irritating and may pose a lung risk in poorly ventilated conditions.
Protective Equipment: Firefighters should use self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective gear. Approach upwind to reduce exposure.
Spill Cleanup: Sweep up crystals or powder gently to avoid unnecessary dust, place in a tightly sealed waste container. Wipe area with damp disposable cloth or mop, avoid using dry brushes that stir up particles. Discard cleaning materials in approved waste.
Personal Precautions: Wear gloves and safety glasses, ensure good ventilation in the area, restrict access to avoid untrained personnel entering the spill zone.
Environmental Precautions: Avoid letting spills enter drains, surface water, or soil. If large quantities get loose, notify the environmental authorities locally.
Handling: Use in a fume hood or well-ventilated space, always wear personal protective equipment like gloves and goggles, avoid eating or drinking while handling. Prevent dust formation and exposure to humidity.
Storage: Keep tightly closed in a dry, cool environment, ideally in a desiccator to guard against moisture absorption. Keep away from acids, bases, oxidizing, or reducing agents. Prevent storage near food or strong-smelling chemicals.
Engineering Controls: Work in areas with strong local exhaust or general ventilation systems, use a fume hood for measuring powders. Routine monitoring isn’t standard but can be added for sensitive users.
Personal Protection: Gloves (nitrile or neoprene), splash goggles or safety glasses, lab coat, sometimes a dust mask or particle respirator where there’s risk of airborne particles.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands thoroughly after use, remove contaminated clothing promptly, avoid hand-to-mouth actions during lab procedures.
Appearance: White or nearly white, crystalline powder.
Odor: Nearly odorless.
Solubility: Freely soluble in water and methanol, less in ethanol.
Melting Point: Between 178°C and 181°C.
pH (water solution): Slightly acidic.
Vapor Pressure: Does not pose a significant vapor pressure concern under normal lab temperatures.
Stability Against Light and Air: Maintains properties when protected from moisture, but long exposure to air can cause slow decomposition.
Chemical Stability: Stable under standard lab temperatures and atmospheric pressures. Moisture can bring about hydrolysis, so dry storage is key.
Conditions to Avoid: Excess heat, open flames, strong acids, and bases. Direct contact with oxidizing agents can spark unwanted reactions.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Forms hydrogen chloride, methyl compounds, and nitrogen oxides if burned or strongly heated.
Acute Effects: Mild irritant by all routes of exposure. Substantial quantities may upset the stomach or respiratory tract. Toxicity data are limited, but large oral doses are unlikely unless mishandled in bulk.
Chronic Effects: Little evidence for chronic toxicity or cumulative health risks at standard laboratory levels.
Sensitization: Not known to provoke allergic reactions in most people.
Target Organs: No target organ effects expected in normal lab or production settings.
Persistence and Degradability: Expected to degrade readily in soil and water, releasing small quantities of methyl and glycine fragments plus chloride.
Bioaccumulation: Likelihood is minimal due to water solubility and simple molecular structure.
Aquatic Toxicity: No substantial evidence of acute aquatic risks, but large spills can alter pH in small water bodies.
Soil Mobility: High solubility raises risk of leaching, but breakdown generally happens before significant travel.
Waste Treatment: Dispose of the compound and contaminated materials as regulated chemical waste, incinerate in controlled facilities where possible.
Do Not: Pour down drains, burn in open containers, or mix with household trash.
Best Practice: Use professional handlers or university hazardous waste services for collection, minimizing environmental and personal safety hazards.
UN Number: Not classified as dangerous for transport by common air or land carriers.
Packing Group: Not regulated under normal packaging criteria, but triple containment helps prevent accidental spills in the event of breakage.
Precautions: Clearly label containers, enclose in sealed bags, ship with necessary documentation, avoid loading with food or fodder.
Lab Safety Programs: Most university and industry labs place it in a moderate risk category, calling for routine precautions but not special regulatory limitations.
Labeling: Product labeling must include irritant warnings and chemical identification.
Compliance: Users fall under national chemical safety acts and worker protection standards. The compound carries no special restrictions under the main international transport or workplace safety conventions, though local differences apply.
