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Chemical collection and stock control for UK schools, universities and hospitals

Bromoethane (CAS 74-96-4): storage and disposal

Bromoethane, also called ethyl bromide, is held neat in school, college and university stores. It is a highly flammable liquid, harmful if swallowed or inhaled, suspected of causing cancer and classified as harming the ozone layer. It is very volatile, so a poor cap lets stock escape into the cabinet air. What decides handling is the pairing of flammability with a suspected carcinogen.

CAS number
74-96-4
Form
Liquid
Storage class
Flammable
Signal word
Danger
Usual EWC code
16 05 06*
  • Flammable pictogramFlammable
  • Harmful or irritant pictogramHarmful or irritant
  • Serious health hazard pictogramSerious health hazard

What to do this week

  1. Check the label is readable and write down the opened date if it is not already there.
  2. Check it is stored as flammable stock and apart from the items listed under "Do not store with".
  3. If you no longer need it, add it to your disposal list so it goes on the next collection.

Safe storage in a school or lab

A small glass bottle with a plastic cap is how this liquid usually arrives, and that cap is the weak point because the liquid evaporates readily through any gap. Keep it in a ventilated fire-resistant cabinet with spill containment and a stock record, away from ignition sources. Oxidisers, oxidising acids and leaking corrosive stock must be kept clear, since they can ignite it or feed a fire. Alkali metals do not belong anywhere near halogenated solvents either. Because it is suspected of causing cancer, limit the number of staff who handle it and keep the cabinet shut between uses.

How to tell it has deteriorated

On a shelf, the first thing a technician sees is a bottle emptier than its label suggests. Bromoethane is volatile and escapes through worn liners long before anything else changes. Beyond level loss, look for a stained or peeling label, a cap whose liner has dried out, residue at the neck, and a sharp, sweetish smell in the cabinet. This liquid shows no reliable colour change that tells you about age, so any unexpected tint is worth recording and reporting. A bulging or sucked-in container wall should stay upright on its tray, unopened.

How it must be disposed of

By specialist collection only. It never goes down the drain or into general waste. It is normally packed in a flammable laboratory pack with compatible chemicals.

Record each bromoethane bottle by size and remaining volume, and note any cap fault. It leaves by specialist collection, grouped with compatible halogenated flammable liquids. It must never go into a sink or drain, never be left open to evaporate in a fume cupboard, and nobody should try to treat it before collection. For packed laboratory stock the list code is 16 05 06*, and a loose discarded organic chemical not sent in a pack can use 16 05 08*. The ozone classification is part of its description and the collector should be told.

Waste codes and transport details for Bromoethane
EWC code, laboratory chemicals16 05 06*
Discarded organic chemical, not a laboratory pack16 05 08*
Hazardous wasteYes

20 01 13* (solvents) belongs to municipal collections and is shown for reference only. It is not the normal code for a laboratory collection.

The code depends on where the waste came from and what it is mixed with. Use the waste code finder to see why.

Do not store with

  • OxidiserOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
  • AcidOxidising acids can ignite flammable materials, and acid fumes attack containers and seals.
  • CorrosiveA leak of corrosive stock can break down flammable containers and feed a fire.

Named chemicals to keep apart

  • Acetic acidOxidising acids can ignite flammable materials, and acid fumes attack containers and seals.
  • Calcium hypochloriteOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
  • Hydrochloric acidOxidising acids can ignite flammable materials, and acid fumes attack containers and seals.
  • Hydrogen peroxideOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
  • Nitric acidOxidising acids can ignite flammable materials, and acid fumes attack containers and seals.
  • Potassium nitrateOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
  • Potassium permanganateOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
  • Sulfuric acidOxidising acids can ignite flammable materials, and acid fumes attack containers and seals.
Show 2 more
  • Thionyl chlorideA leak of corrosive stock can break down flammable containers and feed a fire.
  • Zinc chlorideA leak of corrosive stock can break down flammable containers and feed a fire.

Common quantities we collect

Usually held as: neat.

Part-used bottles and full containers are both fine. Tell us the size and how many, and an estimate is enough for a first price.

Where it is commonly held

Hazard statements

  • H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
  • H302 Harmful if swallowed.
  • H332 Harmful if inhaled.
  • H351 Suspected of causing cancer.
  • H420 Causes harm to public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere.
Precautionary statements
  • P203 Obtain, read and follow all safety instructions before use.
  • P210 Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
  • P233 Keep container tightly closed.
  • P240 Ground and bond container and receiving equipment.
  • P241 Use explosion-proof electrical, ventilating and lighting equipment.
  • P242 Use non-sparking tools.
  • P243 Take action to prevent static discharges.
  • P261 Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
  • P264 Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling.
  • P270 Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
  • P271 Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
  • P280 Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
  • P301+P317 IF SWALLOWED: Get medical help.
  • P303+P361+P353 IF ON SKIN (or hair): Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water or shower.
  • P304+P340 IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
  • P317 Get medical help.
  • P318 If exposed or concerned, get medical advice.
  • P330 Rinse mouth.
  • P370+P378 In case of fire: Use suitable extinguishing media to extinguish.
  • P403+P235 Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool.
  • P405 Store locked up.
  • P501 Dispose of contents and container in accordance with local, regional, national and international regulations.
  • P502 Refer to manufacturer or supplier for information on recovery or recycling.

Substance as classified, dilutions may differ.

Questions

Why is our bromoethane bottle nearly empty when it was never used?

It is very volatile and evaporates through worn cap liners, so stock can vanish over years. A low level is a sign of a poor seal. Check the cabinet is ventilated and list the bottle for collection if it is no longer needed.

Is bromoethane the same as ethyl bromide?

Yes, they are two names for the same liquid. Keep one consistent label across your stores so it is not recorded twice or missed on a stock list, and give both names to the collector if the bottle shows both.

Can bromoethane be kept in an ordinary fridge?

No. It is highly flammable, so any refrigeration must be in a spark-free unit. Many stores avoid refrigeration and rely on a good cap and a fire-resistant cabinet instead.

Guidance only. Check your own risk assessment and your supplier's safety data sheet.

Hazard data source: PubChem GHS Classification, retrieved 31 Oct 2026. Formula C2H5Br. EC number 200-825-8.

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