Fluorene

1Identification

Name

Fluorene

IUPAC name

9H-fluorene

CAS number

86-73-7

EC number

201-695-5

Molecular formula

C13H10

Molecular weight

166.22 g/mol

InChIKey

NIHNNTQXNPWCJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N

SMILES

C1C2=CC=CC=C2C3=CC=CC=C31

PubChem CID

6853

Synonyms

9H-Fluorene, Diphenylenemethane, o-Biphenylenemethane, 2,3-Benzindene, 2,2'-Methylenebiphenyl, o-Biphenylmethane, Methane, diphenylene-, Fluoren, alpha-diphenylenemethane-9H-fluorene, 9H-fluorene;fluorene, RefChem:5833, 2,2'-methylene biphenyl, C13H10, flourene

Recommended uses

• Used to make resins and dyes; [HSDB]
  Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
• Resinous products, dyestuffs.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Derivatives of fluorene show activity as herbicides and growth regulators.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Use categories: PETROLEUM COMPONENTS

Description

• Fluorene is a white leaflets. Sublimes easily under a vacuum. Fluorescent when impure. (NTP, 1992)
  CAMEO Chemicals
• Fluorene is an ortho-fused tricyclic hydrocarbon that is a major component of fossil fuels and their derivatives. It is an ortho-fused polycyclic arene and an ortho-fused tricyclic hydrocarbon.
  ChEBI
• fluorene has been reported in Angelica gigas, Zea mays, and Daucus carota with data available.
  LOTUS - the natural products occurrence database

2Hazard identification

Signal word

Warning

Pictograms

GHS09

Classification source

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

Precautionary statements

Other reported classifications

4 classification records exist across sources. Differences usually reflect purity, physical form or impurities.

Health hazards

• ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: Fire hazards: Slight, when exposed to heat or flame. (NTP, 1992)
  CAMEO Chemicals

Hazards summary

• Minimal Risk Level (oral intermediate) = 0.4 mg/kg/day (Hepatic); [ATSDR] An irritant; [MSDSonline] See POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS.
  Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases

3Composition / information on ingredients

This page describes the pure substance. Commercial products may be solutions or mixtures. Check Section 3 of your supplier's SDS for concentrations and other ingredients.

4First-aid measures

• EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop. SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water.
  CAMEO Chemicals

Symptoms of exposure

• Acute exposure to PAHs causes irritation and inflammation of the skin and lung tissue. (A10)
  Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)

5Fire-fighting measures

• Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Advice for firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• This compound is not very flammable but any fire involving this compound may produce dangerous vapors. You should evacuate the area. All firefighters should wear full-body protective clothing and use self-contained breathing apparatuses. You should extinguish any fires involving this chemical with a dry chemical, carbon dioxide, foam, or halon extinguisher.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

6Accidental release measures

Spill cleanup

• ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Environmental precautions: Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. Do not let product enter drains. Discharge into the environment must be avoided. Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Pick up and arrange disposal without creating dust. Sweep up and shovel. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Small Spills and Leakage: You should dampen the solid spill material with acetone, then transfer the dampened material to a suitable container. Use absorbent paper dampened with acetone to pick up any remaining material. Seal your contaminated clothing and the adsorbent paper in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with acetone followed by washing with a strong soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminate area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• The particle-bound portion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) can be removed by sedimentation, flocculation, and filtration processes. The remaining ... dissolved polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons usually requires oxidation for partial removal/transformation. /Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons/
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

7Handling and storage

• Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Storage class (TRGS 510): Non Combustible Solids.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• You should protect this material from exposure to light, and store it in a refrigerator.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

8Exposure controls / personal protection

Personal protective equipment

• RECOMMENDED RESPIRATOR: Where the neat test chemical is weighed and diluted, wear a NIOSH-approved half face respirator equipped with an organic vapor/acid gas cartridge (specific for organic vapors, HCl, acid gas and SO2) with a dust/mist filter. RECOMMENDED GLOVE MATERIALS: Permeation data indicate that neoprene gloves may provide protection to contact with this compound. Neoprene over latex gloves is recommended. However, if this chemical makes direct contact with your gloves, or if a tear, puncture or hole develops, remove them at once. (NTP, 1992)
  CAMEO Chemicals
• Eye/face protection: Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Skin protection: Handle with gloves.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Body Protection: Choose body protection in relation to its type, to the concentration and amount of dangerous substances, and to the specific work-place. The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

9Physical and chemical properties

10Stability and reactivity

Reactivity

• Vigorous reactions, sometimes amounting to explosions, can result from the contact between aromatic hydrocarbons, such as FLUORENE, and strong oxidizing agents. They can react exothermically with bases and with diazo compounds. Substitution at the benzene nucleus occurs by halogenation (acid catalyst), nitration, sulfonation, and the Friedel-Crafts reaction.
  CAMEO Chemicals
• Insoluble in water.
  CAMEO Chemicals

Incompatible materials and hazardous reactions

• Incompatible materials: Strong oxidizing agents.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Vigorous reactions, sometimes amounting to explosions, can result from the contact between aromatic hydrocarbons, such as fluorene and strong oxidizing agents. They can react exothermically with bases and with diazo compounds. Substitution at the benzene nucleus occurs by halogenation (acid catalyst), nitration, sulfonation, and the Friedel-Crafts reaction.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Chemical stability

• Stable under recommended storage conditions.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

11Toxicological information

Target organs

• Hematologic
  EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

12Ecological information

Not available in the public sources we compile. Check Section 12 of the supplier's SDS.

13Disposal considerations

• SRP: Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in air, soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations. If it is possible or reasonable use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• SRP: Wastewater from contaminant suppression, cleaning of protective clothing/equipment, or contaminated sites should be contained and evaluated for subject chemical or decomposition product concentrations. Concentrations shall be lower than applicable environmental discharge or disposal criteria. Alternatively, pretreatment and/or discharge to a permitted wastewater treatment facility is acceptable only after review by the governing authority and assurance that "pass through" violations will not occur. Due consideration shall be given to remediation worker exposure (inhalation, dermal and ingestion) as well as fate during treatment, transfer and disposal.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Product: Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material. Dissolve or mix the material with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber; Contaminated packaging: Dispose of as unused product.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

14Transport information

Not available in the public sources we compile. Check Section 14 of the supplier's SDS.

How DOT hazard classes work →

15Regulatory information

• Toxic pollutant designated pursuant to section 307(a)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and is subject to effluent limitations. /Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (including benzanthracenes, benzopyrenes, benzofluoranthene, chrysenes, dibenz-anthracenes, and indenopyrenes)/
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• For the maximum protection of human health from the potential carcinogenic effects of exposure to polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons through ingestion of contaminated water and contaminated aquatic organisms, the ambient water concentration should be zero, based on the nonthreshold assumption for this chemical. However, zero level may not be attainable at the present time. Therefore, the levels which may result in incremental increase of cancer risk over the lifetime are estimated at 1X10-5, 1X10-6, and 1X10-7. The corresponding recommended criteria are 28.0 ng/L, 2.8 ng/L, and 0.28 ng/L, respectively.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Persons in charge of vessels or facilities are required to notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately, when there is a release of this designated hazardous substance, in an amount equal to or greater than its reportable quantity of 5000 lb or 2270 kg. The toll free number of the NRC is (800) 424-8802. The rule for determining when notification is required is stated in 40 CFR 302.4 (section IV. D.3.b).
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Overview of SDS regulations (OSHA HazCom, WHMIS, REACH/CLP) →

16Other information

Compiled from PubChem CID 6853 and the sources it aggregates (attributed inline). Data retrieved 2026-10-12. This summary describes the pure substance and is not a supplier SDS.