Organic solvents are liquids with a composition based on carbon. These can be divided into 9 categories (INRS):

• Aromatic hydrocarbons: benzene, toluene, xylene
• Aliphatic hydrocarbons: hexane, heptane, pentane
• Alcohols: methanol, ethanol, isopropanol
• Ketones: acetone
• Esters: ethyl acetate, ethyl acetoacetate
• Ethers: ethyl ether
• Glycol ethers: 2-butoxiethanol
• Halogenated hydrocarbons: dichloromethane, 1-bromopropane
• Particular solvents: nitrile (acetonitrile), amine (triethylamine)

Acetonitrile

Methanol

The characteristics of organic solvents vary greatly, but some aspects are commonly found among these chemical products:

• High volatility
• Boiling point lower than water
• Flammable
• Toxic

No organic solvent is harmless to health. While only some of them are acutely toxic (short-term), almost all organic solvents can have long-term health effects in cases of frequent exposure.

The only way to control the risk associated with organic solvents is to handle them exclusively under a fume hood wearing adequate personal protection (gloves, laboratory coat and safety glasses), to reduce operator exposure.