LABSA traces its roots back to the golden years of industrial chemistry—around the mid-20th century. Manufacturers, eyeing the post-war consumer boom, needed a stronger, more adaptable surfactant compared to soap. Oil refiners and chemists started sulfonating petroleum-derived alkylbenzenes, which led to the discovery of dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid. This compound turned out to be a game-changer for household and industrial cleaners. During these years, formulators craved cost-effective bulk surfactants that could work in hard water and support the rapid rise of laundry detergent brands. Sulfonic acids replaced the old-school fatty acid soaps, which faltered whenever water hardness increased. The switch to synthetic surfactants like LABSA let global brands standardize detergent performance no matter the water supply or region. Experts credit the shift from soap to LABSA as one of the major advances in consumer chemistry during the 20th century, making cleaner clothes and shinier kitchens an everyday experience for families well beyond the factory floor.
LABSA comes from the family of anionic surfactants, prized for their ability to break up oils and suspend dirt. Its structure features a linear dodecyl chain joined to a benzene ring, which then links up with a sulfonic acid group. The linear nature offers easier biodegradation in the environment compared to older branched variants, which lingered and built up in waterways. Producers ramped up supply, confident that LABSA outperformed other surfactants in convenience and price. In the trade, LABSA often shows up as a sticky, dark brown liquid, strongly acidic, with a pungent bite in the air. Diluted, it forms thick, foaming solutions, which makes it indispensable for concentrated liquid and powder detergents. Market watchers see LABSA as the backbone of surfactant sales, especially in regions where cost and cleaning power still drive purchasing choices.
This compound stands out for its combination of strong acidity and high solubility in water. LABSA registers as a dense, deeply colored viscous liquid, turning clear or lightly yellow as it's diluted. Handling undiluted LABSA often brings a sharp odor, and the liquid can sting to the touch—a reminder that it’s not for casual handling. LABSA mixes freely with water, forming a rich lather, which speaks to its abilities as a detergent. The acid pH usually sits between 1 and 3, which might cause corrosion of metals like steel or aluminum, a challenge overlooked in packaging and storage in earlier decades. LABSA resists breaking down in neutral or slightly basic environments, giving it a shelf life that works for long-term logistics and storage in bulk tanks worldwide. The hydrophobic tail mingles well with oil and grease, while the sulfonate head clings to water, making for a one-two punch against stains.
Manufacturers give close attention to purity and concentration in LABSA. Commercial quality material typically shows active acid content hovering between 96% and 98%. Moisture content, color index, and free oil count all matter, since off-spec LABSA can trigger foaming problems or cause instability in finished products. Reputable suppliers list key specifications on every drum: active content, color (measured on a Hazen or APHA scale), acidity (as percent H2SO4), and sometimes trace metals, since impurities impact both performance and shelf life. In international trade, shippers and buyers stay alert for transportation and hazard labeling requirements. LABSA must carry warning symbols for corrosive substances, and handlers train for spills and chemical burns, following international standards like GHS and OSHA for chemical shipping and workplace safety.
The industry standard for making LABSA hinges on a controlled sulfonation reaction. Producers start with linear dodecylbenzene, made from petrochemical feedstocks by alkylating benzene with dodecene in the presence of an acid catalyst. Once the precursor is ready, introduction of sulfonating agents—typically sulfur trioxide or oleum—at carefully controlled temperatures converts the aromatic ring to the sulfonic acid. Keeping a close eye on temperature and ratio of reactants ensures maximal yield, limiting the formation of unwanted byproducts like disulfonates. Reactors need robust blast-proof setups and acid-resistant linings, as the conditions bring heat and corrosive fumes. After sulfonation completes, neutralization or purification steps strip out excess acid and unreacted material, leaving a viscous product ready for the market. Continuous process technology helps plants ramp up production efficiently, meeting worldwide demand with minimal waste.
LABSA’s chemistry opens doors for a range of downstream modifications. Neutralizing the raw acid with sodium hydroxide produces the widely used sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (LAS), a powder that travels well and blends easily into washing powders and liquids. Other alkali or amine bases can produce salts suited to different needs. LABSA’s aromatic structure also tolerates mild oxidation, and, under the right conditions, small tweaks can improve biodegradability or tailor foaming properties for industrial cleaners. For anyone working with LABSA, the key issue is keeping the sulfonate group intact while ensuring compatibility with the final formulation—big detergent plants pay teams of chemists to run endless batch tests tweaking these properties. In industrial settings, LABSA avoids the breakdown seen in ordinary soaps when exposed to calcium or magnesium, which means the product stays effective in hard water. Formulators experiment with blends, but for many, LABSA’s classic mix of grease-cutting power and shelf-stable acid content keeps it at the forefront.
Trade often blurs the line with chemical names, but LABSA travels under a string of synonyms. Sellers and buyers know it as Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid, Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid, or simply Alkyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid. Global markets see it tagged with codes like LABS Acid, sometimes shortened to LABSA 96% to flag the active acid content. In big chemical catalogues, you see names based on the chain length and purity, such as C12 Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid. For regulatory filing, CAS numbers clear up confusion, although most on-the-ground users stick to the common trade names, making sure they review the product data sheet no matter the label.
Handling LABSA demands respect. Direct skin or eye contact can cause burns within seconds, so anyone working with open drums or blending tanks wears full chemical splash protection, gloves, and shields. Inhalation of LABSA mist or vapor causes coughing or worse if exposure runs unchecked. Storage sits away from metals and reactive chemicals—stainless steel, glass, or specific plastics stay the material of choice for tanks, lines, and valves. Safety protocols include immediate wash stations and rigorous standard operating procedures, as accidental splashes require quick neutralization with mild alkali. Occupational exposure limits and environmental discharge standards reflect the acid's reactivity. Every major plant mandates ongoing safety drills, leak containment, and regular inspections. Emergency plans address accidental release, with spill kits and neutralizers close at hand.
LABSA powers a range of everyday and industrial products. Laundry and dishwashing detergents make the biggest claim. Here, LABSA’s foaming and cleaning ability strips away oils and residues, even in muddy or greasy laundry loads. Automobile, floor, and industrial cleaners rely on LABSA for clinging dirt and sticky residues. Textile and leather processing use LABSA to scour natural oils before dyeing or finishing. In certain agricultural and pesticide formulations, tiny amounts of LABSA boost wetting and spreading, making treatments more effective. Within oilfield chemistry, LABSA behaves as a dispersant or component of emulsion breakers, helping in crude production and handling. Smaller but meaningful roles include use in emulsion polymerization—paint and adhesive makers appreciate the stable particle suspensions LABSA delivers. In each of these industries, the draw comes down to reliable cleaning, unbeatable price-to-performance, and the flexibility to adjust concentrations as needed.
LABSA still attracts dedicated R&D teams. Competitors and green chemistry advocates watch its environmental footprint, looking for ways to improve biodegradability without weakening performance. Major research groups experiment with alternatives to petroleum feedstocks, such as bio-sourced dodecenes, to lessen dependence on finite oil resources and cut carbon emissions. Addressing water pollution, chemists try to refine the linear structure to speed up breakdown by bacteria after consumer use, minimizing river and orange foam pollution. Advanced analytics map out trace impurities that can impact detergent stability or human health, nudging suppliers toward cleaner, safer manufacturing. Some labs partner with end-users—like major fast-moving consumer goods companies or municipalities—to adapt LABSA’s properties for low-water or cold-wash performance. These incremental tweaks keep LABSA at the center of the global cleaning supply chain, as researchers seek a mix of power, cost, and long-term responsibility.
Toxicologists and environmental scientists dig deep into the health and safety story. In concentrated form, LABSA delivers pronounced irritation to eyes and skin, and ingestion causes severe stomach and throat burns. Chronic inhalation in high-exposure settings might damage airways, although workplace controls markedly reduce this risk over the past twenty years. The linear alkyl chain changed LABSA’s profile compared to earlier, branched versions. Modern LABSA degrades more readily in municipal treatment plants, with over 80% breakdown within weeks. Aquatic toxicity still rates as moderate, especially for fish and invertebrates, but most nations limit industrial discharge concentrations to protect waterways. Human health risk drops sharply in diluted forms—lab trials and workplace studies show everyday use in detergents and cleaners causes little or no sensitivity in most people. In the rare cases of allergic reaction, patch testing and product substitution solve the issue. Ongoing studies keep watch over mutagenicity and long-term environmental buildup, supporting rigorous oversight and formulation tweaks where needed.
The next chapter for LABSA unfolds as both challenge and opportunity. Demand for efficient surfactants keeps rising across Asia, Africa, and South America, locking in LABSA as a major global commodity. At the same time, the chemistry world pushes for cleaner, greener solutions, driving investment into sustainable sourcing, enhanced biodegradation, and safer handling. Process innovations using flow chemistry or bio-based catalysts promise lower emissions and cleaner products. End users—whether detergent giants or municipal cleaning services—look for next-generation blends that outmatch LABSA in cleaning, environmental safety, or skin tolerance. For now, LABSA’s unmatched mix of performance, scale, and affordability keeps it entrenched in supply chains around the world. As labs and makers partner up, the outlook centers on smoothing LABSA’s rough edges and securing its place in the cleaner and more responsible chemistry toolkit of tomorrow.
Walk down the cleaning supplies aisle at any supermarket and chances are, you’ll run into products built on chemicals most folks can’t pronounce. Dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid, or LABSA for short, falls right into this group. It holds a permanent place in the world’s laundry powders, dishwashing liquids, and even in household and industrial cleaners. From my years following consumer goods, I’ve seen LABSA’s role grow stronger, not just because of its cleaning punch, but also its cost effectiveness and production scale.
LABSA works as a surfactant. There’s science behind that word, but it comes down to this: LABSA helps water stick to greasy dirt and lift it away. Kitchens and bathrooms often host stubborn stains that plain water won’t touch. Pour a little dish soap powered by LABSA onto a greasy pan, add water, and suddenly the job gets a lot easier. In laundry powders, LABSA helps pull oil and dirt off fabrics, even after days spent outdoors or working hands-on. Soap manufacturers trust LABSA because it delivers, not just in home use but in settings like hotels, laundromats, and hospitals where heavy-duty cleaning stands as the daily norm.
Where I grew up, hard water made washing up a nuisance. Soaps would leave behind cloudy deposits, and clothes often turned dull. LABSA outperforms many older surfactants in these conditions because it keeps working even when minerals in the water would usually cut the power of soap. The detergents that keep laundry white and dishes sparkling often owe that success to LABSA. This makes it more than just a household helper; for communities with challenging water sources, LABSA-based products mean less wasted effort and lower costs.
Factories, garages, and workshops need to handle grime far beyond anything in the average kitchen. Heavy-duty degreasers use LABSA as a primary cleaning engine. The stuff breaks down oil and keeps dirt from reattaching to surfaces, so rinsing takes less work. In my own work covering chemical safety, I’ve found that manufacturers turn to LABSA not only to keep costs in check, but also because its supply lines stay dependable worldwide. It’s tough to find another surfactant offering the same balance of strength, availability, and price.
There’s growing attention around the impact of cleaning chemicals on the environment. LABSA doesn’t score as highly as some plant-based options, but it breaks down faster than traditional nonylphenol ethoxylates. Governments—especially in Europe and North America—set tighter rules about what goes down the drain. LABSA’s biodegradability has helped it keep a place on store shelves, even as companies look for greener alternatives. The search for substitute ingredients is real, but performance and low cost keep LABSA in the game.
Cleaning habits keep changing as new products hit the market and awareness about health and the environment grows. If you ask experts in chemical engineering or follow what labs are developing, newer surfactants may someday edge LABSA out. Right now, the combination of cleaning power and price keeps LABSA front and center. Smart regulation and better education about safe handling and disposal can make sure LABSA continues serving millions without causing new problems downstream. That’s the kind of balanced approach industry, consumers, and the planet can live with.
Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid, or LABSA, comes up a lot in talks about cleaning products. You see it on the side of industrial detergent drums and in the paperwork of factories. LABSA’s importance shows up quickly in the numbers. It provides the backbone for over half the synthetic detergents produced worldwide. This isn’t just chemistry—this is stuff people trust to scrub their homes, work uniforms, and even their dinner plates. If anyone’s skeptical about what goes into basic cleaning, it helps to break down the substance and talk shop with real facts.
LABSA stands out for its strong surfactant quality. That means it helps water and grease mingle like old friends. This results from a balance between its long-chain organic structure and the acidic sulfonic group. Looking at appearance, LABSA carries a thick, brownish color and a strong, almost sharp odor. This isn’t a bottled, shelf-ready ingredient, but folks in the manufacturing aisles know what that smell means: power to break down stains.
On the techy side, LABSA usually floats around 90–96% active matter. The acid value ranges between 180 and 220 mg KOH/g, and the free sulfuric acid content lies between 1% and 6%. Density sits a bit higher than water, at around 1.06 to 1.10 g/cm³. What’s more useful to know—it's highly soluble in water and dissolves even at low temperatures. These numbers matter because small tweaks can influence everything from foaming in dish soap to gentle cleaning in laundry washes.
For most users, LABSA is invisible. Yet, its properties affect how detergents foam, how long bubbles last, and how well dirt lifts off clothing. It’s less about science class and more about seeing clean socks pull from a machine wash. LABSA-driven cleaners tackle oils, dirt, and food stains because the acid breaks surface tension. Though the smell and look seem harsh, proper dilution means that power gets channeled and controlled.
From my own time working around large laundry services, there’s always a balance to strike. Too strong, and you’re left with harsh residues that irritate skin or damage fabrics. Too weak, and dirt just laughs at your effort. The properties mentioned earlier push LABSA ahead of older soap bases, especially in places with hard water. Traditional soaps leave scum behind, but LABSA keeps things fresher, cleaner, and more “done” right out of the wash.
Possible risks with LABSA come from its acidic nature. Burns, eye damage, and respiratory irritation follow from careless handling. Wearing gloves and using good ventilation isn't negotiable. A lot of smaller cleaning businesses sometimes skimp on this, which leads to sick days and extra costs. Producers, regulators, and end-users need open conversations about safe usage, solid PPE, and better labeling. This isn’t just a lab issue, but a daily safety measure for folks moving huge volumes of the material.
Environmental considerations step into the debate, too. LABSA biodegrades much faster than older agents like alkyl benzene sulfonate (ABS), but runoff still needs attention. Wastewater treatment plants work best with clear labeling and simple, robust formulas—less risk of pollution when everyone knows what compounds go down the drain. As regulations keep tightening, pressure increases for producers to provide full ingredient lists and transparent testing on disposal impacts.
Improving LABSA’s role in our daily cleaning rituals means prioritizing health and safe use, supporting ongoing studies for greener chemistry, and making sure that the big words on industrial sheets connect back to the everyday results we see in our homes and businesses. The technical properties behind LABSA drive results that really matter—clean clothes, safer workplaces, and lower environmental tolls. That’s worth paying attention to, every time.
LABSA, or linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, isn't exactly a household name for most folks outside the chemical business. Still, you find it everywhere, from dish soap to laundry detergent. In every chemical plant where LABSA gets stored or handled, health and safety hang in the balance. Some folks may ask why all the fuss—after all, it doesn’t look much different from other industrial acids. But anyone who’s carried a drum of LABSA or worked near a spill learns quickly how the stuff behaves. Unpredictable leaks, caustic burns, and noxious fumes turn routine shifts into high-stress stints when the basics of storage get ignored.
Labs and factories that use LABSA need clear plans. I remember my first walk through a detergent plant, the sharp tang of acid in the air, the creak of PPE, and a warehouse storeroom stacked with drums in neat rows. Nothing fancy—but every container got checked for cracks and tight seals before unloading. Simple steps save skin and eyes, and that’s not an exaggeration. LABSA burns on contact, and even a small spill can turn into a huge headache. OSHA has plenty of rules on corrosive chemicals, and for good reason—one lazy shortcut can mean a trip to the ER.
You want good ventilation in storage rooms because even sealed drums can vent fumes. Some older plants use big tanks. The best runs have secondary containment—think of a tub under the pool, catching leaks. Polyethylene or glass-lined steel tanks last longer because LABSA likes to chew through metal. I’ve watched a steel pump corrode and fail in just a few weeks, ruining product and nearly causing a spill.
Stacking drums looks tidy but wait until the bottom one develops a pinhole. Keep drums on pallets, spaced so workers can check each one. Nothing beats a walk-through twice a day. Too many times, I’ve seen careless stacking lead to bent valves or lopsided piles, setting up the next accident. Fire risk is real, too—LABSA itself won’t ignite easily, but many soaps contain solvents, so you keep ignition sources far away. The smell sticks on your clothes for days, and that’s a sure sign to beef up your gear.
Let’s talk about gear. Goggles, gloves, boots, and full-length aprons might seem overboard, until you get a splash on your sleeve and it burns through a shirt. Forgetting a face shield only once means risking sight. Make PPE comfortable and available where the drums get opened. A few companies even keep a quick-drench shower right by the loading area. After seeing a co-worker get caught by surprise during a transfer, stripping down and dousing under cold water, I stopped grumbling about the extra prep.
A good safety culture comes from routine. Before unloading, run through a quick review—does this drum look right? Did the last transfer leave a puddle? Is the containment clear? The smallest oversight becomes everyone’s problem, so keep training fresh and swap stories around the break room. The newer crew members pick up fast when old-timers share what can go wrong, not just what the manual says.
LABSA storage doesn’t wait for action when things go wrong. Even with all the safeguards, real safety comes from treating every day as a possible disaster and preparing before it happens. By checking storage, wearing the right gear, and never cutting corners, workers respect the dangers without living in fear. That feels a lot better than learning the hard way.
Commercial Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid (LABSA) pops up every day in industrial and household applications, mostly as a raw material for detergents. Getting the right level of purity isn’t some fancy technical concern—it plays directly into how well products clean, their safety, and how much wastewater treatment is necessary after use. Based on years of watching manufacturers and following the global market, concentration levels don’t just show up by chance.
Most commercial LABSA comes at about 90% to 96% active matter. This concentration matches the needs of the biggest detergent makers. Too low, and customers start to notice poor washing results. Too high, and the soap can irritate the skin or damage surfaces. Companies often land near 96% in regions where regulations on environmental release push producers to tweak formulas toward more efficiency and biodegradability.
LABSA production relies on the proper balance between sulphonation and neutralization. Experts have learned that staying within a narrow purity range helps avoid unnecessary foaming or residue problems in finished products. The industry gravitated to these concentration levels over decades, hammered out through trial, error, and plenty of customer phone calls about “why won’t this stuff rinse out?”
LABSA starts with linear alkyl benzene, then runs through a sulphonation process. Quality swings in this process directly change the output. Experienced chemists can look at a batch and pretty much tell if a plant ran too hot, too long, or used a batch of lower-grade feedstock. At the core, the better the raw material and tighter the process, the higher and more consistent the acidity of the final LABSA.
You don’t need to run a lab to see that shortcuts hurt everyone along the supply chain. A sloppy batch ends up on someone’s hands—literally. That’s why proper records and honest testing play such a big role. Deploying up-to-date analytical techniques, like titration for active content and checking for unsulphonated organic matter, separates the dependable manufacturers from those chasing a quick buck.
Imagine a laundry detergent with inconsistent LABSA purity. Families get some batches that clean fine, but the next bottle leaves clothes a bit dingy. Or, a cleaning service notices their workers sporting itchy hands after switching suppliers. Such scenarios aren’t just inconvenient; they can lead to regulations tightening and lawsuits flying.
Improperly purified products also feed into larger environmental headaches. Overuse of strong acid detergents ties up treatment facilities and can increase the cost of water treatment for whole communities. Labs and regulatory agencies pay close attention to active matter content for a reason: knowledge saves resources and limits possible harm.
Manufacturers that aim for steady 96% purity invest in operator training and modern process controls. Some install online sensors, trimming human error. Others contract with trusted suppliers for their raw benzene, keeping adulteration off the table. Insisting on rigorous batch testing cuts surprises and reassures downstream users.
Product documentation remains as important as the product itself. A clear certificate stating each batch’s actual LABSA content helps buyers blend more precisely and lets them troubleshoot problems at the root. Access to reliable, up-to-date data guides everyone along the chain, and speaks to a company’s commitment to both expertise and public welfare.
Experience shows that meeting regulations isn’t about checking boxes, but about caring enough to deliver what’s promised on the label, every single time.
Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (LABSA) sneaks into laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, and all sorts of household cleaners. For years, people have reached for the same brand on the grocery store shelf without thinking twice about ingredients. LABSA helps soap cut through grease; its popularity comes from that reliable power. Other types of surfactants, like older branched alkylbenzene sulfonates, stuck around in the environment far too long. Scientists created LABSA to answer that problem. This switch looked like a move toward better environmental health, but real concerns remain.
Bacteria in wastewater treat plants take to LABSA much more easily than older branched versions. The linear structure makes a difference during decomposition. A study by the European Centre for Ecotoxicology found more than 90% of LABSA breaks apart after passing through standard treatment plants. Once it’s out in rivers, it keeps breaking down, staying less harmful than some other surfactants. Still, incomplete treatment can leave some of it behind along with other residues. One German report tested streams near treatment plants and still picked up faint traces. So breakdown happens, but not always on a schedule we’d like, especially where infrastructure falls short.
I’ve watched neighborhood children play in runoff puddles during rainy weeks. Polluted water leaves a mark on both land and community health. LABSA does biodegrade more fully than earlier chemicals, yet true “environmental friendliness” asks for more. Living in a city, noticing foamy water during street cleaning led me to wonder what washes away, and where it ends up. The answer doesn’t stop at whether LABSA vanishes from a test tube; it covers what else turns up downstream—think microplastics, metals, and extra nitrogen forms alongside cleaning agents. Research by the United States Geological Survey noticed small but measurable impacts on fish and microorganisms where surfactants gather, adding stress to urban waterways. LABSA alone isn’t the whole problem, but it belongs to a bundle of chemicals that stick around longer in places with less oversight or weaker waste systems.
Individual choices matter. Swapping in naturally derived cleaners, especially for less dirty jobs, cuts down how much surfactant washes out. Governments and researchers play their parts by setting standards that treat greywater better and by reviewing limits on chemical use inside detergents. Manufacturers take steps, too, with some starting to trial ingredients created from plant oils. Enzymatic options use living proteins for cleaning—not just another scent or a thinner. It’s not a quick fix; most people want soap that works without costing double. Still, pilot programs in wastewater treatment aim to boost bacteria that feed on hard-to-break pollution, because biology often solves what engineering can’t.
Learning what hides inside a cleaning bottle encourages people to press companies for transparency. Over the past decade of watching labels and tracking product recalls, I’ve found consumers become more savvy each year. Better questions make companies rethink what’s inside the jug. The best solutions pair responsible production, careful regulation, and everyday awareness—asking not just, “Is this safe right now?” but “Who else shares this water?” LABSA isn’t perfect, but the story doesn’t end there. Each step closer to a cleaner, healthier world involves paying attention to the details behind the dirt.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid |
| Other names |
Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid LABSA Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid Benzenesulfonic acid, dodecyl- Sulfonic acids, C10-13-alkylbenzenesulfonic acid |
| Pronunciation | /ˌdoʊˈdɛsɪl bɛnˈziːnˌsʌlˈfɒnɪk ˈæsɪd/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 27176-87-0 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1721446 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:74714 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL3527111 |
| ChemSpider | 81551 |
| DrugBank | DB11361 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 15bb85ea-1e09-4548-9fa9-0ce4088ab797 |
| EC Number | 285-600-2 |
| Gmelin Reference | 81453 |
| KEGG | C14351 |
| MeSH | Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid |
| PubChem CID | 23665473 |
| RTECS number | HY2450000 |
| UNII | 2P83C4VZGM |
| UN number | UN2586 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C18H30O3S |
| Molar mass | 326.49 g/mol |
| Appearance | Brown viscous liquid |
| Odor | Characteristic aromatic odor |
| Density | 1.06–1.09 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | slightly soluble |
| log P | 5.92 |
| Vapor pressure | <0.1 mmHg (25°C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | -2.5 |
| Basicity (pKb) | -6.5 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -6.8×10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.1040 - 1.1080 |
| Viscosity | 500 – 800 mPa·s (25°C) |
| Dipole moment | 2.86 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 503.8 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -763.9 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -7541 kJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Corrosive, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, harmful if swallowed, harmful to aquatic life. |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS05, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS05,GHS07 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| Precautionary statements | P260, P264, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P305+P351+P338, P310, P321, P362+P364 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 3-1-2-Acid |
| Flash point | 140°C |
| Autoignition temperature | > 315°C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): 650 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (oral, rat): 650 mg/kg |
| NIOSH | SN1575000 |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) for Dodecyl Benzenesulfonic Acid (LABSA): Not established. |
| REL (Recommended) | 15 mg/m³ |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Not established |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Benzene sulfonic acid Linear alkylbenzene Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate Sulfonic acid Alkylbenzene sulfonates |
