acephate acephate acephate is an organophosphate foliar and soil insecticide of moderate persistence with residual systemic activity of about 10–15 days at the recommended use rate. it is used primarily for control of aphids, including resistant species, in vegetables (e.g. potatoes, carrots, greenhouse tomatoes, and lettuce) and in horticulture (e.g. on roses and greenhouse ornamentals). it also controls leaf miners, caterpillars, sawflies, thrips, and spider mites in the previously stated crops as well as turf, and forestry. by direct application to mounds, it is effective in destroying imported fire ants. acephate names preferred iupac name dimethyl n-acetylphosphoramidothioate identifiers cas number 30560-19-1 y 3d model (jsmol) interactive image chebi chebi:34520 y chembl chembl2133249 n chemspider 1905 y echa infocard 100.045.659 kegg c14426 y pubchem cid 1982 rtecs number tb4760000 unii 3y417o444d y comptox dashboard (epa) dtxsid8023846 inchi inchi=1s/c4h10no3ps/c1-4(6)5-9(7,8-2)10-3/h1-3h3,(h,5,6,7) ykey: yasyvmfavpkpke-uhfffaoysa-n yinchi=1/c4h10no3ps/c1-4(6)5-9(7,8-2)10-3/h1-3h3,(h,5,6,7)key: yasyvmfavpkpke-uhfffaoyag smiles o=c(np(=o)(oc)sc)c properties chemical formula c4h10no3ps molar mass 183.16 g·mol−1 appearance colourless to white solid density 1.35 g/cm3 melting point 88–90 °c (190–194 °f; 361–363 k) solubility in water 79 g/100 ml solubility very soluble in acetone soluble in ethanol vapor pressure 2x10−6 mmhg pharmacology legal status au: s6 (poison) hazards ghs labelling: pictograms signal word warning hazard statements h302 precautionary statements p264, p270, p301+p312, p330, p501 except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °c , 100 kpa). n verify (what is yn ?) infobox references acephate is sold as a soluble powder, as emulsifiable concentrates, as pressurized aerosol, and in tree injection systems and granular formulations. as of 2012, the epa no longer allows the usage of acephate on green beans grown in the united states. toxicology it is considered non-phytotoxic on many crop plants. acephate and its primary metabolite, methamidophos, are toxic to heliothis spp. that are considered resistant to other organophosphate insecticides. acephate emits toxic fumes of various oxides of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur when heated to decomposition. symptoms of exposure to acephate include a slight irritation of eyes and skin. the u.s. annually uses 4–5 million pounds of acephate.