NITRIC ACID

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET 

1: Chemical Product Identification

Product Name: Nitric Acid
Catalogue Codes: SLN2215
CAS#: Mixture.
RTECS: Not applicable.
TSCA: TSCA 8(b) inventory: Nitric acid, 70%; Water
CI#: Not applicable.
Synonym:
Chemical Name: Not applicable.
Chemical Formula: Not applicable.

2. Composition and Information on Ingredients 

3: Hazards Identification

Potential Acute Health Effects: Very hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, irritant, permeator), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Liquid or spray mist may produce tissue damage particularly on mucous membranes of eyes, mouth and respiratory tract. Skin

contact may produce burns. Inhalation of the spray mist may produce severe irritation of respiratory tract, characterized by coughing, choking, or shortness of breath. Severe over-exposure can result in death. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Skin inflammation is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering.

Potential Chronic Health Effects: Very hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, irritant, permeator), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation.

Non-sensitizer for skin.

CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available

MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Not available.

TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available.

DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. The substance is toxic to lungs, mucous membranes.

Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated or prolonged contact with spray mist may produce chronic eye irritation and severe skin irritation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to spray mist may produce respiratory tract irritation leading to frequent attacks of bronchial infection. Repeated exposure to a highly toxic material may produce general deterioration of health by an accumulation in one or many human organs. Repeated or

prolonged inhalation of vapours may lead to chronic respiratory irritation.

4: First Aid Measures

Eye Contact: Check for and remove any contact lenses. Immediately flush eyes with running water for at least 15 minutes, keeping eyelids open. Cold water may be used. Do not use an eye ointment. Seek medical attention.

Skin Contact: If the chemical got onto the clothed portion of the body, remove the contaminated clothes as quickly as possible, protecting your own hands and body. Place the victim under a deluge shower. If the chemical got on the victim’s exposed skin, such as the hands: Gently and thoroughly wash the contaminated skin with running water and non-abrasive soap. Be particularly

careful to clean folds, crevices, creases and groin. Cold water may be used. If irritation persists, seek medical attention. Wash contaminated clothing before reusing.

Serious Skin Contact: Wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the contaminated skin with an anti-bacterial cream. Seek immediate medical attention.

Inhalation: Allow the victim to rest in a well-ventilated area. Seek immediate medical attention.

Serious Inhalation: Evacuate the victim to a safe area as soon as possible. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. WARNING: It may be hazardous to the person providing aid to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when the inhaled material is toxic, infectious or

corrosive. Seek immediate medical attention.

Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Examine the lips and mouth to ascertain whether the tissues are damaged, a possible indication that the toxic material was ingested; the absence of such signs, however, is not conclusive. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Seek immediate medical attention.

Serious Ingestion: Not available.

5: Fire and Explosion Data

Flammability of the Product:                                                                            Non-flammable.

Auto-Ignition Temperature:                                                                              Not applicable.

Flash Points:                                                                                                         Not applicable.

Flammable Limits:                                                                                               Not applicable.

Products of Combustion:                                                                                   Not available.

Fire Hazards in Presence of Various Substances:                                          Not applicable.

Explosion Hazards in Presence of Various Substances:

Risks of explosion of the product in presence of mechanical impact:       Not available. Risks of explosion of the product in presence of static discharge:                           Not available. Slightly explosive to explosive in presence of reducing materials, of combustible materials, of organic materials.

Fire Fighting Media and Instructions:                                                              Not applicable.

Special Remarks on Fire Hazards:                                                                     Not available.

Special Remarks on Explosion Hazards:                                                          Not available.

6: Accidental Release Measures

Small Spill:

Dilute with water and mop up or absorb with an inert dry material and place in an appropriate waste disposal container. If necessary: Neutralize the residue with a dilute solution of sodium carbonate.

Large Spill:

Corrosive liquid. Stop leak if without risk. Absorb with DRY earth, sand or other non-combustible material. Do not get water inside container. Do not touch spilled material. Use water spray curtain to divert vapor drift. Prevent entry into sewers, basements or confined areas; dike if needed. Call for assistance on disposal. Neutralize the residue with a dilute solution of sodium carbonate. Be careful that the product is not present at a concentration level above TLV. Check TLV on the MSDS and

with local authorities.

7: Handling and Storage

Precautions:

Keep locked up Keep container dry. Do not ingest. Do not breathe gas/fumes/ vapour/spray. Never add water to this product in case of insufficient ventilation, wear suitable respiratory equipment If ingested, seek medical advice immediately and show the container or the label. Avoid contact with skin and eyes Keep away from incompatibles such as reducing agents, combustible materials, metals, alkalis. May corrode metallic surfaces. Store in a metallic or coated fibreboard drum using a

strong polyethylene inner package.

Storage:

May corrode metallic surfaces. Store in a metallic or coated fibreboard drum using a strong polyethylene inner package. Corrosive materials should be stored in a separate safety storage cabinet or room.

8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection

Engineering Controls:

Provide exhaust ventilation or other engineering controls to keep the airborne concentrations of vapours below their respective threshold limit value. Ensure that eyewash stations and safety showers are proximal to the work-station location.

Personal Protection:

Face shield. Full suit. Vapor respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent. Gloves. Boots.

Personal Protection in Case of a Large Spill:

Splash goggles. Full suit. Vapor respirator. Boots. Gloves. A self-contained breathing apparatus should be used to avoid inhalation of the product. Suggested protective clothing might not be sufficient; consult a specialist BEFORE handling this product.

Exposure Limits:

Nitric acid, fuming TWA: 2 CEIL: 4 (ppm) TWA: 5 CEIL: 10 (mg/m3) Consult local authorities for acceptable exposure limits.

9: Physical and Chemical Properties

Physical state and appearance:                           Liquid.

Odour:                                                                      Disagreeable and choking. (Strong.)

Taste:                                                                        Not available.

Molecular Weight:                                                 Not applicable.

Colour:                                                                       Clear Colourless.

pH (1% sol/water):                                              Acidic.

Boiling Point:                                                           The lowest known value is 82.6°C (180.7°F) (Nitric acid, fuming). Weighted average: 97.56°C (207.6°F)

Melting Point:                                                         May start to solidify at -41.6°C (-42.9°F) based on data for: Nitric acid, fuming.

Critical Temperature:                                            Not available.

Specific Gravity: Weighted average:                  1.05 (Water = 1)

Vapor Pressure:                                                     The highest known value is 45 mm of Hg (@ 20°C) (Nitric acid, fuming). Weighted average: 21.38 mm of Hg (@ 20°C)

Vapor Density:                                                       The highest known value is 0.62 (Air = 1) (Water).

Volatility:                                                                 Not available.

Odour Threshold:                                                   The highest known value is 0.29 ppm (Nitric acid, fuming)

Water/Oil Dist. Coeff.:                                          Not available.

Iconicity (in Water):                                                Not available.

Dispersion Properties:                                          See solubility in water.

Solubility:                                                                Easily soluble in cold water.

10: Stability and Reactivity Data

Stability:                                                                  The product is stable.

Instability Temperature:                                      Not available.

Conditions of Instability:                                      Not available.

Incompatibility with various substances:          Extremely reactive or incompatible with alkalis. Highly reactive with metals. Reactive with reducing agents, combustible materials. Slightly reactive to reactive with organic materials, acids.

Corrosivity:                                                              Highly corrosive in presence of steel, of aluminium, of zinc, of copper. Corrosive in presence of stainless steel (304). Slightly corrosive to corrosive in presence of stainless steel (316). Non-corrosive in presence of glass.

Special Remarks on Reactivity:                            Not available.

Special Remarks on Corrosivity:                           Not available.

Polymerization:                                                       No.

11: Toxicological Information

Routes of Entry: Dermal contact. Eye contact. Inhalation. Ingestion.

Toxicity to Animals:

WARNING: THE LC50 VALUES HEREUNDER ARE ESTIMATED ON THE BASIS OF A 4-HOUR EXPOSURE. Acute toxicity of the vapor (LC50): 479 ppm 4 hour(s) (Rat) (Calculated value for the mixture).

Chronic Effects on Humans:

The substance is toxic to lungs, mucous membranes.

Other Toxic Effects on Humans: Very hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, irritant, permeator), of ingestion, of inhalation.

Special Remarks on Toxicity to Animals: Not available.

Special Remarks on Chronic Effects on Humans: Not available.

Special Remarks on other Toxic Effects on Humans: Not available.

12: Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Not available.

BOD5 and COD: Not available.

Products of Biodegradation:

Possibly hazardous short-term degradation products are not likely. However, long term degradation products may arise.

Toxicity of the Products of Biodegradation: The products of degradation are less toxic than the product itself.

Special Remarks on the Products of Biodegradation: Not available.

13: Disposal Considerations

Waste Disposal: Not Available

14: Transport Information

DOT Classification: CLASS 8: Corrosive liquid.

Identification:  Nitric acid, solution (Nitric acid, fuming): NA2031 PG: III

Special Provisions for Transport: Marine Pollutant

15: Other Regulatory Information

Other Regulations: OSHA: Hazardous by definition of Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

Protective Equipment: Gloves. Full suit. Vapor respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent. Wear appropriate respirator when ventilation is inadequate. Face shield.

16: Other Information

References: Not available.

Other Special Considerations: Not available.

EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY

All information and instructions provided in this Material Safety Data Sheet in respect of the substance is given solely in terms of the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act No 85 of 1993

and Regulations (“the Act”), is based on scientific and technical knowledge as at the date indicated on this MS Material Safety Data Sheet and is presented in good faith to be correct.

The information and instructions provided in this MSDS apply only to the substance in its present form and not to any formulation or mix, in which event it is the sole responsibility of the user of the substance as formulated and/or mixed to investigate and establish any danger which may arise out of its use, wherever such user may be situated.

It is the sole responsibility of the person in receipt of this Material Safety Data Sheet wherever such recipient may be situated, to ensure that the information provided is communicated to and understood by any person who may come in contact with the substance in any place and in any manner whatsoever. If such recipient produces formulations or mixes using the substance, then it is such recipient’s sole responsibility to comply with the provisions of the Act in respect of the provision of the necessary Material Safety Data Sheet, or to comply with any other applicable legislation.

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