Sodium Hydroxide MSDS

1. Product Identification:
Synonyms: Caustic soda; lye; sodium hydroxide solid; sodium hydrate
CAS No.: 1310-73-2
Molecular Weight: 40.00
Chemical Formula: NaOH
2. Composition/Information on Ingredients:
Percent: 99 - 100% Sodium Hydroxide
Hazardous: Yes
3. Hazards Identification:
POISON! DANGER! CORROSIVE. MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED. HARMFUL IF INHALED. CAUSES BURNS TO ANY AREA OF CONTACT. REACTS WITH WATER, ACIDS AND OTHER MATERIALS.
J.T. Baker SAF-T-DATA(tm) Ratings:
(Provided here for your convenience)
Health Rating: 3 - Severe (Poison)
Flammability Rating: 0 - None
Reactivity Rating: 2 - Moderate
Contact Rating: 4 - Extreme (Corrosive)
Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES; LAB COAT; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES
Storage Color Code: White Stripe (Store Separately)
Potential Health Effects:
Inhalation:
Severe irritant. Effects from inhalation of dust or mist vary from mild irritation to serious damage
of the upper respiratory tract,  depending on severity of exposure. Symptoms may include sneezing, sore throat or runny nose.
Severe pneumonitis may occur.
Ingestion: Corrosive! Swallowing may cause severe burns of mouth, throat, and stomach. Severe scarring of tissue and death may result. Symptoms may include bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, fall in blood pressure. Damage may appear days after exposure.
Skin Contact: Corrosive! Contact with skin can cause irritation or severe burns and scarring with greater exposures.
Eye Contact: Corrosive! Causes irritation of eyes, and with greater exposures it can cause burns that may result in permanent impairment of vision, even blindness.
Chronic Exposure: Prolonged contact with dilute solutions or dust has a destructive effect upon tissue.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions: Persons with pre-existing skin disorders or eye problems or impaired respiratory function may be more susceptible to the effects of the substance.
4. First Aid Measures
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician.
Ingestion: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING! Give large quantities of water or milk if available. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Get medical attention immediately.
Skin Contact: Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Call a physician, immediately.
Wash clothing before reuse.
Eye Contact: Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting lower and upper eyelids occasionally. Get medical attention immediately.
Note to Physician:
Perform endoscopy in all cases of suspected sodium hydroxide ingestion. In cases of severe esophageal corrosion, the use of therapeutic doses of steroids should be considered.
General supportive measures with continual monitoring of gas exchange, acid-base balance, electrolytes, and fluid intake are also required.
5. Fire Fighting Measures
Fire: Not considered to be a fire hazard. Hot or molten material can react violently with water.
Can react with certain metals, such as aluminum, to generate flammable hydrogen gas.
Explosion: Not considered to be an explosion hazard.
Fire Extinguishing Media: Use any means suitable for extinguishing surrounding fire. Adding water to caustic solution generates large amounts of heat.
Special Information: In the event of a fire, wear full protective clothing and NIOSH-approved self-contained breathing apparatus with full face piece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
6. Accidental Release Measures
Ventilate area of leak or spill. Keep unnecessary and unprotected people away from area of spill.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment as specified in Section 8.
Spills: Pick up and place in a suitable container for reclamation or disposal, using a method that does not generate dust.
Do not flush caustic residues to the sewer.
Residues from spills can be diluted with water, neutralized with dilute acid such as acetic, hydrochloric or sulfuric.
Absorb neutralized caustic residue on clay, vermiculite or other inert substance and package in a suitable container for disposal.
US Regulations (CERCLA) require reporting spills and releases to soil, water and air in excess of reportable quantities.
The toll free number for the US Coast Guard National Response Center is (800) 424-8802.
7. Handling and Storage
Keep in a tightly closed container. Protect from physical damage.
Store in a cool, dry, ventilated area away from sources of heat, moisture and incompatibilities.
Always add the caustic to water while stirring; never the reverse.
Containers of this material may be hazardous when empty since they retain product residues (dust, solids);, observe all warnings and precautions listed for the product. Do not store with aluminum or magnesium.
Do not mix with acids or organic materials.
8. Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Airborne Exposure Limits:
- OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
2 mg/m3 Ceiling
- ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV):
2 mg/m3 Ceiling
Ventilation System:
A system of local and/or general exhaust is recommended to keep employee exposures below the Airborne Exposure Limits. Local exhaust ventilation is generally preferred because it can control the emissions of the contaminant at its source, preventing dispersion of it into the general work area.
Personal Respirators (NIOSH Approved):
If the exposure limit is exceeded, a half-face dust/mist respirator may be worn for up to ten times the exposure limit or the maximum use concentration specified by the appropriate regulatory agency or respirator supplier, whichever is lowest. A full-face piece dust/mist respirator may be worn up to 50 times the exposure limit, or the maximum use concentration specified by the appropriate regulatory agency, or respirator supplier, whichever is lowest. For emergencies or instances where the exposure levels are not known, use a full-facepiece positive-pressure, air-supplied respirator.
WARNING: Air-purifying respirators do not protect workers in oxygen-deficient atmospheres.
Skin Protection:
Wear impervious protective clothing, including boots, gloves, lab coat, apron or coveralls, as appropriate, to prevent skin contact.
Eye Protection:
Use chemical safety goggles and/or a full face shield where splashing is possible. Maintain eye wash fountain and quick-drench facilities in work area.
9. Physical and Chemical Properties
Appearance: White, deliquescent pellets or flakes.
Odor:Odorless.
Solubility: 111 g/100 g of water.
Specific Gravity: 2.13
pH: 13 - 14 (0.5% soln.)/
% Volatiles by volume @ 21C (70F): 0
Boiling Point: 1390C (2534F)
Melting Point: 318C (604F)
Vapor Density (Air=1): > 1.0
Vapor Pressure (mm Hg): Negligible.
Evaporation Rate (BuAc=1): No information found.
10. Stability and Reactivity
Stability: Stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage. Very hygroscopic. Can slowly pick up moisture from air and react with carbon dioxide from air to form sodium carbonate.
Hazardous Decomposition Products:Sodium oxide. Decomposition by reaction with certain metals releases flammable and explosive hydrogen gas.
Hazardous Polymerization: Will not occur.
Incompatibilities: Sodium hydroxide in contact with acids and organic halogen compounds, especially trichloroethylene, may causes violent reactions. Contact with nitromethane and other similar nitro compounds causes formation of shock-sensitive salts. Contact with metals such as aluminum, magnesium, tin, and zinc cause formation of flammable hydrogen gas. Sodium hydroxide, even in fairly dilute solution, reacts readily with various sugars to produce carbon monoxide. Precautions should be taken including monitoring the tank atmosphere for carbon monoxide to ensure safety of personnel before vessel entry.
Conditions to Avoid: Moisture, dusting and incompatibles.
11. Toxicological Information
Irritation data: skin, rabbit: 500 mg/24H severe; eye rabbit: 50 ug/24H severe; investigated as a mutagen.
12. Ecological Information
Environmental Fate: No information found.
Environmental Toxicity: No information found.
13. Disposal Considerations
Whatever cannot be saved for recovery or recycling should be handled as hazardous waste and sent to a RCRA approved waste facility. Processing, use or contamination of this product may change the waste management options. State and local disposal regulations may differ from federal disposal regulations. Dispose of container and unused contents in accordance with federal, state and local requirements.
14. Transport Information: Domestic (Land, D.O.T.)
Proper Shipping Name: SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLID
Hazard Class: 8 UN/NA: UN1823
Packing Group: IIInformation reported for product/size:300LB
International (Water, I.M.O.)
Proper Shipping Name: SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLID
Hazard Class: 8 UN/NA: UN1823
Packing Group: II Information reported for product/size: 300LB
Disclaimer:
The information contained herein in good faith but makes no representation as to its comprehensiveness  or accuracy. This document is intended only as a guide to the appropriate precautionary handling of the material by a properly trained person using this product. Individuals receiving the information must exercise their independent judgment in determining its appropriateness for a particular purpose.
WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR  PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN OR THE PRODUCT TO WHICH THE INFORMATION REFERS. ACCORDINGLY, WE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM  USE OF OR RELIANCE UPON THIS INFORMATION

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