Material Safety Data Sheet

acc. to OSHA and ANSI
  Printing date 05/30/2000 Reviewed on 05/05/2000  
  •   1 Identification of substance:

    • Product details:


    • Trade name: Barium pieces


    • Stock number: 00653


    • Manufacturer/Supplier:

      • Alfa Aesar, A Johnson Matthey Company
      Johnson Matthey Catalog Company, Inc.
      30 Bond Street
      Ward Hill, MA 01835-8099
      Emergency Phone: (978) 521-6300
      CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300
      Web Site: www.alfa.com

    • Information department: Health, Safety and Environmental Department

    • Emergency information:

      • During normal hours the Health, Safety and Environmental Department. After normal hours call Chemtrec at (800) 424-9300.
  •   2 Composition/Data on components:

    • Chemical characterization:

      •            Description: (CAS#)                                        
                  Barium (CAS# 7440-39-3), 100%
    • Identification number(s):

    • EINECS Number: 231-149-1

    • Additional information: Packaged under mineral oil (CAS# 8012-95-1)
  •   3 Hazards identification

    • Hazard description: Xi Irritant

    • Information pertaining to particular dangers for man and environment

      • R 14       Reacts violently with water.
      R 31       Contact with acids liberates toxic gas.
      R 36/37/38 Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.
  •   4 First aid measures

    • General information

      • Immediately remove any clothing soiled by the product.
    • After inhalation

      • Supply fresh air. If required, provide artificial respiration. Keep patient warm.
      Seek immediate medical advice.
    • After skin contact

      • Immediately wash with water and soap and rinse thoroughly.
      Seek immediate medical advice.
    • After eye contact

      • Rinse opened eye for several minutes under running water. Then consult a doctor.
    • After swallowing Seek immediate medical advice.
  •   5 Fire fighting measures

    • Suitable extinguishing agents Extinguishing powder. Do not use water.

    • For safety reasons unsuitable extinguishing agents

      • Water
      Carbon dioxide
      Halogenated extinguisher
    • Special hazards caused by the material, its products of combustion or

      •   resulting gases:
      Contact with water releases hydrogen (explosive).
    • Protective equipment:

      • Wear self-contained respirator.
      Wear fully protective impervious suit.
  •   6 Accidental release measures

    • Person-related safety precautions:

      • Mount respiratory protective device.
      Wear protective equipment. Keep unprotected persons away.
      Ensure adequate ventilation
      Keep away from ignition sources
    • Measures for environmental protection:

      • Do not allow material to be released to the environment without proper governmental permits.
    • Measures for cleaning/collecting:

      • Ensure adequate ventilation.
      Do not flush with water or aqueous cleansing agents
    • Additional information:

      • See Section 7 for information on safe handling
      See Section 8 for information on personal protection equipment.
      See Section 13 for disposal information.
  •   7 Handling and storage


    • Handling

    • Information for safe handling:

      • Handle under dry argon.
      Keep container tightly sealed.
      Store in cool, dry place in tightly closed containers.
      Ensure good ventilation at the workplace.
    • Information about protection against explosions and fires:

      • Keep ignition sources away.

    • Storage

    • Requirements to be met by storerooms and receptacles:

      • No special requirements.
    • Information about storage in one common storage facility:

      • Do not store together with acids.
      Store away from water/moisture.
      Store away from halogens.
      Store away from oxidizing agents.
    • Further information about storage conditions:

      • Store under dry inert gas.
      Keep container tightly sealed.
      Store in cool, dry conditions in well sealed containers.
  •   8 Exposure controls and personal protection

    • Additional information about design of technical systems:

      • Properly operating chemical fume hood designed for hazardous chemicals and having an average face velocity of at least 100 feet per minute.

      Components with limit values that require monitoring at the workplace:

      Barium, and soluble compounds, as Ba
                           mg/m3
      ACGIH TLV             0.5, A4
      Belgium TWA           0.5
      Denmark TWA           0.5
      Finland TWA           0.5
      Germany TWA           0.5, inhalable fraction of the aerosol
      Hungary TWA           0.5-STEL
      Ireland TWA           0.5
      Netherlands TWA       0.5
      Poland TWA            0.5; 1.5-STEL
      Switzerland TWA       0.5; 1-STEL
      United Kingdom TWA    0.5
      USA PEL (respirable)  0.5
    • Additional information: No data


    • Personal protective equipment

    • General protective and hygienic measures

      • The usual precautionary measures for handling chemicals should be followed.
      Keep away from foodstuffs, beverages and feed.
      Remove all soiled and contaminated clothing immediately.
      Wash hands before breaks and at the end of work.
      Avoid contact with the eyes and skin.
    • Breathing equipment:

      • Use suitable respirator when high concentrations are present.
    • Protection of hands: Impervious gloves

    • Eye protection:

      • Safety glasses
      Tightly sealed goggles
      Full face protection
    • Body protection: Protective work clothing.
  •   9 Physical and chemical properties:


    • Form: Solid

    • Color: Grey

    • Odor: Odorless

    •                                      Value/Range  Unit    Method      

    • Change in condition

    • Melting point/Melting range:                   725 ° C

    • Boiling point/Boiling range:                  1640 ° C

    • Sublimation temperature / start:   Not determined


    • Flash point:                       Not applicable


    • Flammability (solid, gaseous)

      • Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases.

    • Ignition temperature:              Not determined


    • Decomposition temperature:         Not determined


    • Explosion limits:

    • Lower:                             Not determined

    • Upper:                             Not determined


    • Vapor pressure:        at 1049 ° C            13.3 hPa


    • Density:               at   20 ° C            3.51 g/cm3


    • Solubility in / Miscibility with

    • Water:                             Reacts violently
  •  10 Stability and reactivity

    • Thermal decomposition / conditions to be avoided:

      • Decomposition will not occur if used and stored according to specifications.
    • Materials to be avoided:

      • Oxidizing agents
      Acids
      Water/moisture
      Halocarbons
      Ammonia
    • Dangerous reactions

      • Contact with water releases flammable gases
      Contact with acids releases flammable gases
    • Dangerous products of decomposition:

      • Hydrogen
      Metal oxide fume
  •  11 Toxicological information

    • Acute toxicity:

    • Primary irritant effect:

    • on the skin: Irritant to skin and mucous membranes.

    • on the eye: Irritating effect.

    • Sensitization: No sensitizing effects known.

    • Subacute to chronic toxicity:

      • Barium compounds may cause severe gastroenteritis, including abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, tremors, faintness, paralysis of the arms and legs, and slow or irregular heartbeat.  Severe cases may produce collapse and death due to respiratory failure.  Soluble barium compounds are more likely to cause these effects than insoluble compounds.  Inhalation of fumes may cause sore throat, coughing, labored breathing, and irritation of the respiratory tract as well as the above symptoms.
    • Additional toxicological information:

      • To the best of our knowledge the acute and chronic toxicity of this substance is not fully known.
      ACGIH A4: Not classifiable as a human carcinogen: Inadequate data on which to classify the agent in terms of it's carcinogenicity in humans and/or animals.
  •  12 Ecological information:

    • General notes:

      • Do not allow material to be released to the environment without proper governmental permits.
  •  13 Disposal considerations


    • Product:

    • Recommendation

      • Consult state, local or national regulations for proper disposal.

    • Uncleaned packagings:

    • Recommendation:

      • Disposal must be made according to official regulations.
  •  14 Transport information


    • DOT regulations:

    • Hazard class:             4.3

    • Identification number:    UN1400

    • Packing group:            II

    • Proper shipping name (technical name):

      •                           Barium

    • Land transport ADR/RID  (cross-border)

    • ADR/RID class:            4.3 Substances which, in contact with water,

      •                               emit flammable gases
    • Item:                     11b

    • Danger code (Kemler):     423

    • UN-Number:                1400

    • Description of goods:     Barium


    • Maritime transport IMDG:

    • IMDG Class:               4.3

    • UN Number:                1400

    • Packaging group:          II

    • Proper shipping name:     Barium


    • Air transport ICAO-TI and IATA-DGR:

    • ICAO/IATA Class:          4.3

    • UN/ID Number:             1400

    • Packaging group:          II

    • Proper shipping name:     Barium
  •  15 Regulations


    • Product related hazard informations:


    • Hazard symbols: Xi Irritant


    • Risk phrases:

      • 14       Reacts violently with water.
      31       Contact with acids liberates toxic gas.
      36/37/38 Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.

    • Safety phrases:

      • 16       Keep away from sources of ignition - No smoking.
      26       In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.
      27       Take off immediately all contaminated clothing.
      36/37/39 Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face protection.

    • National regulations

      • All components of this product are listed in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory.

    • Information about limitation of use:

      • For use only by technically qualified individuals.
      This product contains barium and is subject to the reporting requirements of section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986 and 40CFR372.
  •  16 Other information:

      • Employers should use this information only as a supplement to other information gathered by them, and should make independent judgement of suitability of this information to ensure proper use and protect the health and safety of employees.  This information is furnished without warranty, and any use of the product not in conformance with this Material Safety Data Sheet, or in combination with any other product or process, is the responsibility of the user.

    • Department issuing MSDS: Health, Safety and Environmental Department.

    • Contact: Darrell R. Sanders
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