Material Safety Data Sheet

acc. to OSHA and ANSI
  Printing date 10/29/2001 Reviewed on 10/24/2001  
  •   1 Identification of substance:

    • Product details:


    • Trade name: Phosphorus lump, red


    • Stock number: 00248


    • 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#)                                        
                  Phosphorus, red (CAS# 7723-14-0), 100%
    • Identification number(s):

    • EINECS Number: 231-768-7

    • EU Number: 015-002-00-7
  •   3 Hazards identification

    • Hazard description: F Highly flammable

    • Information pertaining to particular dangers for man and environment

      • R 11 Highly flammable.
      R 16 Explosive when mixed with oxidizing substances.
  •   4 First aid measures

    • 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

    • Special hazards caused by the material, its products of combustion or

      •   resulting gases:
      During heating or in case of fire poisonous gases are produced.
    • Protective equipment:

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

    • Person-related safety precautions:

      • 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
      Keep away from ignition sources.
    • 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.
      Protect against electrostatic charges.
      Fumes can combine with air to form an explosive mixture.

    • Storage

    • Requirements to be met by storerooms and receptacles:

      • Store in a cool location.
    • Information about storage in one common storage facility:

      • Store away from reducing agents.
      Store away from halogens.
      Store away from oxidizing agents.
      Store away from air.
      Store away from water/moisture.
    • 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


      • Components with limit values that require monitoring at the workplace:
    • Additional information: No data


    • Personal protective equipment

    • General protective and hygienic measures

      • The usual precautionary measures for handling chemicals should be followed.
    • Eye protection: Safety glasses

    • Body protection: Protective work clothing.
  •   9 Physical and chemical properties:


    • Form: Lump

    • Color: Red

    • Odor: Characteristic

    •                                      Value/Range  Unit    Method      

    • Change in condition

    • Melting point/Melting range:       Not determined

    • Boiling point/Boiling range:       Not determined

    • Sublimation temperature / start:               416 ° C


    • Flash point:                       Not applicable


    • Flammability (solid, gaseous)      Highly flammable

      • Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases.

    • Ignition temperature:                          259 ° C


    • Decomposition temperature:         Not determined


    • Danger of explosion:

      • Explosive when mixed with oxidizing substances.

    • Explosion limits:

    • Lower:                             Not determined

    • Upper:                             Not determined


    • Vapor pressure:        at  287 ° C            13.3 hPa


    • Density:               at   20 ° C            2.34 g/cm³


    • Solubility in / Miscibility with

    • Water:                             Reacts

      • Insoluble
  •  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:

      • Halogens
      Oxidizing agents
      Reducing agents
      Air
      Heat
      Water/moisture
    • Dangerous reactions

      • At raised temperatures reacts with water forming small quantities of hydrogen phosphide (phosphine)
    • Dangerous products of decomposition:

      • White / yellow phosphorus
      Phosphorus oxides (e.g. P2O5)
      Hydrogen phosphide (Phosphine)
  •  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:

      • Red phosphorus is not readily absorbed and is considered non-poisonous. If contaminated by yellow phosphorus, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and garlic odor on breath may occur.  Phosphine gas, which may be evolved, is flammable and toxic.
    • Additional toxicological information:

      • To the best of our knowledge the acute and chronic toxicity of this substance is not fully known.
      No classification data on carcinogenic properties of this material is available from the EPA, IARC, NTP, OSHA or ACGIH.
  •  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:             4.1

    • Identification number:    UN1338

    • Packing group:            III

    • Proper shipping name (technical name):

      •                           Phosphorus, amorphous

    • Land transport ADR/RID  (cross-border)

    • ADR/RID class:            4.1 Flammable solids

    • Item:                     11c

    • Danger code (Kemler):     40

    • UN-Number:                1338

    • Description of goods:     Phosphorus, amorphous


    • Maritime transport IMDG:

    • IMDG Class:               4.1

    • UN Number:                1338

    • Packaging group:          III

    • Proper shipping name:     Phosphorus, amorphous


    • Air transport ICAO-TI and IATA-DGR:

    • ICAO/IATA Class:          4.1

    • UN/ID Number:             1338

    • Packaging group:          III

    • Proper shipping name:     Phosphorus, amorphous
  •  15 Regulations


    • Product related hazard informations:


    • Hazard symbols: F Highly flammable


    • Risk phrases:

      • 11 Highly flammable.
      16 Explosive when mixed with oxidizing substances.

    • Safety phrases:

      • 7  Keep container tightly closed.
      43 In case of fire, use powdered extinguishing agent. Never use water.

    • 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.
  •  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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