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: Osmium powder


    • Stock number: 12446


    • 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#)                                        
                  Osmium (CAS# 7440-04-2), 100%
    • Identification number(s):

    • EINECS Number: 231-114-0
  •   3 Hazards identification

    • Hazard description:

    • Xi Irritant
      F  Highly flammable
    • Information pertaining to particular dangers for man and environment

    • R 11    Highly flammable.
      R 37/38 Irritating to respiratory system and skin.
      R 41    Risk of serious damage to eyes.
  •   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

    • Special powder for metal fires. 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:
      In case of fire, the following can be released:
      Toxic metal oxide fume
    • 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.
      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 protective gas.
      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 air.
      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:
      Not required.
    • 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 skin.
      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: Powder

    • Color:

    • Blue
      Grey
    • Odor: Odorless

    •                                      Value/Range  Unit    Method      

    • Change in condition

    • Melting point/Melting range:                  3045 ° C

    • Boiling point/Boiling range:                  5027 ° C

    • Sublimation temperature / start:   Not determined


    • Flash point:                       Not applicable


    • Flammability (solid, gaseous)      Highly flammable.


    • Ignition temperature:              Not determined


    • Decomposition temperature:         Not determined


    • Explosion limits:

    • Lower:                             Not determined

    • Upper:                             Not determined


    • Vapor pressure:                    Not determined


    • Density:               at   20 ° C            22.6 g/cm3


    • Solubility in / Miscibility with

    • Water:                             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:

    • Oxygen
      Halogens
      Oxidizing agents
      Interhalogens
    • Dangerous reactions Reacts violently with interhalogens.

    • Dangerous products of decomposition: Toxic metal oxide fume
  •  11 Toxicological information

    • Acute toxicity:

    • Primary irritant effect:

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

    • on the eye:

    • Strong irritant with the danger of severe eye injury.
      Irritating effect.
    • Sensitization: No sensitizing effects known.

    • Subacute to chronic toxicity:

    • Oxidation of osmium compounds may form the volatile and highly irritating osmium (VIII) oxide.  Exposure may cause bronchitis and dermatitis.
    • 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:    UN3089

    • Proper shipping name (technical name):

    •                           Metal powders, flammable, n.o.s., osmium

    • Land transport ADR/RID  (cross-border)

    • ADR/RID class:            4.1 Flammable solids

    • Item:                     13c

    • Danger code (Kemler):     13b

    • UN-Number:                3089

    • Description of goods:     Metal powders, flammable, n.o.s., osmium


    • Maritime transport IMDG:

    • IMDG Class:               4.1

    • UN Number:                3089

    • Packaging group:          III

    • Proper shipping name:     Metal powders, flammable, n.o.s., osmium


    • Air transport ICAO-TI and IATA-DGR:

    • ICAO/IATA Class:          4.1

    • UN/ID Number:             3089

    • Packaging group:          III

    • Proper shipping name:     Metal powders, flammable, n.o.s., osmium
  •  15 Regulations


    • Product related hazard informations:


    • Hazard symbols:

    • Xi Irritant F Highly flammable

    • Risk phrases:

    • 11    Highly flammable.
      37/38 Irritating to respiratory system and skin.
      41    Risk of serious damage to eyes.

    • Safety phrases:

    • 26    In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.

    • 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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