Safety Data Sheet

Caustic Soda

SECTION 1. IDENTIFICATION
Product Identifier Caustic Soda
Other Means of Caustic Soda
Identification
Supplier Bri-Chem Supply Corp, 5151 Bannock Street Unit 5, Denver, CO, 80216, 303-722-1681,
www.brichemsupplycorp.com
Emergency Phone No. ChemTrec, (800) 424-9300, 24/7
SDS No. 0772

SECTION 2. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

GHS Classification
Corrosive to metals - Category 1; Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 1B; Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category
1; Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure) - Category 3
GHS Label Elements

Danger

SECTION 3. COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS

Chemical Name CAS No. % Other Identifiers

Sodium hydroxide 1310-73-2 98

SECTION 4. FIRST-AID MEASURES

First-aid Measures
Inhalation
Move to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, trained personnel should administer emergency oxygen if advised to do so
by Poison Centre or doctor. Immediately call a Poison Centre or doctor. Treatment is urgently required.
Skin Contact
Avoid direct contact. Wear chemical protective clothing if necessary. Take off immediately contaminated clothing,
shoes and leather goods (e.g. watchbands, belts). Immediately rinse with lukewarm, gently flowing water for 15-20
minutes. If skin irritation or a rash occurs, get medical advice/attention.
Eye Contact
Immediately rinse the contaminated eye(s) with lukewarm, gently flowing water for at least 30 minutes, while
holding the eyelid(s) open. If a contact lens is present, DO NOT delay flushing or attempt to remove the lens.
Immediately call a Poison Centre or doctor. Treatment is urgently required.
Ingestion
Rinse mouth with water. Never give anything by mouth if victim is rapidly losing consciousness, or is unconscious
or convulsing. Do not induce vomiting. Give no more than 8 ounces of milk in adults or 4 ounces of milk in children
to minimize risk of vomiting. Immediately call a Poison Centre or doctor. Treatment is urgently required.
Product Identifier: Caustic Soda
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Date of Preparation: August 06, 2015
 to minimize risk of vomiting. Immediately call a Poison Centre or doctor. Treatment is urgently required.
Most Important Symptoms and Effects, Acute and Delayed
If inhaled:
Can cause severe irritation of the nose and throat.
If on skin:
May burn the skin. Permanent scarring may result.
If in eyes:
Causes moderate to severe irritation. Contact causes severe burns with redness, swelling, pain and blurred vision.
Permanent damage including blindness can result.
If swallowed:
Permanent damage can result. Can burn the lips, tongue, throat and stomach. Symptoms may include nausea,
vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea.

SECTION 5. FIRE-FIGHTING MEASURES

Extinguishing Media
Suitable Extinguishing Media
Not combustible. Use extinguishing agent suitable for surrounding fire. Water fog, foam, dry powder, carbon
dioxide (CO2).
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media
Do not use water jet as an extinguisher as this will spread the fire.
Specific Hazards Arising from the Chemical
Does not burn.
Contact with water causes violent frothing and spattering. With concentrations of 40% or greater, the heat generated
can result in dangerous eruptions of the solution.
Caustic soda will react with metals such as aluminum, tin, and zinc to generate flammable and explosive hydrogen
gas.
Special Protective Equipment and Precautions for Fire-fighters
Fight fire from a safe distance or a protected location. Use extreme caution.
Chemical protective clothing (e.g. chemical splash suit) and positive pressure SCBA may be necessary.

SECTION 6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES

Personal Precautions, Protective Equipment, and Emergency Procedures
Evacuate the area immediately. Isolate the hazard area. Keep out unnecessary and unprotected personnel. Use the
personal protective equipment recommended in Section 8 of this safety data sheet.
Environmental Precautions
Do not allow into any sewer, on the ground or into any waterway.
Methods and Materials for Containment and Cleaning Up
Stop or reduce leak if safe to do so. Dike spilled product to prevent runoff. Contain and soak up spill with absorbent that
does not react with spilled product. Dilute acid (preferably acetic acid may be used to neutralize residual traces of
caustic) after flushing. Small spills should be carefully flushed with water.

SECTION 7. HANDLING AND STORAGE

Precautions for Safe Handling
Only use where there is adequate ventilation. Avoid generating vapours or mists. Prevent uncontrolled release of
product. Get medical advice/attention for all exposures. Symptoms can be delayed. Prevent accidental contact with
incompatible chemicals. Wear personal protective equipment to avoid direct contact with this chemical.
It is good practice to: avoid breathing product; avoid skin and eye contact and wash hands after handling.
Conditions for Safe Storage
Store in an area that is: well-ventilated, separate from incompatible materials (see Section 10: Stability and Reactivity).
Store in the original, labelled, shipping container. Protect from conditions listed in Conditions to Avoid in Section 10
(Stability and Reactivity).
Product Identifier: Caustic Soda
SDS No.: 0772 Page 02 of 06
Date of Preparation: August 06, 2015
(Stability and Reactivity).

SECTION 8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION

OSHA = US Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

PEL = Permissible Exposure Limits. 8 hour tWA = Time-Weighted Average. 2 mg/m3

ACGIH® = American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. TLV® = Threshold Limit Value. 2 mg/m3.
Appropriate Engineering Controls
Provide eyewash and safety shower if contact or splash hazard exists. Use a local exhaust ventilation and enclosure, if
necessary, to control amount in the air.
Individual Protection Measures
Eye/Face Protection
Do not get in eyes. Wear chemical safety goggles.
Skin Protection
Prevent all skin contact. Avoid repeated or prolonged skin contact. Wear chemical protective clothing e.g. gloves,
aprons, boots.
Respiratory Protection
Wear a powered air-purifying respirator with an appropriate cartridge.

SECTION 9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Basic Physical and Chemical Properties
Appearance Colourless.
Odour Odourless
Odour Threshold Not available
pH > 14.0
Melting Point/Freezing Point 613.4 ºF (melting); Not available (freezing)
Initial Boiling Point/Range 2534 ºF (1390 ºC)
Flash Point Not available
Evaporation Rate Not available
Flammability (solid, gas) Not available
Vapour Pressure 0 mm Hg
Vapour Density (air = 1) Not available
Relative Density (water = 1) 2.130
Solubility Soluble in water
Decomposition Temperature Not available
Other Information
Physical State Solid
Molecular Formula H-NA-O
Molecular Weight 40 g/mol

SECTION 10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY

Reactivity
Reacts violently with strong acids. This product may react with oxidizing agents.
Chemical Stability
Normally stable.
Possibility of Hazardous Reactions
Hazardous polymerization will not occur.
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Date of Preparation: August 06, 2015
Possibility of Hazardous Reactions
Hazardous polymerization will not occur.
Conditions to Avoid
Water, moisture or humidity. Acids.
Incompatible Materials
Heat is generated when mixed with water. Spattering and boiling can occur. Flammable hydrogen may be generated
from contact with metals such as: aluminum, brass, tin, zinc, and alloys of these metals. Avoid contact with acids,
halogenated organics, organic nitro compounds, and glycols. Caustic soda solution reacts readily with various reducing
sugars (i.e., fructose, lactose, maltose, dry whey solids) to produce carbon monoxide. Precautions should be taken
including atmospheric monitoring of the tank to ensure personnel.
Hazardous Decomposition Products
None known.

SECTION 11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Acute Toxicity
LD50 500 mg/kg (rabbit)
LD50 40 mg/kg (mouse) Intraperitoneal
Skin Corrosion/Irritation
Animal tests show moderate or severe irritation following prolonged exposure (24 hours). 500 mg/ 24 H (rabbit).
May burn the skin. Permanent scarring may result.
Serious Eye Damage/Irritation
Animal tests show serious eye irritation. 50 mg/ 24 H (rabbit).
CORROSIVE. Causes moderate to severe irritation. Contact causes severe burns with redness, swelling, pain and
blurred vision. Permanent damage including blindness can result.
STOT (Specific Target Organ Toxicity) - Single Exposure
Inhalation
Can cause severe irritation of the nose and throat. Serious pneumonia may develop depending on the degree of
exposure.
Ingestion
TOXIC. Can cause death. Permanent damage can result. Can burn the lips, tongue, throat and stomach.
Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. If patient survives, permanent damage to
the gastrointestinal tract may occur and the person may have permanent difficulty in swallowing.
STOT (Specific Target Organ Toxicity) - Repeated Exposure
Can cause permanent damage to the respiratory system. In severe cases, permanently decreased lung function may
occur.
Carcinogenicity
IARC: Group 3 – Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. NTP: Not specifically listed. OSHA: Not
specifically listed.
Reproductive Toxicity
Development of Offspring
This product is not expected to cause reproductive or developmental effects.
No information was located for: STOT (Specific Target Organ Toxicity) - Single Exposure, STOT (Specific Target Organ
Toxicity) - Repeated Exposure, Respiratory and/or Skin Sensitization, Development of Offspring, Sexual Function and
Fertility, Germ Cell Mutagenicity, Interactive Effects

SECTION 12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

In the case of a solid, anhydrous sodium spill on soil, ground water pollution will occur if precipitation occurs prior to
cleanup. Precipitation will dissolve some of the solid (with much heat given off) and create an aqueos solution of
sodium hydroxide which then would be able to infiltrate the soil. However, prediction of the concentration and properties
of the solution produced would be difficult.
Toxicity
Product Identifier: Caustic Soda
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Date of Preparation: August 06, 2015
Toxicity
Material is slightly toxic to aquatic organisms on an acute basis (LC50 between 10 and 100 mg/l in most sensitive
species). May cause pH shifts outside the range of 5 - 10 standard units; this change may be toxic to aquatic
organisms.
Persistence and Degradability
Biodegradation: Not applicable.

SECTION 13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS

Disposal Methods
Contact local environmental authorities for approved disposal or recycling methods in your jurisdiction.

SECTION 14. TRANSPORT INFORMATION

Transport Packing
Regulation UN No. Proper Shipping Name
Hazard Class(es) Group
US DOT 1823 Sodium Hydroxide 8, Corrosive II
IATA (Air) 1823 Sodium Hydroxide 8 II

Special Precautions Not applicable

for User
Transport in Bulk According to Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 and the IBC Code
Not applicable

SECTION 15. REGULATORY INFORMATION

Safety, Health and Environmental Regulations
USA
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(b)
All ingredients are listed on the TSCA Inventory.
Additional USA Regulatory Lists
(Sodium hydroxide)

SARA Title III - Section 311/312:

Acute Hazard
Reactive Hazard

CERCLA:
RQ (lbs) 1,000.
RCRA

Sodium hydroxide waste is regulated as a characteristic corrosive. The hazardous waste number is D002.

SECTION 16. OTHER INFORMATION

SDS Prepared By Bri-Chem Supply Ltd
Date of Preparation August 06, 2015
Disclaimer This Health and Safety information is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the
date of its publication, but we cannot accept liability for any loss, injury or damage which may
result from its use. We shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that any revision of this
Data Sheet is sent to all customers to whom we have directly supplied this substance, but must
point out that it is the responsibility of any intermediate supplier to ensure that such revision is
passed to the ultimate user. The information given in the Data Sheet is designed only as
guidance for safe handling, storage, and the use of the substance. It is not a specification nor
Product Identifier: Caustic
does Soda
it guarantee any specific properties. All chemicals should be handled only by competent
SDS No.: personnel,
0772 within a controlled environment. Should further information be required,
Page 05this
of can
06 be
obtained through the sales office whose address is at the top of this data sheet.
Date of Preparation: August 06, 2015
 guidance for safe handling, storage, and the use of the substance. It is not a specification nor
does it guarantee any specific properties. All chemicals should be handled only by competent
personnel, within a controlled environment. Should further information be required, this can be
obtained through the sales office whose address is at the top of this data sheet.

Product Identifier: Caustic Soda

SDS No.: 0772 Page 06 of 06
Date of Preparation: August 06, 2015