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Material Safety Data Sheet
Potassium Hydroxide
ACC# 19431
Section 1 - Chemical Product and Company Identification
MSDS Name: Potassium Hydroxide
Catalog Numbers: S71978, S71979, S71979-1, S71979-2, P246-3, P250-1, P250-10, P250-3,
P250-50, P250-500, P250-50LC, P251-3, P251-50, P251-500, P251-50KG, P25812, P258212, P25850,
P25850LC, PFP25050LC, S71977, S72221D
Synonyms: Caustic potash, Lye, Potassium hydrate
Company Identification:
Fisher Scientific
1 Reagent Lane
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
For information, call: 201-796-7100
Emergency Number: 201-796-7100
For CHEMTREC assistance, call: 800-424-9300
For International CHEMTREC assistance, call: 703-527-3887
Section 2 - Composition, Information on Ingredients
CAS# Chemical Name Percent EINECS/ELINCS
1310-58-3 Potassium hydroxide (KOH) 100.0 215-181-3
Hazard Symbols: C
Risk Phrases: 22 35
Section 3 - Hazards Identification
EMERGENCY OVERVIEW
Appearance: white or yellow. Danger! Corrosive. Water-Reactive. Harmful if
swallowed. Causes severe eye and skin burns. Causes severe digestive and
respiratory tract burns.
Target Organs: None.
Potential Health Effects
Eye: Causes severe eye burns. May cause irreversible eye injury. Contact may cause ulceration of
the conjunctiva and cornea. Eye damage may be delayed.
Skin: Causes skin burns. May cause deep, penetrating ulcers of the skin.
Ingestion: Harmful if swallowed. May cause circulatory system failure. May cause perforation of the
digestive tract. Causes severe digestive tract burns with abdominal pain, vomiting, and possible
death.
Inhalation: Harmful if inhaled. Irritation may lead to chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema.
Causes severe irritation of upper respiratory tract with coughing, burns, breathing difficulty, and
possible coma.
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Chronic: Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis. Prolonged or repeated eye
contact may cause conjunctivitis.
Section 4 - First Aid Measures
Eyes: Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the
upper and lower eyelids. Get medical aid immediately.
Skin: Get medical aid immediately. Immediately flush skin with plenty of soap and water for at least
15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Discard contaminated clothing in a
manner which limits further exposure.
Ingestion: Do NOT induce vomiting. If victim is conscious and alert, give 2-4 cupfuls of milk or water.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Get medical aid immediately.
Inhalation: Get medical aid immediately. Remove from exposure to fresh air immediately. If breathing
is difficult, give oxygen. If breathing has ceased apply artificial respiration using oxygen and a suitable
mechanical device such as a bag and a mask.
Notes to Physician: Treat symptomatically and supportively.
Section 5 - Fire Fighting Measures
General Information: As in any fire, wear a self-contained breathing apparatus in pressure-demand,
MSHA/NIOSH (approved or equivalent), and full protective gear. Use water with caution and in
flooding amounts. Contact with moisture or water may generate sufficient heat to ignite nearby
combustible materials.
Extinguishing Media: For small fires, use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray or
alcohol-resistant foam.
Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures
General Information: Use proper personal protective equipment as indicated in Section 8.
Spills/Leaks: Vacuum or sweep up material and place into a suitable disposal container. Avoid
generating dusty conditions.
Section 7 - Handling and Storage
Handling: Wash thoroughly after handling. Use with adequate ventilation. Do not allow water to get
into the container because of violent reaction. Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing. Do not
ingest or inhale.
Storage: Store in a tightly closed container. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from
incompatible substances. Keep away from strong acids. Keep away from water. Keep away from
metals. Keep away from flammable liquids. Keep away from organic halogens.
Section 8 - Exposure Controls, Personal Protection
Engineering Controls: Use adequate general or local exhaust ventilation to keep airborne
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concentrations below the permissible exposure limits.
Exposure Limits
Chemical Name ACGIH NIOSH OSHA - Final PELs
Potassium hydroxide
C 2 mg/m3 none listed none listed
(KOH)
OSHA Vacated PELs: Potassium hydroxide (KOH): C 2 mg/m3
Personal Protective Equipment
Eyes: Wear safety glasses and chemical goggles or face shield if handling liquids.
Skin: Wear appropriate gloves to prevent skin exposure.
Clothing: Wear appropriate protective clothing to prevent skin exposure.
Respirators: Follow the OSHA respirator regulations found in 29CFR 1910.134 or European Standard
EN 149. Always use a NIOSH or European Standard EN 149 approved respirator when necessary.
Section 9 - Physical and Chemical Properties
Physical State: Solid
Appearance: white or yellow
Odor: odorless
pH: 13.5 (0.1M solution)
Vapor Pressure: Not available.
Vapor Density: Not available.
Evaporation Rate:Not available.
Viscosity: Not available.
Boiling Point: 2408 deg F
Freezing/Melting Point:680 deg F
Autoignition Temperature: Not applicable.
Flash Point: Not applicable.
Decomposition Temperature:Not available.
NFPA Rating: (estimated) Health: 3; Flammability: 0; Reactivity: 1
Explosion Limits, Lower:Not available.
Upper: Not available.
Solubility: Soluble in water
Specific Gravity/Density:2.04
Molecular Formula:KOH
Molecular Weight:56.1047
Section 10 - Stability and Reactivity
Chemical Stability: Stable. Readily absorbs carbon dioxide and moisture from the air and
deliquesces.
Conditions to Avoid: Incompatible materials, moisture, contact with water, acids, metals.
Incompatibilities with Other Materials: Generates large amounts of heat when in contact with
water and may steam and splatter. Reacts with chlorine dioxide, nitrobenzene, nitromethane, nitrogen
trichloride, peroxidized tetrahydrofuran, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, bromoform+ crown ethers, acids
alcohols, sugars, germanium cyclopentadiene, maleic dicarbide. Corrosive to metals such as aluminum,
tin, and zinc to cause formation of flammable hydrogen gas.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Oxides of potassium.
Hazardous Polymerization: Has not been reported.
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Section 11 - Toxicological Information
RTECS#:
CAS# 1310-58-3: TT2100000
LD50/LC50:
CAS# 1310-58-3:
Draize test, rabbit, skin: 50 mg/24H Severe;
Oral, rat: LD50 = 273 mg/kg;
Carcinogenicity:
CAS# 1310-58-3: Not listed by ACGIH, IARC, NIOSH, NTP, or OSHA.
Epidemiology: No data available.
Teratogenicity: No information reported.
Reproductive Effects: No data available.
Neurotoxicity: No data available.
Mutagenicity: No data available.
Other Studies: No data available.
Section 12 - Ecological Information
Ecotoxicity: Fish: Mosquito Fish: LC50 = 80.0 mg/L; 24 Hr.; Unspecified No data available.
Environmental: No information found.
Physical: No information found.
Other: No information available.
Section 13 - Disposal Considerations
Chemical waste generators must determine whether a discarded chemical is classified as a hazardous
waste. US EPA guidelines for the classification determination are listed in 40 CFR Parts 261.3.
Additionally, waste generators must consult state and local hazardous waste regulations to ensure
complete and accurate classification.
RCRA P-Series: None listed.
RCRA U-Series: None listed.
Section 14 - Transport Information
US DOT IATA RID/ADR IMO Canada TDG
POTASSIUM
POTASSIUM
Shipping Name: HYDROXIDE,
HYDROXIDE
SOLID
Hazard Class: 8 8(9.2)
UN Number: UN1813 UN1813
Packing Group: II II
Section 15 - Regulatory Information
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US FEDERAL
TSCA
CAS# 1310-58-3 is listed on the TSCA inventory.
Health & Safety Reporting List
None of the chemicals are on the Health & Safety Reporting List.
Chemical Test Rules
None of the chemicals in this product are under a Chemical Test Rule.
Section 12b
None of the chemicals are listed under TSCA Section 12b.
TSCA Significant New Use Rule
None of the chemicals in this material have a SNUR under TSCA.
SARA
Section 302 (RQ)
CAS# 1310-58-3: final RQ = 1000 pounds (454 kg)
Section 302 (TPQ)
None of the chemicals in this product have a TPQ.
SARA Codes
CAS # 1310-58-3: acute, reactive.
Section 313
No chemicals are reportable under Section 313.
Clean Air Act:
This material does not contain any hazardous air pollutants. This material does not contain any Class
1 Ozone depletors. This material does not contain any Class 2 Ozone depletors.
Clean Water Act:
CAS# 1310-58-3 is listed as a Hazardous Substance under the CWA. None of the chemicals in this
product are listed as Priority Pollutants under the CWA. None of the chemicals in this product are
listed as Toxic Pollutants under the CWA.
OSHA:
None of the chemicals in this product are considered highly hazardous by OSHA.
STATE
CAS# 1310-58-3 can be found on the following state right to know lists: California, New Jersey,
Florida, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Massachusetts.
California No Significant Risk Level: None of the chemicals in this product are listed.
European/International Regulations
European Labeling in Accordance with EC Directives
Hazard Symbols:
C
Risk Phrases:
R 22 Harmful if swallowed.
R 35 Causes severe burns.
Safety Phrases:
S 26 In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately
with plenty of water and seek medical advice.
S 36/37/39 Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves
and eye/face protection.
S 45 In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek
medical advice immediately (show the label where
possible).
WGK (Water Danger/Protection)
CAS# 1310-58-3: 1
Canada
CAS# 1310-58-3 is listed on Canada's DSL List. CAS# 1310-58-3 is listed on Canada's DSL List.
This product has a WHMIS classification of D1B, E.
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CAS# 1310-58-3 is listed on Canada's Ingredient Disclosure List.
Exposure Limits
CAS# 1310-58-3: OEL-AUSTRALIA:TWA 2 mg/m3 OEL-BELGIUM:STEL 2 mg/m3
OEL-DENMARK:TWA 2 mg/m3 OEL-FINLAND:TWA 2 mg/m3 OEL-FRANCE:STEL 2 m
g/m3 OEL-JAPAN:STEL 2 mg/m3 OEL-THE NETHERLANDS:TWA 2 mg/m3 OEL-SWI
TZERLAND:TWA 2 mg/m3 OEL-UNITED KINGDOM:TWA 2 mg/m3;STEL 2 mg/m3 OEL
IN BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN, KOREA check ACGIH TLV OEL IN NEW ZEAL
AND, SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGI TLV
Section 16 - Additional Information
MSDS Creation Date: 6/21/1999
Revision #3 Date: 10/06/2000
The information above is believed to be accurate and represents the best information currently available to us. However, we make
no warranty of merchantability or any other warranty, express or implied, with respect to such information, and we assume no
liability resulting from its use. Users should make their own investigations to determine the suitability of the information for their
particular purposes. In no event shall Fisher be liable for any claims, losses, or damages of any third party or for lost profits or
any special, indirect, incidental, consequential or exemplary damages, howsoever arising, even if Fisher has been advised of the
possibility of such damages.
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