Univar USA Inc.

                                             6100 Carillon Point

                                             Kirkland, WA 98033

                                             (425) 889-3400









For Emergency Assistance involving chemicals call - CHEMTREC (800) 424-9300

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The Version Date for this MSDS is : 10/21/1998





PRODUCT NAME:

POTASSIUM CARBONATE



MSDS #: MZP5609



202-483-7616

 (OUTSIDE USA & CANADA

CANUTEC: 613-996-6666



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POTASSIUM CARBONATE

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1. PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION



SYNONYMS: PEARL ASH; POTASH; CARBONIC ACID, DIPOTASSIUM SALT; SALT

OF TARTAR

CAS NO: 584-08-7

MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 138.21

CHEMICAL FORMULA: K2CO3

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2. COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS



INGREDIENT CAS NO PERCENT HAZARDOU

--------------------------------------- ------------ ------- --------

POTASSIUM CARBONATE 584-08-7 99 - 100% YES



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3. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION



EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

------------------

WARNING! CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. MAY BE

HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED.



POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

------------------------

INHALATION:

CAUSES IRRITATION TO THE RESPIRATORY TRACT. SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE COUGHING,

SHORTNESS OF BREATH.



INGESTION:

CAUSES IRRITATION TO THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE

NAUSEA, VOMITING AND DIARRHEA. MAY HAVE MODERATE TOXIC EFFECTS IF CONSUMED

IN LARGE ENOUGH QUANTITIES. INGESTION OF LARGE AMOUNTS MAY BE CORROSIVE TO

MOUTH, THROAT AND GI TRACT AND PRODUCE ABDOMINAL PAINS, VOMITING, DIARRHEA,

AND CIRCULATORY COLLAPSE.



SKIN CONTACT:

CONTACT WITH DRY MATERIAL CAUSES IRRITATION. IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION IT IS A

STRONG CAUSTIC AND AS SUCH MAY HAVE CORROSIVE EFFECTS ON THE SKIN.



EYE CONTACT:

CAUSES EXTREME IRRITATION, REDNESS, PAIN AND POSSIBLY CORNEAL DAMAGE.



CHRONIC EXPOSURE:

A CHRONIC DERMATITIS MAY FOLLOW REPEATED CONTACT WITH THIS SUBSTANCE.



AGGRAVATION OF PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS:

NO INFORMATION FOUND.



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4. FIRST AID MEASURES



INHALATION:

REMOVE TO FRESH AIR. IF NOT BREATHING, GIVE ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION. IF

BREATHING IS DIFFICULT, GIVE OXYGEN. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION.



INGESTION:

IF SWALLOWED, DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. GIVE LARGE QUANTITIES OF WATER. NEVER

GIVE ANYTHING BY MOUTH TO AN UNCONSCIOUS PERSON. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION

IMMEDIATELY.



SKIN CONTACT:

IMMEDIATELY FLUSH SKIN WITH PLENTY OF WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. REMOVE

CONTAMINATED CLOTHING AND SHOES. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION. WASH CLOTHING

BEFORE REUSE. THOROUGHLY CLEAN SHOES BEFORE REUSE.



EYE CONTACT:

IMMEDIATELY FLUSH EYES WITH PLENTY OF WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES,

LIFTING LOWER AND UPPER EYELIDS OCCASIONALLY. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION

IMMEDIATELY.



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5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES



FIRE:

NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A FIRE HAZARD.



EXPLOSION:

NOT CONSIDERED TO BE AN EXPLOSION HAZARD. AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED AFTER

MIXING SODIUM HYDROSULFITE, ALUMINUM POWDER, POTASSIUM CARBONATE AND

BENZALDEHYDE.

FIRE EXTINGUISHING MEDIA:

USE ANY MEANS SUITABLE FOR EXTINGUISHING SURROUNDING FIRE.



SPECIAL INFORMATION:

IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, WEAR FULL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND NIOSH-APPROVED

SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS WITH FULL FACEPIECE OPERATED IN THE

PRESSURE DEMAND OR OTHER POSITIVE PRESSURE MODE.



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6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES



VENTILATE AREA OF LEAK OR SPILL. WEAR APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE

EQUIPMENT AS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 8. SPILLS: PICK UP AND PLACE IN A

SUITABLE CONTAINER FOR RECLAMATION OR DISPOSAL, USING A METHOD THAT DOES

NOT GENERATE DUST.



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7. HANDLING AND STORAGE



KEEP IN A TIGHTLY CLOSED CONTAINER, STORED IN A COOL, DRY, VENTILATED AREA.

PROTECT AGAINST PHYSICAL DAMAGE. ISOLATE FROM INCOMPATIBLE SUBSTANCES.

CONTAINERS OF THIS MATERIAL MAY BE HAZARDOUS WHEN EMPTY SINCE THEY RETAIN

PRODUCT RESIDUES (DUST, SOLIDS); OBSERVE ALL WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

LISTED FOR THE PRODUCT.



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8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION



AIRBORNE EXPOSURE LIMITS:

NONE ESTABLISHED.



VENTILATION SYSTEM:

A SYSTEM OF LOCAL AND/OR GENERAL EXHAUST IS RECOMMENDED TO KEEP EMPLOYEE

EXPOSURES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION IS GENERALLY

PREFERRED BECAUSE IT CAN CONTROL THE EMISSIONS OF THE CONTAMINANT AT ITS

SOURCE, PREVENTING DISPERSION OF IT INTO THE GENERAL WORK AREA. PLEASE

REFER TO THE ACGIH DOCUMENT, "INDUSTRIAL VENTILATION, A MANUAL OF

RECOMMENDED PRACTICES", MOST RECENT EDITION, FOR DETAILS.



PERSONAL RESPIRATORS (NIOSH APPROVED):

FOR CONDITIONS OF USE WHERE EXPOSURE TO THE DUST OR MIST IS APPARENT, A

HALF-FACE DUST/MIST RESPIRATOR MAY BE WORN. FOR EMERGENCIES OR INSTANCES

WHERE THE EXPOSURE LEVELS ARE NOT KNOWN, USE A FULL-FACE POSITIVE-PRESSURE,

AIR-SUPPLIED RESPIRATOR. WARNING: AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS DO NOT

PROTECT WORKERS IN OXYGEN-DEFICIENT ATMOSPHERES.



SKIN PROTECTION:

WEAR IMPERVIOUS PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, INCLUDING BOOTS, GLOVES, LAB COAT,

APRON OR COVERALLS, AS APPROPRIATE, TO PREVENT SKIN CONTACT.



EYE PROTECTION:

USE CHEMICAL SAFETY GOGGLES AND/OR FULL FACE SHIELD WHERE DUSTING OR

SPLASHING OF SOLUTIONS IS POSSIBLE. MAINTAIN EYE WASH FOUNTAIN AND

QUICK-DRENCH FACILITIES IN WORK AREA.



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9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES



APPEARANCE: BOILING POINT:

FINE WHITE GRANULES. DECOMPOSES.



ODOR: MELTING POINT:

ODORLESS. 891C (1636F)



SOLUBILITY: VAPOR DENSITY (AIR=1):

SOLUBLE IN EQUAL PARTS OF COLD NO INFORMATION FOUND.

WATER.



SPECIFIC GRAVITY: VAPOR PRESSURE (MM HG):

2.29 NO INFORMATION FOUND.



PH: EVAPORATION RATE (BUAC=1):

11.6 AQUEOUS SOLUTION NO INFORMATION FOUND.



% VOLATILES BY VOLUME @ 21C (70F):

0



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10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY



STABILITY:

STABLE UNDER ORDINARY CONDITIONS OF USE AND STORAGE.



HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS:

CONTACT WITH ACIDS AND INVOLVEMENT IN A FIRE CAN CAUSE FORMATION OF CARBON

DIOXIDE. THERMAL DECOMPOSITION MAY ALSO FORM POTASSIUM OXIDE.



HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION:

WILL NOT OCCUR.



INCOMPATIBILITIES:

ACIDS, CHLORINE TRIFLUORIDE, MAGNESIUM. AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED AFTER MIXING

SODIUM HYDROSULFITE, ALUMINUM POWDER, POTASSIUM CARBONATE AND BENZALDEHYDE.



CONDITIONS TO AVOID:

MOISTURE, HEAT, DUSTING AND INCOMPATIBLES.



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11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION



ORAL RAT LD50: 1870 MG/KG.



--------CANCER LISTS-----------------------------------------------------

---NTP CARCINOGEN---

INGREDIENT KNOWN ANTICIPATED IARC CATEGORY

------------------------------------ ----- ----------- ------------

POTASSIUM CARBONATE (584-08-7) NO NO NONE

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12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION



ENVIRONMENTAL FATE:

NO INFORMATION FOUND.



ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICITY:

NO INFORMATION FOUND.



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13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS



WHATEVER CANNOT BE SAVED FOR RECOVERY OR RECYCLING SHOULD BE MANAGED IN AN

APPROPRIATE AND APPROVED WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY. PROCESSING, USE OR

CONTAMINATION OF THIS PRODUCT MAY CHANGE THE WASTE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS.

STATE AND LOCAL DISPOSAL REGULATIONS MAY DIFFER FROM FEDERAL DISPOSAL

REGULATIONS.



DISPOSE OF CONTAINER AND UNUSED CONTENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL, STATE

AND LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.



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14. TRANSPORT INFORMATION



NOT REGULATED.



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15. REGULATORY INFORMATION



--------CHEMICAL INVENTORY STATUS - PART 1-------------------------------

INGREDIENT TSCA EC JAPAN AUSTRALIA

----------------------------------------------- ---- --- ----- --------

POTASSIUM CARBONATE (584-08-7) YES YES YES YES



--------CHEMICAL INVENTORY STATUS - PART 2-------------------------------

--CANADA--

INGREDIENT KOREA DSL NDSL PHIL.

----------------------------------------------- ----- --- ---- -----

POTASSIUM CARBONATE (584-08-7) YES YES NO YES



-------FEDERAL, STATE & INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS - PART 1---------------

-SARA 302- ------SARA 313-----

INGREDIENT RQ TPQ LIST CHEMICAL CATG

---------------------------------------- --- ----- ---- -------------

POTASSIUM CARBONATE (584-08-7) NO NO NO NO



--------FEDERAL, STATE & INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS - PART 2--------------

-RCRA- -TSCA-

INGREDIENT CERCLA 261.33 8(D)

----------------------------------------- ------ ------ ---

POTASSIUM CARBONATE (584-08-7) NO NO NO

CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION: NO TSCA 12(B): NO CDTA: NO

SARA 311/312: ACUTE: YES CHRONIC: NO FIRE: NO PRESSURE: NO

REACTIVITY: NO (PURE / SOLID)



AUSTRALIAN HAZCHEM CODE: NO INFORMATION FOUND.

POISON SCHEDULE: NO INFORMATION FOUND.



WHMIS: THIS MSDS HAS BEEN PREPARED ACCORDING TO THE HAZARD CRITERIA OF

THE CONTROLLED PRODUCTS REGULATIONS (CPR) AND THE MSDS CONTAINS

ALL OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE CPR.



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16. OTHER INFORMATION



NFPA RATINGS:

HEALTH: 3 FLAMMABILITY: 0 REACTIVITY: 0



For Additional Information:

Contact: MSDS Coordinator - Univar USA

During business hours, Pacific Time - (425) 889-3400



NOTICE

Univar USA, expressly disclaims all express or implied warranties of merchantibility and fitness

for a particular purpose, with respect to the product or information provided herein, and shall

under no circumstances be liable for incidental or consequential damages.



Do not use ingredient information and/or ingredient percentages in this MSDS as a product

specification. For product specification information refer to a Product Specification Sheet and/or a

Certificate of Analysis. These can be obtained from your local Univar USA Sales Office.



All information appearing herein is based upon data obtained from the manufacturer and/or

recognized technical sources. While the information is believed to be accurate, Univar USA

makes no representations as to its accuracy or sufficiency. Conditions of use are beyond Univar

USA's control and therefore users are responsible to verify this data under their own operating

conditions to determine whether the product is suitable for their particular purposes and they

assume all risks of their use, handling, and disposal of the product, or from the publication or use

of, or reliance upon, information contained herein. This information relates only to the product

designated herein, and does not relate to its use in combination with any other material or in any

other process.



END OF MSDS