Safety data sheet for Formaldehyde
CAS 50-00-0
This is the free preview of a draft SDS for Formaldehyde — Sections 1, 2 and 9, generated from the sources named below. The full 16-section draft, with your own company in Section 1, is $5 per document.
Typically documented by: Preservative, laboratory fixative.
Draft safety data sheet — preview
Sections 1, 2, 9 of 16
- CAS number
- 50-00-0
- Molecular formula
- CH2O
- Molecular weight
- 30.026 g/mol
- Signal word
- Danger
Hazard classification
- GHS02 — Flammable
- GHS05 — Corrosive
- GHS06 — Acute toxicity
- GHS07 — Health hazard — irritant
- GHS08 — Serious health hazard
- H226: Flammable liquid and vapor.
- H301: Toxic if swallowed.
- H311: Toxic in contact with skin.
- H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- H331: Toxic if inhaled.
- H334: May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled.
- H341: Suspected of causing genetic defects.
- H350: May cause cancer.
Section 1 — Identification
1.1 Product identifier
Product identifier: Formaldehyde
Chemical name (IUPAC): formaldehyde
CAS number: 50-00-0
PubChem CID reference: 712
Synonyms: formaldehyde; formalin; methanal; formol; Formic aldehyde; Methylene oxide; Oxomethane; Oxymethylene; Methyl aldehyde; Superlysoform
Section 2 — Hazards Identification
2.1 Classification of the substance or mixture
Classification basis: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200 Appendix A, aligned to the GHS Rev. 7 hazard classes this sheet resolves: Flam. Liq. 3, Acute Tox. 3 (Oral), Acute Tox. 3 (Dermal), Skin Corr. 1A, Acute Tox. 3 (Inhalation), Carc. 1A.
Classification: Flammable Liquid, Category 3 (Flam. Liq. 3) [H226]
Classification: Acute Toxicity, Category 3 — Oral (Acute Tox. 3 (Oral)) [H301]
Classification: Acute Toxicity, Category 3 — Dermal (Acute Tox. 3 (Dermal)) [H311]
Classification: Skin Corrosion, Category 1A (Skin Corr. 1A) [H314]
Classification: Acute Toxicity, Category 3 — Inhalation (Acute Tox. 3 (Inhalation)) [H331]
Classification: Carcinogenicity, Category 1A (Carc. 1A) [H350]
2.2 Label elements
Signal word: Danger
GHS pictograms: GHS02 (Flammable), GHS05 (Corrosion), GHS06 (Toxic), GHS07 (Exclamation), GHS08 (Health Hazard)
Hazard statement: H226: Flammable liquid and vapor.
Hazard statement: H301: Toxic if swallowed.
Hazard statement: H311: Toxic in contact with skin.
Hazard statement: H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Hazard statement: H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction.
Hazard statement: H331: Toxic if inhaled.
Hazard statement: H334: May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled.
Hazard statement: H341: Suspected of causing genetic defects.
Hazard statement: H350: May cause cancer.
Precautionary statement: P260: Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray.
Precautionary statement: P264+P265: Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Do not touch eyes.
Precautionary statement: P280: Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection, face protection, and hearing protection.
Precautionary statement: P305+P354+P338: IF IN EYES: Immediately rinse with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
Precautionary statement: P301+P330+P331: IF SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting.
Precautionary statement: P302+P361+P354: IF ON SKIN: Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Immediately rinse with water for several minutes.
Section 9 — Physical and Chemical Properties
9.1 Information on basic physical and chemical properties
Physical form: Gas
Appearance: Gas
Odor: Pungent, suffocating odor
Boiling point: -21.1°C (-6°F) at 1013 hPa
Melting point: -92°C (-134°F)
Flash point: 85°C (185°F) closed cup
Density: 0.815 g/cm³ at -20°C
Vapor pressure: 1187 hPa at 25°C
Water solubility: Miscible
Log Pow (log Kow): 0.35
Vapor density: 1 (air = 1)
Lower explosive limit: 7%
Upper explosive limit: 73%
Auto-ignition temperature: 424°C (795°F)
Viscosity: 0.14 cP at 25°C
pH: pH: 2.8 to 4.0 /Formaldehyde soln/
Occupational exposure limits for Formaldehyde
The airborne limits on public record in the United States. These are transcribed from the tables named in each row, not derived. The full draft puts them in Section 8 with the control and PPE guidance.
A ceiling limit must not be exceeded at any moment. It is not an average, so a short excursion above it is not offset by a lower reading later in the shift.
OSHA PEL — TWA (8 h)
0.75 ppm
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, reproducing the OSHA PEL
NIOSH REL — TWA (up to 10 h)
0.016 ppm
OSHA Annotated PEL Table Z-1 (NIOSH REL column)
NIOSH REL — Ceiling (15-minute sample)
0.1 ppm
OSHA Annotated PEL Table Z-1 (NIOSH REL column)
Where each value came from
- Odor — Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013, p. 778
- View the record
- Melting point — Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 95th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL: 2014-2015, p. 3-278
- View the record
- Flash point — Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Fire Protection Guide to Hazardous Materials. 13 ed. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association, 2002, p. 325-66
- View the record
- Density — Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Same reference as melting point above.
- View the record
- Water solubility — The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- View the record
- Log Pow (log Kow) — Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Hansch, C., Leo, A., D. Hoekman. Exploring QSAR - Hydrophobic, Electronic, and Steric Constants. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society., 1995, p. 3
- View the record
- Lower explosive limit — Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Lewis, R.J. Sr. (ed) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 2004, p. 1814
- View the record
- Auto-ignition temperature — Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Same reference as flash point above.
- View the record
- Viscosity — Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Abatjoglou AG, Miller DJ; Aldehydes. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (1999-2014). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. Online Posting Date: Jul 15, 2011
- View the record
A value with no row here was assembled from more than one record, so no single record is credited for it. The draft you buy carries this table as an appendix covering all 16 sections.
Sources
- ECHA C&L Inventory — harmonised CLP entry
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, reproducing the OSHA PEL
- OSHA Annotated PEL Table Z-1 (NIOSH REL column)
- PubChem — GHS classification
- PubChem — compound record
- PubChem — names and identifiers
- PubChem — regulatory information
- PubChem — toxicity data
- PubChem — transport information
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Sections 1.3 and 1.4 are withheld here because the supplier and emergency contact blocks carry your own company details in the draft you buy. Every draft needs review by a competent person before it is issued.
Measured values for Formaldehyde, and where each one comes from
38 measured values for 13 properties, read from 4 public databases. On 5 properties the records differ. Each reading is shown with its own record. Follow any record to read the value at its source.
Boiling point
6 records, -21 to 101 °C
Used with vapour pressure to judge how readily the substance reaches the air you breathe.
- Boiling point: - 19.1 °C /Formaldehyde 37% uninhibited/
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- -6 °F
- NIOSH Pocket Guide
- -19.1 °C @760 [mm Hg]
- PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy
Melting point
4 records agree
Fixes the physical state at handling temperature, which the label and the transport class depend on.
- -134 °F
- NIOSH Pocket Guide
Flash point
5 records, -96 to 85 °C
The lowest temperature at which the liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite. It decides the GHS flammable liquid category.
- 185 °F (85 °C) (Closed cup) /Gas/
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- 122 °F (50 °C) (Closed cup) /Formaldehyde 37%, 15% methanol/
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- 83 °C, closed cup, 37% aqueous soln- methanol free; 50 °C, closed cup, aqueous soln with 15% methanol
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- varies from 122-141 °F
- OSHA Occupational Chemical Database
Auto-ignition temperature
1 record
The temperature at which the substance ignites with no spark or flame. It sets safe surface and process temperatures.
- 795 °F (424 °C)
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Explosive limits
1 record
The vapour concentration range in air that will burn. Below the lower limit and above the upper limit it will not.
- Expolsive Limits: Lower 7.0%; Upper 73.0%
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Vapour pressure
6 records differ
The higher it is, the faster the substance evaporates into the workplace air at room temperature.
- Vapor pressure: 1 mm Hg /Formalin/
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- 3,890 mm Hg at 25 °C /100% formaldehyde/
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- >1 atm
- NIOSH Pocket Guide
- 750 [mm Hg] @-19.3 °C
- PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy
Vapour density
2 records differ
Above 1 the vapour sinks and collects in pits, sumps and low enclosed spaces.
- 1.067 (Air = 1)
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Density
3 records differ
Needed to convert between mass and volume on the label, in transport papers and in a spill estimate.
- 0.815 g/cu cm at -20 °C
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- 1.04(relative gas density)
- NIOSH Pocket Guide
- 0.815 @ -20°C
- PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy
Solubility
5 records, each a different case
Determines spill behaviour, the right extinguishing media and the correct first-aid rinse.
- In water, 4.00X10+5 mg/L at 20 °C
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- In water, miscible at 25 °C
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- In water, 95 weight % at 20 °C
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Soluble in ethanol and chloroform; miscible with ether, acetone and benzene
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Miscible
- NIOSH Pocket Guide
Partition coefficient (log Kow)
1 record
Indicates whether the substance accumulates in fat or in water, which drives the environmental sections.
- log Kow = 0.35
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Viscosity
1 record
Governs how far a spill spreads and how fast it soaks into a surface or a sorbent.
- 0.1421 cP at 25 °C
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
pH
1 record
Drives the skin and eye corrosion classification for solutions, alongside the corrosivity data.
- pH: 2.8 to 4.0 /Formaldehyde soln/
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Odour
2 records, each a different case
Odour is a warning property only. Many substances are hazardous well below the concentration you can smell.
- Pungent, suffocating odor
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
- Pungent, irritating odor /Formaldehyde solution/
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
These are the public records read for Formaldehyde, published here unchanged. Where two records disagree, the draft you buy states the value and names the record behind it, so a reviewer can see what was chosen. Every draft needs review by a competent person before it is issued.
Get the full draft SDS for Formaldehyde
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