MSDS Number: B1885 * * * * * Effective Date: 08/17/06 * * * * * Supercedes: 10/21/03 BENZYL ALCOHOL


BENZYL ALCOHOL


1. Product Identification

Synonyms: Benzenecarbinol; benzenemethanol; alpha-hydroxytoluene; Phenylmethyl alcohol; Phenyl carbinol
CAS No.: 100-51-6
Molecular Weight: 108.14
Chemical Formula: C6H5CH2OH
Product Codes:
J.T. Baker: 5190, 9039, 9040, 9041, 9050, 9051, 9421
Mallinckrodt: 1403, 1816, 71083

2. Composition/Information on Ingredients


  Ingredient                                CAS No         Percent        Hazardous                                  
  ---------------------------------------   ------------   ------------   ---------   
 
  Benzyl Alcohol                            100-51-6         99 - 100%       Yes                                                                    
 

3. Hazards Identification

Emergency Overview
--------------------------
WARNING! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED, INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. AFFECTS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID AND VAPOR.

SAF-T-DATA(tm) Ratings (Provided here for your convenience)
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Health Rating: 2 - Moderate
Flammability Rating: 2 - Moderate
Reactivity Rating: 1 - Slight
Contact Rating: 3 - Severe
Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES & SHIELD; LAB COAT & APRON; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES; CLASS B EXTINGUISHER
Storage Color Code: Red (Flammable)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Potential Health Effects
----------------------------------

Inhalation:
Causes irritation to the respiratory tract. Symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath. May be absorbed into the bloodstream with symptoms similar to ingestion.
Ingestion:
Large doses may cause sore throat, coughing, labored respiration, dizziness, dullness, abdominal pain, vomiting, central nervous system depression, convulsions, and death due to respiratory failure.
Skin Contact:
May cause irritation, redness, pain, and tissue injury. May be absorbed through the skin with symptoms paralleling ingestion.
Eye Contact:
Causes irritation, redness, and pain. Can cause eye damage.
Chronic Exposure:
Chronic exposure may cause skin effects.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:
No information found.

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:
Give large amounts of water to drink. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Get medical attention.
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.

5. Fire Fighting Measures

Fire:
Flash point: 93C (199F)
Autoignition temperature: 436C (817F)
Combustible. High heat or direct flame is necessary to cause ignition.
Explosion:
Above the flash point, explosive vapor-air mixtures may be formed.
Fire Extinguishing Media:
Dry chemical, foam or carbon dioxide. Do not use a solid stream of water, since the stream will scatter and spread the fire. Water spray may be used to keep fire exposed containers cool.
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.

6. Accidental Release Measures

Ventilate area of leak or spill. Remove all sources of ignition. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment as specified in Section 8. Isolate hazard area. Keep unnecessary and unprotected personnel from entering. Contain and recover liquid when possible. Use non-sparking tools and equipment. Collect liquid in an appropriate container or absorb with an inert material (e. g., vermiculite, dry sand, earth), and place in a chemical waste container. Do not use combustible materials, such as saw dust. Do not flush to sewer!


J. T. Baker SOLUSORB® solvent adsorbent is recommended for spills of this product.

7. Handling and Storage

Protect against physical damage. Outside or detached storage is preferred. Inside storage should be in a standard flammable liquids storage room or cabinet. Separate from oxidizing materials. Storage and use areas should be No Smoking areas. Containers of this material may be hazardous when empty since they retain product residues (vapors, liquid); observe all warnings and precautions listed for the product.

8. Exposure Controls/Personal Protection

Airborne Exposure Limits:
AIHA Workplace Environmental Exposure Level (WEEL):10 ppm, 8-hour, TWA
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 substance is apparent and engineering controls are not feasble, consult an industrial hygienist. For emergencies, or instances where the exposure levels are not known, use a full-facepiece 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 a full face shield where splashing is possible. Maintain eye wash fountain and quick-drench facilities in work area.

9. Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance:
Clear, colorless liquid.
Odor:
Faint aromatic odor.
Solubility:
1g/25ml water @ 17C
Specific Gravity:
1.05 @ 20C/4C
pH:
No information found.
% Volatiles by volume @ 21C (70F):
100
Boiling Point:
205C (401F)
Melting Point:
-15C (5F)
Vapor Density (Air=1):
3.72
Vapor Pressure (mm Hg):
0.15 @ 25C (77F)
Evaporation Rate (BuAc=1):
1.8 (Ether = 1)

10. Stability and Reactivity

Stability:
Stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage. Undergoes slow oxidation in the presence of air or oxygen to form benzaldehyde and benzoic acid.
Hazardous Decomposition Products:
Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide may form when heated to decomposition.
Hazardous Polymerization:
When heated past 100C, Benzyl Alcohol containing hydrogen bromide and dissolved iron may polymerize with a rapid increase in temperature.
Incompatibilities:
Acids, oxidizing agents, and aluminum. Will attack some plastics.
Conditions to Avoid:
Heat, flames, ignition sources and incompatibles.

11. Toxicological Information


Oral rat LD50: 1230 mg/kg; skin rabbit LD50: 2000 mg/kg; irritation, skin rabbit, standard Draize, 100 mg/24-hour, open, moderate; investigated as a tumorigen, mutagen, reproductive effector.
  --------\Cancer Lists\------------------------------------------------------
                                         ---NTP Carcinogen---
  Ingredient                             Known    Anticipated    IARC Category
  ------------------------------------   -----    -----------    -------------
  Benzyl Alcohol (100-51-6)               No          No            None

12. Ecological Information

Environmental Fate:
When released into the soil, this material is expected to leach into groundwater. When released into the soil, this material may evaporate to a moderate extent. When released into the soil, this material may biodegrade to a moderate extent. When released into water, this material is not expected to evaporate significantly. When released into water, this material may biodegrade to a moderate extent. This material has an estimated bioconcentration factor (BCF) of less than 100. This material is not expected to significantly bioaccumulate. When released into the air, this material is expected to be readily degraded by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals. When released into the air, this material is expected to have a half-life between 1 and 10 days. When released into the air, this material may be removed from the atmosphere to a moderate extent by wet deposition.
Environmental Toxicity:
The LC50/96-hour values for fish are from 10 to over 100 mg/l. This material may be toxic to aquatic life.

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.

14. Transport Information

Not regulated.

15. Regulatory Information

  --------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 1\---------------------------------
  Ingredient                                       TSCA  EC   Japan  Australia
  -----------------------------------------------  ----  ---  -----  ---------
  Benzyl Alcohol (100-51-6)                         Yes  Yes   Yes      Yes                                      
 
  --------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 2\---------------------------------
                                                          --Canada--
  Ingredient                                       Korea  DSL   NDSL  Phil.
  -----------------------------------------------  -----  ---   ----  -----
  Benzyl Alcohol (100-51-6)                         Yes   Yes   No     Yes      
 
  --------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 1\----------------
                                             -SARA 302-    ------SARA 313------
  Ingredient                                 RQ    TPQ     List  Chemical Catg.
  -----------------------------------------  ---   -----   ----  --------------
  Benzyl Alcohol (100-51-6)                  No    No      No         No
 
  --------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 2\----------------
                                                        -RCRA-    -TSCA-
  Ingredient                                 CERCLA     261.33     8(d) 
  -----------------------------------------  ------     ------    ------
  Benzyl Alcohol (100-51-6)                  No         No         No    
 
 
Chemical Weapons Convention:  No     TSCA 12(b):  No     CDTA:  No
SARA 311/312:  Acute: Yes      Chronic: Yes  Fire: Yes Pressure: No
Reactivity: No          (Pure / Liquid)


Australian Hazchem Code: None allocated.
Poison Schedule: None allocated.
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.

16. Other Information

NFPA Ratings: Health: 2 Flammability: 2 Reactivity: 0
Label Hazard Warning:
WARNING! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED, INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. AFFECTS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID AND VAPOR.
Label Precautions:
Avoid breathing vapor or mist.
Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing.
Keep container closed.
Use only with adequate ventilation.
Wash thoroughly after handling.
Keep away from heat and flame.
Label First Aid:
If swallowed, give large amounts of water to drink. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes or skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. In all cases, get medical attention.
Product Use:
Laboratory Reagent.
Revision Information:
No Changes.
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Prepared by: Environmental Health & Safety
Phone Number: (314) 654-1600 (U.S.A.)