Synonyms: Methanoic acid; hydrogen carboxylic acid; formylic acid
CAS No.: 64-18-6
Molecular Weight: 46.03
Chemical Formula: HCOOH
Product Codes:
J.T. Baker: 0128, 0129, 0130
Mallinckrodt: 2592
Ingredient CAS No Percent Hazardous --------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------- Formic Acid 64-18-6 88 - 90% Yes Water 7732-18-5 10 - 12% No
Emergency Overview
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DANGER! CORROSIVE. LIQUID AND MIST CAUSE SEVERE BURNS TO ALL BODY TISSUE. MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED. HARMFUL IF INHALED. INHALATION MAY CAUSE LUNG DAMAGE. VAPOR IS IRRITATING TO EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID AND VAPOR.
SAF-T-DATA(tm) Ratings (Provided here for your convenience)
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Health Rating: 3 - Severe (Life)
Flammability Rating: 2 - Moderate
Reactivity Rating: 2 - Moderate
Contact Rating: 4 - Extreme (Corrosive)
Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES & SHIELD; LAB COAT & APRON; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES; CLASS B EXTINGUISHER
Storage Color Code: Red (Flammable)
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Potential Health Effects
----------------------------------
Inhalation:
Inhalation of vapors can cause severe irritation of nose, throat, and upper respiratory tract. Inhalation of higher concentrations may cause central nervous system effects and lung damage.
Ingestion:
Causes serious burns and corrosion of the mouth, throat, and esophagus, with immediate pain and difficult swallowing. Other symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting can occur, leading to shortness of breath and death. Severe poisonings may cause shock, kidney damage.
Skin Contact:
Corrosive. Symptoms of redness, pain, and severe burn can occur.
Eye Contact:
Corrosive! Vapors are irritating and may cause damage to the eyes. Contact may cause severe burns and permanent eye damage.
Chronic Exposure:
Prolonged or repeated exposure to low concentrations may cause skin irritation and burns. Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause liver and kidney damage.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:
Sensitization is rare, but may occur in persons previously sensitized to formaldehyde.
Inhalation:
Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical attention immediately.
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 while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Get medical attention immediately. 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.
Fire:
Flash point: 50C (122F) CC
Autoignition temperature: 601C (1114F)
Flammable limits in air % by volume:
lel: 18; uel: 57
Combustible Liquid and Vapor! Fire data listed is for formic acid. Flash Point and explosive limits are for 90% aqueous solutions of formic acid.
Explosion:
Above flash point, vapor-air mixtures are explosive within flammable limits noted above. Sensitive to static discharge.
Fire Extinguishing Media:
Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray, or alcohol resistant foam.
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.
Remove all sources of ignition. Ventilate area of leak or spill. 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. Neutralize with alkaline material (soda ash, lime), then 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! If a leak or spill has not ignited, use water spray to disperse the vapors, to protect personnel attempting to stop leak, and to flush spills away from exposures. US Regulations (CERCLA) require reporting spills and releases to soil, water and air in excess of reportable quantities. The toll free number for the US Coast Guard National Response Center is (800) 424-8802.
J. T. Baker NEUTRASORB® acid neutralizers are recommended for spills of this product.
Keep in a tightly closed container. Store in a cool, dry, ventilated area away from sources of heat or ignition. Protect against physical damage. Store separately from reactive or combustible materials, and out of direct sunlight. Strongly corrosive. Should be handled in 316 stainless steel, glass, ceramic, or similar corrosion resistant materials. 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.
Airborne Exposure Limits:
-OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
5 ppm (TWA)
-ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV):
5 ppm (TWA), 10 ppm (STEL)
-NIOSH IDLH Level: 30 ppm
Ventilation System:
A system of local and/or general exhaust is recommended to keep employee exposures below the Airborne Exposure Limits. 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. Use explosion-proof equipment.
Personal Respirators (NIOSH Approved):
If the exposure limit is exceeded and engineering controls are not feasible, wear a supplied air, full-facepiece respirator, airlined hood, or full-facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus. Breathing air quality must meet the requirements of the OSHA respiratory protection standard (29CFR1910.134). Formic acid has questionable warning properties and a low IDLH. Respirator recommended to 6 times the TLV value as a maximum.
Skin Protection:
Rubber or neoprene gloves and additional protection including impervious boots, apron, or coveralls, as needed in areas of unusual exposure.
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.
Appearance:
Clear, colorless liquid.
Odor:
Characteristic, pungent odor.
Solubility:
Infinitely soluble.
Density:
1.2
pH:
No information found.
% Volatiles by volume @ 21C (70F):
100
Boiling Point:
101C (214F)
Melting Point:
ca. 8C (ca. 46F)
Vapor Density (Air=1):
1.6 @ 19C (66F)
Vapor Pressure (mm Hg):
40 @ 24C (75F)
Evaporation Rate (BuAc=1):
2.1
Stability:
Stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage.
Hazardous Decomposition Products:
Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide may form when heated to decomposition. Dehydrated by sulfuric acid to produce carbon monoxide.
Hazardous Polymerization:
Will not occur.
Incompatibilities:
Sulfuric acid, strong caustics, furfuryl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, strong oxidizers and bases. Reacts explosively with oxidizing agents.
Conditions to Avoid:
Heat, flame, other sources of ignition.
Oral rat LD50: 1100 mg/kg; inhalation rat LC50: 15 gm/m3/15M; investigated as a tumorigen, mutagen.
--------\Cancer Lists\------------------------------------------------------
---NTP Carcinogen---
Ingredient Known Anticipated IARC Category
------------------------------------ ----- ----------- -------------
Formic Acid (64-18-6) No No None
Water (7732-18-5) No No None
Environmental Fate:
When released into the soil, this material is expected to leach into groundwater. When released into the soil, this material may biodegrade to a moderate extent. When released into water, this material is expected to readily biodegrade. When released into the air, this material is expected to be readily degraded by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals.
Environmental Toxicity:
This material is not expected to be toxic to aquatic life.
Whatever cannot be saved for recovery or recycling should be handled as hazardous waste and sent to a RCRA approved waste 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.
Domestic (Land, D.O.T.)
-----------------------
Proper Shipping Name: FORMIC ACID
Hazard Class: 8, 3
UN/NA: UN1779
Packing Group: II
Information reported for product/size: 127LB
International (Water, I.M.O.)
-----------------------------
Proper Shipping Name: FORMIC ACID
Hazard Class: 8, 3
UN/NA: UN1779
Packing Group: II
Information reported for product/size: 127LB
International (Air, I.C.A.O.)
-----------------------------
Proper Shipping Name: FORMIC ACID
Hazard Class: 8, 3
UN/NA: UN1779
Packing Group: II
Information reported for product/size: 127LB
--------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 1\---------------------------------
Ingredient TSCA EC Japan Australia
----------------------------------------------- ---- --- ----- ---------
Formic Acid (64-18-6) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Water (7732-18-5) Yes Yes Yes Yes
--------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 2\---------------------------------
--Canada--
Ingredient Korea DSL NDSL Phil.
----------------------------------------------- ----- --- ---- -----
Formic Acid (64-18-6) Yes Yes No Yes
Water (7732-18-5) Yes Yes No Yes
--------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 1\----------------
-SARA 302- ------SARA 313------
Ingredient RQ TPQ List Chemical Catg.
----------------------------------------- --- ----- ---- --------------
Formic Acid (64-18-6) No No Yes No
Water (7732-18-5) No No No No
--------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 2\----------------
-RCRA- -TSCA-
Ingredient CERCLA 261.33 8(d)
----------------------------------------- ------ ------ ------
Formic Acid (64-18-6) 5000 U123 No
Water (7732-18-5) 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 (Mixture / Liquid)
Australian Hazchem Code: 2R
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.
NFPA Ratings: Health: 3 Flammability: 2 Reactivity: 0
Label Hazard Warning:
DANGER! CORROSIVE. LIQUID AND MIST CAUSE SEVERE BURNS TO ALL BODY TISSUE. MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED. HARMFUL IF INHALED. INHALATION MAY CAUSE LUNG DAMAGE. VAPOR IS IRRITATING TO EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID AND VAPOR.
Label Precautions:
Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing.
Do not breathe vapor or mist.
Keep container closed.
Use with adequate ventilation.
Wash thoroughly after handling.
Keep away from heat, sparks and flame.
Label First Aid:
In case of contact, immediately flush eyes or skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. If swallowed, DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Give large quantities of water. 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 all cases get medical attention immediately.
Product Use:
Laboratory Reagent.
Revision Information:
MSDS Section(s) changed since last revision of document include: 5, 16.
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Prepared by: Environmental Health & Safety
Phone Number: (314) 654-1600 (U.S.A.)