SULFURIC ACID
SYNONYMS:
ACIDE
SULFURIQUE (French); ACIDO SULFURICO (Spanish); BATTERY ACID; BETZ ENTEC; BOV;
CARRO'S ACID; CHAMBER ACID; CHROMIC 5; COPPERLITE RD-25; CUBATH MD ADDITION; CUBATH
M-HY; CUBATH M MAKE-UP; DIPPING ACID; EEC No. 016-020-00-8; EINECS No.
231-639-5; ELECTROLYTE ACID; ENPOLATE CONDITIONER 470; ENTEC 763 FUEL OIL B-20
FIXER; FERTILIZER ACID; HYDROOT; HYDROGEN SULFATE; KOVAR BRIGHT DIP (RDX-555);
KTI PHOTORESIST STRIPPER C.S.; LAUDER TRAY CLEANER CONCENTRATE; MATTING ACID;
NANOSTRIP; NORDHAUSEN ACID; OIL OF VITRIOL; 1030 ACID CLEANER; PIRANHA ETCH;
PREPOSIT ETCH 746; PREPOSIT ETCH 748; RT-2 STRIPPING SOLUTION;
SCHWEFELSAEURELOESUNGEN (German); SELREX CU BATH M LO; SPIRIT OF SULFUR;
STRIPPER 3; STRIPPER 5; SULFURIC ACID, AQUEOUS; SULPHURIC ACID; VITRIOL BROWN
OIL
IDENTIFICATION:
CAS:
7664-93-9
DOT ID:
UN1830
( > 51% acid); UN1831 (fuming, with 30% or more free sulfur trioxide);
UN1832 (spent); UN2796 (with not more than 51% acid)
Hazard Class or Division:
8 (CORROSIVE MATERIAL)
ERG Guide:
137
Formula:
H2O4S
RTECS No:
WS5600000
Properties:
Nonflammable
thick, oily liquid. Colorless to dark brown. Odorless, unless heated (choking
odor). Sinks and mixes violently with water. Freezes at 50°F (10°C). Poisonous
toxic oxides produced in fire. Vapor is heavier than air; will collect in low
areas. Decomposition products include toxic sulfur oxides.
Uses:
Electropolishing; electroplating baths,
making iron and steel, etching; in nonferrous metallurgy.
HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION
•
NTP:
Known human carcinogen when it appears in a
strong inorganic acid mist.
• IDLH:
15
mg/m3
• Odor threshold:
0.15 ppm/1 mg/m3
•
OSHA Table Z-1 Air Contaminant
• NIOSH Criteria Document
: NIOSH 74-128
•
Poisonous. Corrosive to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Inhalation of
aerosols and fume may cause lung edema; the effects may be delayed. Inhaling
vapors or swallowing the material can cause death. Skin and eye contact causes
severe burns and possible blindness. After long exposure workers lose
sensitivity to irritating action. Chronic exposure may affect the lungs. Mists
of sulfuric acid are a suspected carcinogen.
Exposure Limits:
•
ACGIH TLV:* 1 mg/m3 TWA; 3 mg/m3 STEL, A suspected human carcinogen when
sulfuric acid is contained in strong inorganic acid mists.
•
OSHA PEL/NIOSH REL: 1 mg/m3
•
DFG MAK: 0.1 mg/m3
Respirator:
25
mg/m3:
SA:CF (any
supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode) PAPRAGHiE (any
powered, air-purifying respirator with acid gas cartridge(s) in combination
with a highefficiency particulate filter).
50 mg/m3:
CCRFAGHiE
(any chemical cartridge respirator with a full facepiece and acid gas
cartridge(s) in combination with a highefficiency particulate filter) GMFAGHiE
[any airpurifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style,
front- or back-mounted acid gas canister having a high-efficiency particulate
filter] SCBAF (any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece)
SAF (any supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece). 80 mg/m3: SAF:PD,PP
(any suppliedair respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a
pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode).
Emergency or Planned Entry into
Unknown Concentrations or IDLH Conditions
SCBAF:PD,PP
(any
self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in
a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode) SAF:PD,PP:ASCBA (any
supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a
pressure-demand or other positivepressure mode in combination with an auxiliary
selfcontained breathing apparatus operated in a pressuredemand or other
positive-pressure mode).
Escape:
GMFAGHiE
[any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style,
front- or backmounted acid gas canister having a high-efficiency particulate
filter] SCBAE (any appropriate escapetype, self-contained breathing apparatus).
Note
: Substance causes eye irritation or damage;
eye protection needed.
Reactivity:
A
strong oxidizer that can react violently with risk of fire and explosion with
many substances including reducing agents, organic and combustible substances,
and bases. Incompatible with nonoxidizing mineral acids, organic acids, bases,
acrylates, aldehydes, alcohols, alkylene oxides, ammonia, aliphatic amines,
alkanolamines, aromatic amines, amides, chlorates, epichlorohydrin, fulminates,
glycols, isocyanates, ketones, metals (powdered), organic anhydrides,
perchlorates, picrates, substituted allyls, phenols and cresols, and water.
Also incompatible with acetic anhydride, acetone cyanhydrin, acetonitrile,
acrolein, acrylonitrile, allyl alcohol, allyl chloride, 2- aminoethanol,
ammonium hydroxide, aniline, bromine pentafluoride,
n-
butyraldehyde, caprolactum solution,
carbides, cesiumacetylene carbide, chlorine trifluoride, chlorosulfonic acid,
cuprous nitride, diisobutylene, ethylene cyanohydrin, ethylene diamine,
ethylene glycol, ethyleneimine, hydrochloric acid, iodine heptafluoride, iron,
isoprene, lithium silicide, mercuric nitride, mesityl oxide, nitric acid,
p-
nitrotoluene, perchloric acid, phosphorus,
potassium
tert-
butoxide, potassium chlorate, potassium
permanganate, propiolactone (
β
-), propylene oxide, pyridine, rubidium
acetylene, carbide, silver permanganate, sodium, sodium carbonate, sodium
chlorate, sodium hydroxide, styrene monomer, vinyl acetate, Attacks most
metals, and some plastics, rubber, and coatings. Never pour water into this
substance; when dissolving or diluting always slowly add this material to the
water.
FIRE INFORMATION:
Fire fighting gear, including SCBA, does not provide adequate
protection. If exposure occurs, remove and isolate gear immediately and
thoroughly decontaminate personnel. Noncombustible liquid, but capable of
igniting finely divided combustible materials. If material or contaminated
runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated
water.
Hazard Classifications:
Health Hazard (Blue)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Flammability (Red)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Reactivity (Yellow)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Special situations
. . . . . . . . . . . WATER
FIRST AID:
Move
victim to fresh air. Call emergency medical care. Apply artificial respiration
if victim is not breathing. Do not use mouth-to-mouth method if victim ingested
or inhaled the substance; induce artificial respiration with the aid of a
pocket mask equipped with a one–way valve or other proper respiratory medical
device. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate
contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with substance,
immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. For
minor skin contact, avoid spreading material on unaffected skin. Removal of
solidified molten material from skin requires medical assistance. Keep victim
warm and quiet. Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or skin contact) to
substance may be delayed. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the
material(s) involved, and take precautions to protect themselves.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
•
Clean Water Act: Section 311 Hazardous Substances/RQ (same as CERCLA); Section
313 Priority Chemicals.
•
EPCRA Section 302 Extremely Hazardous Substances: TPQ = 1000 lb (454 kg).
•
EPCRA Section 304: Reportable Quantity (RQ): EHS, CERCLA, 1000 lb (454 kg).
•
EPCRA Section 313: (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other
airborne species of any particle size); Form R
de minimis
concentration reporting level: 0.1%.
•
EPA Best Practical Control Technology Limits for Metal Finishing Effluent: pH,
Maximum 1 day: 6.0–9.5; Daily average/30 consecutive days: 6.0–9.5
•
California LOL: DEGMNP
•
WHMIS, Ingredients Disclosure List (Canada): 1%