Chemical Name: 1-Heptanesulfonic Acid Sodium Salt Monohydrate Synonyms: Sodium Heptane-1-sulfonate, Heptane Sulfonic Acid Sodium Salt Monohydrate CAS Number: 22767-50-6 Common Use: This compound often supports high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) applications. Laboratories rely on its ability to act as an ion-pair reagent for separating various analytes. Reliable identification keeps inventories honest and safety protocols strong. Precision in chemical naming reduces errors during storage and handling—an overlooked factor in daily lab operations.
Classification: Not listed as a major hazardous chemical, but good practice means not letting familiarity breed carelessness. Hazard Statements: May irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory tract with direct exposure. Inhalation of its dust can provoke coughing and sneezing, leaving workers distracted and uncomfortable. Precautionary Statements: Working without gloves or protection lets this compound find its way onto skin or into eyes quicker than expected. Symbol: Not considered highly hazardous by typical workplace standards, so it bears no prominent hazard symbol. Still, routine respect for lab hygiene and care with powders remain non-negotiable.
Main Ingredient: 1-Heptanesulfonic Acid Sodium Salt Monohydrate Purity: Common batches show high purity, typically greater than 97 percent. Impurities: Trace residuals may show in some production lots, but seldom reach levels of immediate concern for toxicology. Physical State: White crystalline powder or granules Never mistake a clean-looking powder for a harmless material. Real compositional knowledge comes from reviewing batch certificates and understanding the context—especially if trace metals or solvents are present from manufacturing.
Eye Contact: Wash eyes with water at an eyewash station for several minutes to keep irritation in check. Skin Contact: Rinse skin generously with water. Remove contaminated clothing. Inhalation: Move the affected person to fresh air. If respiratory discomfort persists, see a medical professional. Ingestion: Rinse mouth; medical attention is wise if any quantity is swallowed. Career experience shows that, while this chemical rarely causes medical emergencies, minor lapses often lead to detours to the first aid kit—especially on busy lab days.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide, or foam Hazards During Fire: Product does not fuel exothermic combustion, yet any organic compound can break down to irritating fumes under heat, producing sulfur oxides and sodium compounds. Protective Equipment: Standard fire department gear, including breathing apparatus, should go on before entering smoke-filled areas. Fire Fighting Advice: Minimize exposure; control the perimeter, and do not approach chemical fires without proper training and equipment. In most practical cases, fire departments face far greater risks from other chemicals, but sulfur-based powders belong on every responder’s checklist.
Personal Precautions: Dust masks, gloves, and safety goggles provide a straightforward barrier. Environmental Precautions: Solid spills quickly migrate down drains—block off any routes to public waterways. Methods for Clean-Up: Scoop up spilled powder, contain in waste-compatible bags, and ventilate the area to clear airborne dust. Cleaning with water can help, but slurries must not run into drains. Distractions or haste can turn a minor spill into a regulatory headache. Focusing on containment and cleanup keeps everyone out of trouble.
Handling: Lab coats, gloves, and dust containment go together every day, whether opening new containers or transferring between bottles. Storage: Airtight containers in cool, dry, well-ventilated locations work best. Special Concerns: Moisture-sensitive materials risk clumping and loss of specification after long-term exposure, so resealing prevents waste and messes. Colleagues sometimes treat routine handling like an afterthought, but chemical accidents and degradation almost always result from small lapses in procedure, not dramatic failures.
Engineering Controls: Fume hoods or local extraction systems catch airborne dust before it lands in someone’s eyes or is inhaled. Personal Protective Equipment: Gloves (nitrile or latex), goggles, lab coats, and in certain situations, a dust mask or respirator Exposure Limits: No official workplace exposure limits, but minimizing exposure is always a wise standard. Gloves sometimes seem like a hassle until skin irritation flares up. Each control layer lowers risk for users and bystanders.
Appearance: White to off-white crystalline solid Odor: Odorless or faint non-distinct smell Solubility: Highly soluble in water Melting Point: Around 300°C (decomposes) Molecular Weight: Roughly 254.25 g/mol (monohydrate) The characteristics above influence storage approach and clean-up decisions. Hydrated salts like this cake up if left open, illustrating why containers should stay tightly sealed.
Stability: Remains stable under standard laboratory temperatures and conditions Reactivity: Non-reactive with most common lab chemicals and glassware Decomposition: Generates sulfur oxides and sodium compounds on heating—combustion or improper disposal can release irritants Reduced risk of runaway chemical reactions forms a comfort zone for lab techs, but negligence in storage may compromise purity or spill control.
Acute Toxicity: This compound does not rank as acutely toxic by normal laboratory standards. High concentrations may irritate mucous membranes and skin. Chronic Exposure: Limited evidence for long-term effects. Repeated or prolonged skin contact may increase sensitivity. Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin, and eye contact, less commonly ingestion Symptoms: Redness, coughing, sneezing, and mild irritation Direct knowledge from handling supports the lack of alarm for toxicity, but slight carelessness turns into rashes or uncomfortable coughs that distract from the work at hand.
Aquatic Toxicity: Information remains incomplete, but sulfonic acid salts tend to influence aquatic organisms if concentrations rise. Persistence and Degradability: Tends to break down under environmental conditions, but not always rapidly. Environmental Precautions: Prevent unauthorized release to drains or waterways to avoid unnecessary ecological impact. Researchers know that even low-hazard materials can disrupt local water chemistry if burnt or dumped. Focusing on clean disposal matters.
Preferred Disposal: Manage as chemical laboratory waste—consign to an authorized waste handler rather than flushing down the drain. Packaging Disposal: Decontaminate containers before recycling or discarding as solid waste. Landfills and municipal water treatment plants cannot be the end-of-pipe solution—every facility needs a clear plan endorsed by environmental regulators and their own best practices.
UN Number: Not assigned under most shipping protocols Transport Hazard Class: Not regulated as a dangerous good for ground, air, or sea—ordinary shipping rules apply Packing Group: Not classified Practical transport means sealed, labeled containers, handled by staff who recognize that minor leaks or broken packages lead to regulatory and practical headaches. Oversights in labeling or packing bring more trouble than the chemical content itself.
US EPA, OSHA, or EU REACH Status: Not listed among substances of very high concern and lacks specific national restrictions, as of the most recent published lists. Workplace Regulations: Standard protective measures suffice for daily use. Compliance comes from a habit of double-checking both national and local rules. Even low-risk substances can draw scrutiny if disposal records, labeling, or documentation fall short.