© 2026 Nanjing Finechem Holdings Co., Ltd,
All Right Reserved
Chemical Name: Benzenesulfonic Acid
Other Names: Phenylsulfonic acid
Molecular Formula: C6H6O3S
Common Usage: Used in detergents, dyes production, and as a catalyst in various processes
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow crystal or a thick liquid depending on purity
Odor: Distinct, sharp acidic smell
Solubility: Easily dissolves in water, produces strong acidic solution
Health Effects: Strongly corrosive to eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Immediate irritation or burns are likely if touched or inhaled. Prolonged or repeated exposure could leave lasting tissue damage.
Hazard Symbols: Corrosive. Risk of serious burns.
Risk Phrases: Contact with moisture or skin causes burns rapidly. Vapor inhalation leads to coughing, irritation, and difficulty breathing.
Precautionary Statements: Keep away from children and unprotected workers. Use only with strict precautions.
Main Ingredient: Benzenesulfonic Acid (~98–100%)
Impurities: Trace sulfonated aromatic compounds. Presence of sulfuric acid may occur if material is not pure.
Hazardous Components: Pure form is the main hazard; no significant stabilizers or additives.
Inhalation: Move victim to fresh air right away. If breathing stops or seems impaired, artificial respiration and medical attention come first.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with clean water for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Immediate ophthalmologist check-up is needed.
Skin Contact: Take off spilled clothing. Wash affected skin with plenty of water, and use soap if possible. Get medical help if irritation or burns show.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, give water to drink if the person is not drowsy. Never force anything by mouth for an unconscious person. Get emergency assistance quickly.
Fire Risk: Not flammable but increases danger if heated. Reacts strongly with water, producing heat and hazardous fumes.
Hazards:** Burning will create toxic sulfur oxides and organic vapors. Acid fumes spread easily.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide for surrounding fires. Avoid direct water on spilled acid.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Full chemical-resistant gear, including self-contained breathing apparatus, are needed near fire zones.
Containment: Stop leak if possible without personal risk. Keep acid away from water drains, vegetation, and incompatible substances.
Personal Protection: Chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof goggles, and acid-resistant suit must cover all skin.
Cleanup Method: Neutralize spill with lime, sodium carbonate, or similar basic material. Absorb wastes with inert material like sand. Scoop up for special disposal.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent acid from reaching waterways, ground, or untreated public sewers.
Handling: Workers need training on safe acid handling. Only trained personnel should open or move containers. Always use acid-resistant tools or containers.
Storage: Tight-sealed corrosion-resistant containers required. Store in cool, dry place, away from sunlight, water, and incompatible substances like strong bases, oxidizers, or reactive metals.
Storage Life: Slight decomposition may occur over long periods or high humidity, so regular inspection helps.
Engineering Controls: Work in ventilated, corrosion-proofed areas. Fume hoods or local exhaust systems help prevent exposure.
Personal Protective Equipment: Full-face shield, splash goggles, and acid-proof gloves are essentials. PVC or neoprene aprons block skin contact. Respirators are required if airborne concentration is unknown or high.
Hygiene Practices: Workers must wash thoroughly after handling, before eating or drinking. Street clothes should never be worn into acid-handling areas.
Form: Crystalline solid or oily liquid
Color: Colorless to yellowish
Odor: Strong and acrid, difficult to ignore even at low concentrations
Melting Point: 43 to 53 °C, depending on purity
Boiling Point: Decomposition occurs before boiling at normal pressure
Solubility: Highly soluble in water, violent heat release on mixing
pH (1% solution): Extremely acidic—commonly below 1
Density: Around 1.35 to 1.38 g/cm³ at room temperature
Stability: Stable in sealed containers under recommended storage conditions. Contacts with water or moist air lead to heat and acid vapor formation.
Incompatibilities: Strong bases, metals like sodium, calcium carbide, organic materials, and oxidizing agents.
Dangerous Reactions: Excessive heat, violent gas release, and corrosion result from mixing with incompatible substances.
Decomposition Products: Sulfur oxides, toxic organic fumes if heated or degraded.
Routes of Entry: Skin and eye contact, inhalation, and accidental ingestion.
Acute Hazards: Strong acid burns, blistering, redness, and tissue destruction at the point of contact. Lung damage may follow inhalation.
Chronic Effects: Repeated or extended exposure can lead to ulceration, scarring, and increased sensitivity to acids.
Animal Testing: Severe effects on exposed tissues, including necrosis in lab animals.
Mutagenicity or Carcinogenicity: No proven connection to cancer, but chronic inflammation is a risk factor.
Environmental Mobility: Rapid migration through soil and runoff if spilled. High water solubility increases risk.
Toxicity to Aquatic Life: Lethal to fish and most aquatic organisms at very low concentrations. The acid shifts water pH dangerously low.
Persistence and Degradability: Does not persist as acid; neutralization happens quickly but the impact on local acidity can last and disrupt ecosystems.
Bioaccumulation: Not likely. The main risk lies in immediate lethal effects.
Waste Handling: Acid must be neutralized before disposal. Never pour into natural water sources, city drainage, or untreated landfill.
Regulations: Observe local, state, and national environmental disposal rules. Licensed hazardous waste handlers should be contacted for large or unknown quantities.
Containers: Used containers retain dangerous residues and need similar controls.
Shipping Hazards: Corrosive material. Avoid temperature swings and physical shock.
Packing: Only acid-resistant, airtight containers allowed during transport; leakage leads to personal injury or environmental harm.
Labeling: Clearly mark containers for corrosive content, include proper hazard symbols, and provide emergency first aid instructions to handlers.
International Controls: Classified by global transport and workplace regulations as a corrosive hazardous material.
Worker Protection Rules: Safety training and workplace exposure limits mandated across most jurisdictions.
Environment Rules: Discharge, spills, and emissions falling under environmental protection law. Reporting requirements on spills that reach sensitive environments.
Update Practices: Organizations should stay tuned to changes in chemical management guidelines, as regulations change with improved safety knowledge and science.
