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Name: Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate
Chemical Formula: Ca(NO3)2·4H2O
Common Names: Norwegian Saltpeter, Fertilizer Grade Calcium Nitrate
Appearance: White, hygroscopic crystalline solid
Odor: Odorless
Uses: Agricultural fertilizer, concrete additive, cooling packs, wastewater treatment
Solubility: High solubility in water; creates a clear, colorless solution
GHS Classification: Oxidizing solid, Eye irritant, Skin irritant
Physical Hazards: Can accelerate combustion of other materials, especially alongside organic matter. Not flammable by itself, but supports fire.
Health Hazards: Irritates skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Swallowing could cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting. High exposures have brought symptoms like headache and dizziness. Chronic exposure may aggravate respiratory conditions.
Environmental Hazards: Contributes to waterway eutrophication; high nitrate runoff impacts aquatic environments.
Chemical Name: Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate
Chemical Formula: Ca(NO3)2·4H2O
CAS Number: 13477-34-4
Concentration: Calcium Nitrate typically above 99% for pure samples; impurities generally low.
Other Components: Water of crystallization; trace impurities depending on manufacturing route.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air, keep comfortable. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist. People sometimes underestimate the irritation caused by fine fertilizer dusts, but breathing in enough will always cause coughing and throat discomfort.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, rinse skin with plenty of water. Many only start to experience burning sensations after some minutes of contact, so immediate rinsing matters.
Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with water for several minutes – do not rub eyes. Seek medical attention if redness or irritation continues.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, drink a glass of water. Do not induce vomiting. For persistent stomach ache or distress, get medical help. Nitrates have a track record for causing abdominal troubles, especially in concentrated forms.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical, foam. Water is usually effective, but keep distance to avoid runoff exposure.
Special Hazards: May decompose and release toxic gases, including nitrogen oxides, at high temperatures. Intensifies the burning of other materials; fertilizer storage fires can become severe without proper spacing.
Protective Equipment: Firefighters use self-contained breathing apparatus. Full protective gear needed because of toxic smoke potential.
Advice for Fire Responders: Remove containers from risk area, cool with water spray if safe. Prevent runoff from entering drains or water courses.
Personal Protection: Wear gloves, goggles, dust mask in case of a large spill. Avoid skin contact and inhalation of dust. This substance draws moisture, so it can form slippery surfaces and clumpy piles; don’t underestimate the slip risk.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry to sewers and open waterways; runoff can cause algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
Cleanup Methods: Shovel up carefully, avoid raising dust, wash area after removal. For liquid solution spills, use absorbent materials then pick up and dispose according to local regulations.
Handling: Minimize dust production, always wear eye and skin protection as even casual exposure can cause irritation over time. Wash hands thoroughly after handling; no eating or drinking near material. Nitrate salts are notorious for accidental ingestion in workplaces that don’t enforce breaktime hygiene.
Storage: Keep in tightly closed containers, cool and well-ventilated. Store away from combustibles, acids, and reducing agents. Do not store with organic materials to avoid fire risk; fertilizer and fuels have produced devastating fires in agricultural sheds. Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture, since the material attracts water and can cake or liquefy.
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation to keep dust levels low. Any process generating mist or dust should have robust extraction.
Personal Protection: Respiratory protection (dust mask or respirator) if airborne concentrations rise during transfer, refilling or mixing tasks. Safety goggles, nitrile or PVC gloves for skin and eye protection. Overalls and impermeable footwear recommended in bulk handling. Eye showers and handwashing stations improve safety in any setting dealing with nitrates.
Exposure Limits: No national exposure limits for calcium nitrate, but general dust guidelines (<10 mg/m³ inhalable) help protect lung health.
Appearance: White, crystalline solid
Odor: Odorless
Melting Point: Begins to melt around 42°C (useful to know in hot climates where storage temperatures can spike)
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Density: Around 1.82 g/cm³ (bulk density may vary in fertilizer mixes)
Solubility: Highly soluble in water (over 1290 g/L at 20°C)
pH: Typically 5-7 (aqueous solution, 5% in water)
Other: Hygroscopic; absorbs moisture from air.
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage; absorbs water quickly and cakes if exposed to humid air. Nitrates break down under heat and can oxidize organic matter.
Reactivity: Reacts with acids producing toxic gases; contact with combustibles or reducing agents may cause fire or explosion hazards.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Nitrogen oxides, calcium oxide, gases that irritate mucous membranes. High-temp fires involving nitrate fertilizers have been known to fill towns with thick plumes.
Acute Effects: Causes irritation to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Ingestion can produce gastrointestinal symptoms; in rare cases, methemoglobinemia especially for infants and those with certain enzyme deficiencies.
Chronic Exposure: Long-term or repeated skin contact dries and damages skin. Repeated inhalation has caused respiratory irritation. Nitrates in drinking water have correlations with blue baby syndrome.
Routes of Entry: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact.
LD50 Values: Animal studies report oral LD50 at about 3900 mg/kg (rat). Not all nitrate exposures cause health effects, but cumulative intake through food and water can become a concern in agricultural areas.
Ecotoxicity: Nitrate contamination in water promotes plant and algal growth, leading to oxygen depletion. Fish kills have occurred in areas of major agricultural runoff.
Mobility: Highly mobile in soil, leaches easily to groundwater.
Persistence/Degradability: Nitrate ions do not break down rapidly; they move with water and persist in aquifers.
Bioaccumulation: Does not build up in aquatic life, but affects whole ecosystems through nutrient enrichment.
Waste Management: Avoid dumping on land or in water. Small quantities dissolve with plenty of water for disposal via sewage (if allowed by local rules). In agriculture, always follow area-specific codes to avoid runoff.
Container Cleaning: Rinse thoroughly, then recycle or dispose according to local rules. Never reuse fertilizer containers for food or water storage; the risk of nitrate poisoning increases if improper cleaning occurs.
Large Quantities: Hazardous waste facilities should handle large-scale disposal to prevent contamination.
Proper Shipping Name: Calcium Nitrate
Hazard Class: Oxidizer (Division 5.1, according to transport codes)
Packing Group: Often III
Labels: Oxidizer label required in transit.
Special Precautions: Separate from flammables, combustibles, and organic materials; even in transit, nitrate fertilizers can contribute to explosive or intense fire scenarios.
Regulations: Land and sea transport rules often include extra requirements for stowage and separation.
Classification: Subject to oxidizer and hazardous substance labeling under major national and international transport and safety rules.
Workplace Regulations: Most major jurisdictions require safety training, personal protective equipment and hazard communication for workers handling nitrate-based chemicals.
Environmental Laws: Fertilizer use falls under environmental protection laws in most countries, with monitoring of nitrate levels in surface and ground water.
Community Safety: Emergency planning zones cover bulk storage of nitrate fertilizers in many agricultural areas, a result of past fire and explosion incidents.
