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Product Name: Sodium Nitrate
Chemical Formula: NaNO3
CAS Number: 7631-99-4
Synonyms: Chile saltpeter, nitric acid sodium salt
Recommended Uses: Fertilizers, explosives, glass manufacturing, food preservative
Supplier Details: Industrial and laboratory chemical distributors, commonly found in agricultural supply stores
Emergency Contact Information: Accessible through local poison control centers and national safety telephone lines
Classification: Oxidizing solid (Category 3), Eye irritation (Category 2A), Health hazard under GHS requirements
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Statements: May intensify fire; oxidizer. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause irritation to respiratory system. Chronic exposure may damage kidneys.
Pictogram: Flame over circle; Exclamation mark
Precautionary Statements: Keep away from heat and combustible materials. Avoid dust formation. Wear protective gear to avoid inhalation and eye contact. Seek medical attention after eye or respiratory exposure.
Chemical Identity: Sodium nitrate
Concentration: 98-100% by weight
Impurities: May include trace amounts of sodium chloride and other sodium salts
Ingredient Contribution: Pure sodium nitrate primarily; hazardous effects relate to its oxidizer and irritant properties. No big mix of other active components.
Inhalation: Move into fresh air. If breathing feels strained, use oxygen and seek medical help.
Skin Contact: Rinse with plenty of water. Remove contaminated clothing to limit further exposure.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with water for 15 minutes. Lift eyelids to get full exposure. Call a doctor if irritation lingers.
Ingestion: Give water to dilute. Don’t try to induce vomiting, especially if unconscious. Head to a clinic for further treatment.
Other Notes: Symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath, redness, tearing, and gastrointestinal distress after ingestion.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water in large quantities; sodium nitrate boosts flammability when mixed with combustible material.
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemicals, carbon dioxide, and foam not effective for sodium nitrate-driven fires.
Hazards from Fire: Fire releases toxic vapors, such as nitrogen oxides. Intense heat builds up and oxidizers increase risk to nearby flammables.
Firefighter Protection: Put on full turnout gear, self-contained breathing apparatus, and keep good distance from the scene.
Personal Precautions: Wear goggles, gloves, and dust mask. Keep folks without protection away.
Environmental Precautions: Stop spill from entering water drains or natural waterways; runoff harms aquatic life.
Clean-Up Method: Scoop up into dry, clean containers. Avoid creating dust clouds. Ventilate area well. Wash spill site after material removal.
Disposal Instruction: Follow local hazardous waste policies. Large spills might require environmental specialists.
Handling: Minimize dust formation, keep away from open flames, sparks, and all types of organic and combustible material. Use grounded equipment.
Storage: Store in tightly closed containers, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse, away from sunlight. Walls and fittings must be non-combustible.
Handling Precautions: Employees handling bulk quantities should use local exhaust ventilation and protective measures. No smoking or eating in handling area.
Workplace Exposure Limits: No national exposure limit, but dust should be monitored and minimized.
Respiratory Protection: Use a particulate filter respirator if dust concentrations rise.
Eye Protection: Wear chemical safety goggles.
Skin Protection: Gloves and coveralls recommended for long handling.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands after handling. Shower and change clothes after shifts if exposure is heavy.
Appearance: Colorless to white crystalline solid
Odor: Odorless
Melting Point: 308 °C (586 °F)
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility: Highly soluble in water
Density: 2.26 g/cm3
pH (5% solution): Near neutral
Other Properties: Non-flammable by itself, but ignites combustibles upon contact, decomposes under extreme heat
Chemical Stability: Remains stable under standard conditions with low humidity and mild temperatures.
Reactivity: Strong oxidizer that reacts with organics, reducing agents, acids, and highly flammable substances.
Decomposition Products: Emits toxic gases, mainly nitrogen oxides, if heated.
Incompatible Materials: Avoid mixing with sugar, charcoal, sulfur, and acids.
Acute Effects: Dust leads to respiratory irritation. Accidental ingestion upsets gastrointestinal tract, can cause nausea, headache. High doses might cause methemoglobinemia.
Skin and Eye Contact: Causes redness, irritation, watering of eyes.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged regular contact linked to kidney damage, changes in blood chemistry if exposure goes unchecked.
Toxicity Data: LD50 (oral, rat): around 1267 mg/kg. Studies point to higher risk in children with long-term environmental exposure due to dietary intake.
Aquatic Toxicity: Sodium nitrate fuels algal blooms if it gets to rivers or lakes, which suffocates fish and other wildlife.
Persistence: Not easily degraded in nature; nitrates stay mobile in water.
Bioaccumulation: No substantial accumulation in aquatic organisms has been reported, but concentration affects aquatic environments quickly.
Environmental Exposure: Crop run-off drives up nitrate in local groundwater, impacting drinking water safety.
Disposal Methods: Use hazardous chemical collection routes. Small amounts can go with regular waste after dilution and neutralization, but big volumes must be handled through specialized waste services.
Container Cleaning: Rinse drums or bags thoroughly before recycling or disposal.
Regulatory Compliance: Always pay attention to local, state, and national rules on nitrate waste management, as nitrate-rich waters face legal limits in many countries.
UN Number: 1498
Proper Shipping Name: Sodium Nitrate
Transport Hazard Class: 5.1 (Oxidizer)
Packing Group: III
Label: Oxidizer symbol must stand out on the container
Transport Precautions: Separate from organic materials and combustibles, use sealed packaging, avoid rough handling during loading and unloading. Always clarify emergency data with drivers and handlers before departure.
TSCA Status: Listed
REACH Status (EU): Registered and regulated
OSHA Status: Hazardous chemical as defined by OSHA criteria
SARA Title III: Section 313 lists sodium nitrate for environmental reporting
Other Regulations: Subject to regional restrictions on storage quantities and potable water discharge limits. Packaging, labeling, and handling laws set at national and international levels. Safety training for staff regularly required in facilities with continuous nitrate use.
