Looking at Nitrogen-Containing Compounds: Safety Data Sheets that Matter

Ammonia

Identification: Colorless gas with a sharp smell, mostly used for cleaning, fertilizers, and refrigeration.
Hazard Identification: Corrosive, burns skin and eyes, irritates lungs, and high concentrations can quickly turn fatal.
Composition / Information on Ingredients: Pure ammonia (NH3) often at concentrations above 99%.
First Aid Measures: Immediate fresh air for inhalation, lots of water if it gets on the skin or in eyes, and quick medical help for severe exposures.
Fire-Fighting Measures: Non-flammable itself, but can boost fire if it reacts with chlorine or silver compounds. Keep cool by spraying water if tanks heat up.
Accidental Release Measures: Ventilate the area, seal off leaks, evacuate unnecessary personnel, and avoid direct contact.
Handling and Storage: Store in tightly sealed containers, away from acids, silver compounds, and open flames. Use well-ventilated areas with secondary containment to trap leaks.
Exposure Controls and Personal Protection: Use gloves, goggles, full-face shields, and chemical-resistant clothing. Ventilation and respirators are essential in cramped or high-use spaces.
Physical and Chemical Properties: Boils below room temperature, dissolves easily in water, smells pungent even at low levels.
Stability and Reactivity: Reacts strongly with acids, halogens, and oxidizers. Over time, corrosion can weaken storage containers.
Toxicological Information: Short stints can irritate; longer or bigger exposures bring blood and lung issues and, in worst cases, death.
Ecological Information: Leaks cause fish kills and mess up water life rapidly. Evaporates fast but sticks around long enough to harm soil and plants.
Disposal Considerations: Neutralize before releasing to drains, follow hazardous waste rules. Never throw it straight out.
Transport Information: Classified as dangerous, requires specific hazard signage and careful, upright transport.
Regulatory Information: Strictly controlled under environmental and occupational health laws due to severity if mishandled.

Nitric Acid

Identification: Colorless to yellowish liquid, used in fertilizers, explosives, and etching.
Hazard Identification: Strong oxidizer, erodes tissues quickly, fumes can burn the respiratory system.
Composition / Information on Ingredients: Available in concentrations up to 70%; main ingredient is HNO3.
First Aid Measures: Water rinse for skin, eyes, and inhaled fumes. Remove all exposed clothing and see a doctor quickly.
Fire-Fighting Measures: Not flammable but spurs fires with combustibles, so water sprays work for cooling, never dry powder.
Accidental Release Measures: Duck out of the vapor, dike spills, sand or earth to soak up liquid, and place in proper container.
Handling and Storage: Store away from organic materials and bases, keep bottles tightly shut and out of sunlight.
Exposure Controls and Personal Protection: Respirators, acid gloves, chemical goggles, and full apron in regular use.
Physical and Chemical Properties: Heavy, fast-flowing liquid, mixes instantly with water, releases harsh fumes.
Stability and Reactivity: Unstable with bases, reducers, and many organic compounds, decomposes to nitrogen oxides in light.
Toxicological Information: Attacks mouth, gut, and lungs, can scar skin and lead to breathing issues for life.
Ecological Information: Leaks acidify soil and waterways, killing off insects, fish, and plants in no time.
Disposal Considerations: Neutralize with soda, dilute, and send to hazardous waste handlers. Never mix with other chemicals in disposal.
Transport Information: Packed with extra caution; hot-ticket item for chemical transport rules.
Regulatory Information: Almost always covered by hazardous substance laws, with extra reporting for large stockpiles.

Urea

Identification: White, grainy solid found in fertilizers, ice melts, and industrial uses.
Hazard Identification: Low direct toxicity, can produce ammonia if wet or hot, causes mild irritation.
Composition / Information on Ingredients: Carbamide, typically about 99% pure in bulk.
First Aid Measures: Rinse off eyes or skin with water, drink water if swallowed in small amounts.
Fire-Fighting Measures: Not a fire hazard itself, but hot urea may release ammonia fumes.
Accidental Release Measures: Scoop up granules, ventilation for dusts, avoid contact with water around storage.
Handling and Storage: Dry conditions, sealed containers, away from strong acids, strong oxidizers.
Exposure Controls and Personal Protection: Dust mask, gloves, goggles for large spills or when shoveling.
Physical and Chemical Properties: Water-soluble, non-volatile, dry, and almost odorless granules.
Stability and Reactivity: Stable normally; breaks down to ammonia and CO2 in heat or moist conditions.
Toxicological Information: Low toxicity, causes little more than mild irritation on skin or in throat.
Ecological Information: Nutrient run-off can cause algal blooms, choking waterways and depleting oxygen for fish.
Disposal Considerations: Use as fertilizer or send to industrial compost. Large dusty spills need damp sweeping.
Transport Information: Avoid spills during hauling, shipping containers need to be closed and dry.
Regulatory Information: Not a tightly controlled substance, but rules apply in pollution-sensitive areas.

Aniline

Identification: Oily, colorless to brown liquid, vital for dyes, rubber chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
Hazard Identification: Toxic through skin and lungs, can turn blood brown and cut oxygen flow.
Composition / Information on Ingredients: Usually pure C6H5NH2.
First Aid Measures: Get medical help immediately for any exposure, flush with lots of water, use oxygen aid if breathing slows.
Fire-Fighting Measures: Flammable, forms toxic fumes, needs foam, CO2, or dry powder to control.
Accidental Release Measures: Ventilate well, contain with earth or sand, use pump for big spills in closed drums.
Handling and Storage: Store away from light, oxidizers, and open flames, seal containers tightly.
Exposure Controls and Personal Protection: Chemical goggles, respiratory protection, nitrile gloves, and extra ventilation in workrooms.
Physical and Chemical Properties: Slightly heavier than water, faint ammonia odor, turns brown in air.
Stability and Reactivity: Sensitive to light and heat, reacts with acids and oxidizers easily.
Toxicological Information: Might cause loss of consciousness and blue lips in severe exposure, impacts central nervous system.
Ecological Information: Spills are toxic to water life and can linger in soil.
Disposal Considerations: Burn in official incinerators, ship up sealed and labeled. Wastewater cleanup needs scrubbers.
Transport Information: Label as toxic and flammable, protect from tipping and sun.
Regulatory Information: Extra controls because of toxicity and flammability in transportation law.

Acrylonitrile

Identification: A clear, sharp-smelling liquid, backbone of plastics like ABS and synthetic rubber.
Hazard Identification: Highly flammable and toxic, quick to be absorbed by lungs or skin, effects show up fast and hard.
Composition / Information on Ingredients: Usually close to 100% CH2CHCN.
First Aid Measures: Oxygen and rinsing, everything off the skin, rescue breathing in case of collapse, hospital straight away.
Fire-Fighting Measures: Foam and CO2 put out fires; avoid water jets that spread the spill.
Accidental Release Measures: Evacuate, full protective clothing, fight vapors with water spray.
Handling and Storage: Sealed at room temperature, keep from sparks, flames, and strong bases or acids.
Exposure Controls and Personal Protection: Use all PPE, especially breathing filters and chemical suits.
Physical and Chemical Properties: Boils near room heat and evaporates rapidly, sharp but sweet, eye-stinging smell.
Stability and Reactivity: Unstable under heat and light, may self-polymerize if left open.
Toxicological Information: Dizziness, headache, and even sudden death from enough exposure; long-term risk of cancer.
Ecological Information: Kills aquatic life in streams and lakes, runs off easily in rain.
Disposal Considerations: Incinerate in full chemical scrubbers.
Transport Information: Strict label and high-alert shipping.
Regulatory Information: Tracked as a hazardous air pollutant in most countries.