Material Safety Data Sheet

Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash)

Product Identification Physical and Chemical Properties

Brand Name ……………….. ANSAC Soda ash State……………………………. Granulated solid
Chemical Name…………..… Sodium carbonate Melting Point oC……………….. 851
Common Name…………….. Soda ash Boiling Point oC ………………. Decomposes
Formula…………………….. Na2CO3 Color…………………………… White
DOT Proper Shipping Name Not applicable Odor……………………………. None
DOT Hazard Class…………. Not applicable Bulk Density (g/cc)……………. 0.86 – 1.12
DOT ID Number…………… Not applicable Weight per Gallon……………... Not applicable
Reportable Quantity (RQ)….. Not applicable Specific Gravity……………….. 2.5 (water =1)
CAS Number……………….. 497-19-8 Water Solubility % by wt ……... 33.2% maximum
Flash Point & Method…………. Not applicable
pH……………………………… 11.4 (1% solution)

INTERNATIONAL LISTINGS

Australia China Japan Korea Philippines

AICS Listed Listed (1) - 164 KE-31380 PICCS Listed

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 PHYSICAL HAZARD INFORMATION

General: Irritant to eyes, mucous membranes and skin

Not expected to be toxic to the environment nor to aquatic animals

Explosive: No Upper Explosive Limit: Not applicable Lower Explosive Limit: Not
applicable
Pyrophoric: No

Flammable: No Flammability Class: Not applicable

Combustible: No Organic Peroxide: No

Oxidizer: No Compressed Gas: No

Reactivity: Normally stable. May react violently with strong acids. Carbon dioxide gas
and large quantities of heat can be evolved. Reacts with hydrated lime in
the presence of moisture to form caustic soda, a corrosive.

Incompatibilities: Keep away from aluminum powder, fluorine, phosphorous pentoxide,

sulfuric acid, ammoniacal silver nitrate and molten lithium.
Hazardous
Decomposition: Soda ash decomposes at temperatures above 1000oC, releasing carbon
dioxide gas (CO2). Carbon dioxide is an asphyxiant and may affect
respiration rate or interfere with breathing. The sodium oxide residue
sublimes at 1275 oC, forming vapors and mists of caustic soda on contact
with moisture or water.

Conditions to Avoid: Do not expose to intense heat.

HEALTH INFORMATION

Precautionary
Information: CAUTION! Causes irritation. This product is a severe irritant to the eyes and
a moderate irritant to the nose and skin.

Symptoms of
Exposure: Eye, nose or skin irritation
Burning sensation to nose, throat and eyes
Redness of the skin
Sneezing and coughing

Restrictive Medical
Conditions: Eye or skin diseases and breathing or respiratory disorders will be aggravated
by exposure to this chemical.

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 FIRST AID PROCEDURES

Eye Contact: Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Call a
physician.

Skin Contact: Flush with plenty of water. Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean shoes
before reuse.

Ingestion: If swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Give large quantities of water. Never
give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Call a physician.

Inhalation: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing give artificial respiration,
preferably mouth-to-mouth. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a
physician.

Note to
Physician: Exposure to sodium carbonate at high concentrations may produce corneal
opacities, and vesicular skin reactions in humans with abraded skin. Internal
toxicity is low.
Treatment is symptomatic and supportive

PRIMARY ROUTE(S) OF ENTRY

Eye and skin contact, inhalation (breathing), and ingestion (swallowing).

TOXICITY INFORMATION

Eye irritation –100 mg/24 hour (rabbit), severe irritant

Skin irritation – Non-irritating to intact skin. Minor irritation to abraded skin. [Toxicol. Appl.
Pharmacol. 31:481 (1975)]. No Dermal LD50 data available.
Oral LD50 – 4090 mg/kg (rat) [RTECS 1986]
Inhalation LC50 – 2.3 mg/l (rat) [Environ, Res. 31:138 (1983)]

EXPOSURE LIMITS

Ingredients in this product are considered nuisance dust with no specific guidelines for exposure.
Hence, based on guidance for particulates not otherwise regulated:
OSHA (PEL/TWA): 15 mg/m3 (total dust); 5 mg/m3 (respirable fraction)
MSHA (PEL/TWA): 10 mg/m3 (total dust)
Specific work environments will dictate the selection of personal protective equipment (PPE)

Reported As A Potential Carcinogen: Not applicable National Toxicology Program

Or Carcinogen OSHA International Agency for Research on
Cancer

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 PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING AND USE

Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing

Avoid breathing dust
Use with adequate ventilation
Keep container closed when not in use
Wash thoroughly after handling

SPILL & LEAK PROCEDURES

Soil Release: Shovel and sweep up. Dispose of in a chemical waste facility as permitted by
federal (RCRA), state and local regulations.

Water Spill: Dilute and disperse with water jets, propellers or similar agitation techniques.

Air Spill: Keep upwind. Treat impact site as appropriate for soil or water spill.

Occupational
Spill: Vacuum or shovel and sweep up. As permitted, small spills may be washed to an
industrial sewer. Large amounts can be disposed of in a chemical waste facility as
permitted by federal, state and local regulations.

RCRA Waste
Number: No applicable

ENGINEERING CONTROLS AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Ventilation: Use general dilution and local exhaust ventilation techniques to meet nuisance dust
exposure limit.

Respirator: Use NIOSH/MSHA approved dust type respirator.

Eye Protection: Use safety glasses or safety goggles. Ensure eyewash fountain is located in
immediate work area.

Gloves: Use gloves that will not allow alkaline solutions to penetrate.

Clothing: Wear easily washable clothing. Change daily or more often if contaminated. Wash
clothing before reuse.

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 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Fire: This product is not flammable and does not support combustion.

Spill or Leak: Vacuum or sweep up and shovel into containers for later disposal.

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Revision Summary
This MSDS replaces the 09/2005 revision
Changes in information are as follows:
• Addition of International chemical listing numbers as available
• First Aid Procedures/Physicians notes revised
• Toxicity information sources updated – No essential changes in content

Material Safety Data Sheet

Revised 10/2007

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Revised: 10/07