Safety data for phosphoric acid

Hazard: harmful Hazard: Corrosive


Click here for data on phosphoric acid in student-friendly format, from the HSci project

Glossary of terms on this data sheet.

The information on this web page is provided to help you to work safely, but it is intended to be an overview of hazards, not a replacement for a full Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). MSDS forms can be downloaded from the web sites of many chemical suppliers.

General

Physical data

Appearance: colourless odourless liquid
Melting point: 21 C (pure)
Boiling point: 158 C (pure)
Typical concentration: see data for typical acids and bases
Vapour density: 3.4
Vapour pressure: 2.2 mm Hg at 20 C
Specific gravity: 1.685
Flash point:
Explosion limits:
Autoignition temperature:

Stability

Stable. Incompatible with powdered metals, strong bases, iron-containing compounds.

Toxicology

Corrosive - causes burns. Harmful if swallowed and in contact with skin. May be harmful through inhalation. Very destructive of mucous membranes, respiratory tract, eyes and skin. Typical TLV 1 mg/m3. Typical PEL 1 mg m-3.

Toxicity data
(The meaning of any abbreviations which appear in this section is given here.)
ORL-RAT LD50 1530 mg kg-1
UNR-MAN LDLO 200 mg kg-1
IHL-RAT LC50 > 850 mg/m3/1h
SKN-RBT LD50 2740 mg kg-1

Risk phrases
(The meaning of any risk phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
R21 R22 R34.

Transport information

Personal protection

Safety glasses, adequate ventilation, rubber or plastic gloves.

Safety phrases
(The meaning of any safety phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
S26 S36 S37 S39 S45.

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This information was last updated on October 2, 2005. We have tried to make it as accurate and useful as possible, but can take no responsibility for its use, misuse, or accuracy. We have not verified this information, and cannot guarantee that it is up-to-date.

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