Material Safety Data Sheet – Magnesium Chloride Food Grade

Identification

Product Name: Magnesium Chloride Food Grade
Chemical Formula: MgCl₂
CAS Number: 7791-18-6
Recommended Use: Food additive, dietary supplement, process aid
Supplier: Available via multiple chemical distributors, global and domestic
Contact Telephone: Provided by individual supplier
Emergency Phone: Listed on product packaging and supplier site
Synonyms: Magnesium dichloride, E511
Relevant Identified Uses: Nutritional enhancement, coagulant for tofu, mineral supplement manufacturing

Hazard Identification

GHS Classification: Eye Irritation, Category 2; Skin Irritation, Category 3
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Pictograms: Exclamation mark
Hazard Statements: Causes moderate eye irritation. May cause mild skin irritation. Inhalation may trigger respiratory discomfort, coughing, and throat irritation.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid contact with eyes, long or repeated skin exposure, inhalation of dust or powder.
Potential Health Effects: Long-term ingestion at high concentrations can lead to gastrointestinal disturbance, hypermagnesemia in predisposed individuals, particularly kidney failure patients.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Ingredient: Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate
Concentration: 99.0%–100.5% (purity for food grade specifications)
Chemical Formula: MgCl₂·6H₂O
Other Components: Water of hydration.
Impurities: Trace amounts of calcium and sodium salts (ppm level typical). Lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals restricted below food regulatory limits.

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist, including coughing, breathing difficulty, or chest pain.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes gently with water for 15 minutes, lifting eyelids occasionally. Consult a doctor if irritation continues.
Skin Contact: Wash exposed skin with plenty of water and soap. Remove contaminated clothing. Medical advice recommended for persistent irritation.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth. Drink water to dilute. Call poison control or seek medical attention if large amounts ingested, symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea develop. Do not induce vomiting unless under medical supervision.
Note to Physician: Treat symptoms. Monitor for magnesium toxicity, especially if patient has renal impairment.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Flammability: Not flammable.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or foam on surrounding fire. Product itself does not sustain combustion.
Hazardous Combustion Products: Hydrogen chloride fumes, magnesium oxide possible if heated to decomposition.
Special Protective Equipment: Use self-contained breathing apparatus in fire conditions. Full protective gear recommended.
Other Information: Avoid contact with strong acids, strong oxidizers. Avoid inhalation of decomposition fumes.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Avoid dust formation. Wear dust mask, safety goggles, gloves. Evacuate unnecessary personnel from area.
Environmental Precautions: Keep out of drain, watercourses, and soil. Prevent large quantities from entering surface waters or municipal wastewater.
Clean-up Methods: Sweep or vac up spillage. Place in suitable containers for disposal. For large spills, moisten with water to reduce dust before collecting. Clean area with water.
Disposal: Comply with national/local regulations for food additives and chemicals.

Handling and Storage

Handling: Avoid generating dust. Use in well-ventilated workspace. Don't eat, drink, or smoke during use. Use appropriate PPE for potential eye and skin exposure. Avoid prolonged or repeated skin contact.
Storage: Store in a tightly closed container. Keep in cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from incompatible substances, mainly nitric acid, strong acids, and strong oxidizers. Protect from moisture and direct sunlight. Store away from children and unauthorized personnel. Recommended storage temperature: 15–25 °C.

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Occupational Exposure Limits: No specific government occupational limits set for magnesium chloride, but handle as nuisance particulate (Total Dust: OSHA PEL 15 mg/m³, Respirable: 5 mg/m³).
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust or general ventilation to keep airborne levels below recommended exposure limits.
Personal Protective Equipment: Wear safety glasses with side shields, dust mask, protective gloves (nitrile or PVC), and long-sleeved lab coat. For large-scale handling, consider full face shield, splash goggles, and a particulate respirator.
Hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly after use. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. No open containers in eating areas.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: White to off-white crystalline flakes, granules, or powder
Odor: Odorless
Odor Threshold: Not applicable
pH (aqueous solution): 8–9 (100 g/L)
Melting Point: 118 °C (decomposes)
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility in Water: Easily soluble (167 g/100 ml at 20°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.56 (water = 1 at 20°C)
Vapor Pressure: Not volatile
Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water): Not determined
Flash Point: Not applicable
Evaporation Rate: Not applicable
Explosive Limits: Not applicable
Auto-Ignition Temperature: Not applicable
Decomposition Temperature: Above 118 °C releases HCl gas, magnesium oxide

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended conditions of storage and handling. Breaks down in excess heat or contact with water, releasing chloride and magnesium ions.
Conditions to Avoid: High humidity, water, moisture, strong acids, oxidizing agents. Avoid heating above recommended temperatures.
Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizers, nitric acid, bromine trifluoride, alkali metals.
Hazardous Decomposition: Hydrogen chloride, magnesium oxide possible at high temperatures.
Hazardous Polymerization: Does not occur.

Toxicological Information

Acute Toxicity: Oral LD₅₀ rat: 8100 mg/kg. Considerably safer than many mineral salts at regulated use levels.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin and eye contact, ingestion.
Possible Effects: Eyes: redness, watering, irritation. Skin: mild, transient irritation for sensitive individuals. Inhalation: upper respiratory irritation. Ingestion: mild gastrointestinal upset possible above nutritional doses (nausea, nausea, diarrhea with excess amounts).
Chronic Exposure: Prolonged overexposure by ingestion may contribute to electrolyte imbalances, hypermagnesemia, especially in people with kidney disorders.
Carcinogenicity: No evidence of carcinogenic effects for food-grade magnesium chloride.
Mutagenicity/Teratogenicity: No evidence for mutagenic or teratogenic effects found in food-grade product studies.

Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Low environmental toxicity at standard release levels. Large spills or concentrations can disrupt aquatic life by increasing total salinity, potentially harming freshwater fish or aquatic invertebrates.
Persistence and Degradability: Dissolves in water, does not bioaccumulate, breaks down to natural magnesium and chloride ions.
Bioaccumulative Potential: Negligible; magnesium and chloride are essential/minor minerals in most organisms.
Mobility in Soil: High solubility, easily migrates through soil, possibly impacting plant water balance in high concentrations.
Other Adverse Effects: Avoid direct release in sensitive water bodies, follow local guidance for disposal in large industrial applications.

Disposal Considerations

Waste Disposal: Dispose in accordance with local, regional, and national regulations relating to food and chemical waste. Avoid disposal by discharge to rivers, lakes, sewer without treatment or neutralization.
Packaging Disposal: Empty containers should be rinsed, recycled, or disposed as per hazardous material recommendations. Avoid reuse of packaging for food or drink.
Special Precautions: For bulk industrial users, consult waste management professionals for environmental compliance.

Transport Information

UN Number: Not classified as hazardous for road, rail, sea, or air transport.
Transport Hazard Class: Not regulated, no restriction for transport by any typical carrier.
Packing Group: None required
Labeling: Non-hazardous as per GHS, DOT, IATA, IMDG guidelines. Follow standard food-grade chemical labeling and documentation practice.
Transportation Precautions: Avoid contact with incompatible materials during transport. Protect from moisture.

Regulatory Information

Food Additive Status: Approved as E511 under European regulations; classified GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by FDA when used within established limits for food use.
OSHA: Not listed as hazardous.
SARA Title III: Not subject to SARA Title III reporting.
California Proposition 65: Product does not contain materials subject to Proposition 65 reporting for carcinogenicity or reproductive toxicity.
WHMIS (Canada): Listed under non-controlled products.
TSCA (USA): Product and ingredients listed.
Other Regulations: Meets Codex food additive and purity requirements. National specific regulations may vary, users should consult their own jurisdiction’s requirements for food-use substances.