Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Soda Ash

Identification

Product Name: Soda Ash
Chemical Name: Sodium Carbonate
Synonyms: Washing Soda, Soda Crystals, Disodium Carbonate
Chemical Formula: Na₂CO₃
CAS Number: 497-19-8
Manufacturer: Industrial chemical suppliers across the globe, including major commodity handlers
Recommended Use: Water softener, cleaning agents, glass manufacturing, pH regulation
Emergency Phone: Local emergency numbers or jurisdiction-specific poison control

Hazard Identification

GHS Classification: Eye Irritation, Category 2, Skin Irritation, Category 3
Label Elements: Warning symbol (exclamation mark), signal word “Warning”
Hazard Statements: Causes serious eye irritation; may cause mild skin irritation, avoid inhaling dust
Precautionary Statements: Wash hands after handling, use safety protection for eyes and skin
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, Ingestion, Skin contact, Eye contact
Symptoms: Redness, tearing, stinging in eyes; dry or cracked skin with repeated contact

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Main Ingredient: Sodium Carbonate
Concentration: 99–100% depending on grade
Impurities: Trace levels of sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, sometimes calcium carbonate
Ingredient Disclosure: No other chemical additives are common in commercially available soda ash, though grades may differ by application requirements

First Aid Measures

Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for 15 minutes, lift eyelids to remove residue, seek medical attention if irritation does not subside
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, rinse skin thoroughly with water, if irritation persists seek medical care
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air, loosen tight clothing, get medical advice if symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath develop
Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly with water, drink small amounts of water if able, do not induce vomiting, seek immediate medical advice if large amounts are swallowed or symptoms show
Advice to Physician: Treat symptomatically; irritation may be delayed by several hours

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use any media suitable for surrounding fire, soda ash is not flammable, but water, dry chemical, or foam may be appropriate
Special Hazards: Decomposes at high temperatures, releasing carbon dioxide which can displace oxygen in confined spaces
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective gear where dust or decomposition gases are present
Other Recommendations: Avoid direct runoff of fire water which might contain chemical residue into drains

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Wear protective clothing, dust mask, gloves, and safety goggles; avoid breathing dust or contact with skin and eyes
Environmental Precautions: Prevent large quantities from entering soil, waterways, or drains
Clean-up Methods: Sweep or shovel spilled material into containers for reuse or disposal, minimize dust generation, ventilate area if possible
Decontamination: Wash spill area with copious amounts of water after removal of solid

Handling and Storage

Safe Handling: Minimize dust production, use with adequate ventilation, wash hands after use, handle with care to avoid spills and dust clouds
Safe Storage: Store in a dry, cool, well-ventilated area, keep containers tightly sealed, avoid moisture, segregation from strong acids
Packaging Materials: Polyethylene-lined bags, fiber drums, bulk containers; avoid metal containers that might react with spills
Other Considerations: Label containers clearly, keep out of children’s access, maintain product integrity by preventing exposure to air and water

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 15 mg/m³ (total dust), 5 mg/m³ (respirable fraction), ACGIH TLV not established but recommended to limit dust exposure
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation, general room ventilation, dust collection systems around large operations
Personal Protective Equipment: Safety goggles, chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene), long-sleeved clothing, approved dust mask or respirator in excessive dust conditions
Hygiene Measures: Do not eat, drink, or smoke during use; wash hands and exposed skin before breaks and at end of work

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: White crystalline powder or granular solid
Odor: Odorless
pH: Around 11 (1% solution)
Melting Point: 851°C (decomposes above this temperature)
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility: Soluble in water (22 g/100 ml at 20°C); insoluble in alcohol
Density: 2.53 g/cm³
Vapor Pressure: Not relevant for solid
Other Properties: Generates heat when dissolved in water, forms an alkaline solution

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions
Reactivity: Reacts with strong acids to form sodium salts and carbon dioxide gas
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon dioxide formed by contact with acids or extreme heat
Incompatible Materials: Avoid contact with strong acids, magnesium, aluminum, ammonium salts
Polymerization: Not prone to hazardous polymerization

Toxicological Information

Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, eye and skin contact
Acute Toxicity: Low oral toxicity, LD₅₀ (rat) is around 4090 mg/kg
Chronic Effects: Long-term exposure can result in skin dryness or irritation; large quantities may cause gastrointestinal upset
Sensitization: Not known to cause allergic reactions
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic by IARC, NTP, OSHA
Other Effects: Dust may aggravate preexisting lung or skin conditions

Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Harmful to aquatic life in concentrated form; can alter pH of aquatic environments and impact organisms sensitive to alkalinity
Persistence and Degradability: Product dissociates into natural elements (sodium, carbonate) in water, persistence relates to pH changes, not bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation Potential: Not expected to bioaccumulate
Mobility in Soil: Dissolves in water, migrates through soil as an ion
Other Adverse Effects: Spills into water systems can cause fish kills by rapid pH shift

Disposal Considerations

Waste Treatment Methods: Sweep up dry residue, avoid dust, place in containers for disposal
Disposal of Product: Dispose of in accordance with local, regional, and federal regulations; often permitted to landfill in approved sites
Disposal of Packaging: Empty packaging may contain residues; rinse thoroughly and manage as non-hazardous waste, recycle where possible
Environmental Precautions: Do not discharge product directly into sewage systems or surface waters, manage large spills with pH neutralization before release

Transport Information

UN Number: Not regulated under most international transport standards
Transport Hazard Class: Not classified as a hazardous material for transport (by IMDG, ICAO/IATA, ADR/RID)
Packing Group: Not assigned
Special Precautions: Prevent movement of containers to avoid dust emission, keep dry in transit
Labels: “Non-hazardous chemical” for reference

Regulatory Information

OSHA: Considered non-hazardous under OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
TSCA: Listed on US Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory
DSL/NDSL: Listed on Canadian Domestic Substances List (DSL)
REACH: Registered as a substance in the European Union REACH database
WHMIS Classification (Canada): D2B—Toxic material causing other toxic effects
Other Regulations: Subject to environmental discharge limits for pH in most regions, not subject to SARA Title III reporting, no significant international transport restrictions