Product Name: Formic Acid
Chemical Formula: CH2O2
Synonyms: Methanoic Acid, Hydrogen Carboxylic Acid
Molecular Weight: 46.03 g/mol
CAS Number: 64-18-6
Recommended Use: Used in textile processing, as a preservative, as a coagulant in the rubber industry, and for leather production
Supplier Details: Name, address, and contact number of the manufacturer/distributor
Emergency Telephone: Emergency phone numbers for spill, exposure, or health emergencies
Classification: Corrosive to skin and eyes, classified as hazardous according to global harmonized standards
Main Hazards: Causes severe burns, strong irritant to respiratory tract, can damage digestive tract, harmful if inhaled or swallowed
Signal Word: Danger
Pictograms: Corrosive (GHS05), Acute Toxicity (GHS06)
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin and eye damage. May cause respiratory irritation. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing vapors, use personal protective equipment, wash thoroughly after handling, do not eat or drink near the substance
Chemical Name: Formic Acid
Concentration: 85-100% pure (usually supplied as 85% aqueous solution)
Impurities: Water, trace organic acids
Other Components: No significant secondary ingredients present above hazardous thresholds
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air. Keep at rest in position comfortable for breathing. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical care if irritation persists.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes cautiously with water for several minutes, remove contact lenses, continue rinsing, and seek emergency medical help.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly, do not induce vomiting, offer water if conscious, immediate medical help required.
Most Important Symptoms: Severe tissue burns, eye damage, irritation of mucous membranes, respiratory difficulties, vomiting
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide extinguishers.
Special Hazards: Decomposes under fire conditions, releasing toxic fumes such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, risk of explosion with strong oxidizers.
Firefighter Protection: Wear full protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus. Stay upwind away from any vapors or fumes. Cool surrounding containers with water.
Advice for Fire Services: Avoid breathing vapors. Prevent run-off from entering drains or water bodies.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate unnecessary personnel, ventilate area, wear chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, face protection, and suitable protective clothing.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent spillage from entering soil, drains, or natural waterways.
Cleanup Methods: Absorb spill with inert material (eg., sand, earth), collect into labeled containers, neutralize with sodium carbonate, dispose according to regulations.
Decontamination: Wash area with large amounts of water after initial spill pick-up.
Precautions: Handle in a well-ventilated area, avoid inhalation of vapors, use non-sparking tools, keep container tightly closed when not in use, avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing.
Safe Storage Conditions: Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat sources, strong oxidizers, reducing agents, and bases.
Container Materials: Use corrosion-resistant containers such as glass or certain plastics and avoid metals that react with acids.
Special Requirements: Ensure emergency showers and eyewash stations are accessible nearby, keep away from food, drink, and animal feed.
Permissible Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 5 ppm (9 mg/m3) TWA, ACGIH TLV: 5 ppm (9 mg/m3) TWA, STEL: 10 ppm (19 mg/m3)
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation, closed systems, effective fume hoods, eye wash and safety showers in work area.
PPE: Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, butyl rubber), splash-proof goggles, face shield, full-body chemical apron, suitable respiratory protection for high vapor concentrations.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands thoroughly after handling, do not eat, drink, or smoke during use, change contaminated clothing immediately.
Appearance: Colorless liquid
Odor: Pungent, penetrating, stinging
pH: <1 (concentrated solution)
Boiling Point: 100.8°C
Melting Point: 8.4°C
Flash Point: 69°C (closed cup)
Flammability: Combustible at elevated temperature
Vapor Pressure: 42 mmHg at 25°C
Solubility: Completely miscible with water, ethanol, ether
Density: 1.22 g/cm3 at 20°C
Viscosity: 1.57 mPa·s at 20°C
Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water): -0.54
Evaporation Rate: Not fast; slower than ether
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions, decomposes on exposure to high temperatures.
Reactivity: Strong acid, reacts violently with bases, strong oxidizers, reducing agents, alkali metals, and concentrated sulfuric acid.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, possibly formaldehyde under certain conditions.
Incompatible Materials: Bases, strong oxidizing agents, reducing agents, cyanides, sulfides.
Polymerization: No hazardous polymerization under normal conditions.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact.
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD50 (rat): ~730 mg/kg; Dermal LD50 (rabbit): ~640 mg/kg.
Chronic Toxicity: Repeated or prolonged exposure may cause dermatitis, respiratory tract damage, kidney and liver injury, metabolic acidosis.
Symptoms: Severe skin burns, eye damage, difficulty breathing, coughing, nausea, abdominal pain, corrosion of mucous membranes.
Sensitization: Possible skin sensitizer with prolonged contact.
Carcinogenicity: No evidence of carcinogenic effects in humans.
Mutagenicity: No significant data suggesting mutagenic effects.
Aquatic Toxicity: Harmful to aquatic organisms. Fish LC50: 24-250 mg/L (96 hours); Daphnia EC50: 34 mg/L (48 hours).
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable under normal environmental conditions.
Bioaccumulation: Low potential for bioaccumulation.
Mobility in Soil: High mobility, can leach into ground and contaminate water supplies.
Other Effects: Lowers pH of water, can negatively impact aquatic life through acidification.
Waste Disposal Methods: Dispose of in accordance with local, regional, and national regulations. Neutralize carefully with suitable alkali (e.g., sodium carbonate).
Container Disposal: Triple rinse with water, puncture or crush to prevent reuse, dispose via licensed hazardous waste contractor.
Precautions: Do not release into environment without proper treatment.
UN Number: 1779
Proper Shipping Name: Formic Acid
Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive)
Packing Group: II
Labels: Corrosive
Marine Pollutant: No
Special Transport Notes: Keep containers upright, protect from physical damage, keep separated from incompatible substances during transport, emergency procedures for spill/leak must be provided.
Regulatory Status: Subject to OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), TSCA listed, covered by EU regulations and international transport rules.
EINECS Number: 200-579-1
Right to Know: Listed on Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania worker RTK lists.
SARA Title III: Not listed as an extremely hazardous substance or CERCLA hazardous substance.
California Proposition 65: Not listed.
Restrictions: Local rules might apply regarding production, transport, disposal, workplace exposure, emergency planning, and accident prevention.
