Material Safety Data Sheet: Cobalt Nitrate

Identification

Product Name: Cobalt Nitrate
Chemical Formula: Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O
CAS Number: 10026-22-9
Synonyms: Cobaltous nitrate hexahydrate, Nitric acid, cobalt(2+) salt, hexahydrate
Recommended Use: Used in ceramics, electroplating, chemical synthesis, and as a catalyst
Supplier Contact: Details available on container label; safety department handles chemical inquiry
Emergency Phone Number: Local emergency services or supplied manufacturer emergency line

Hazard Identification

GHS Classification: Acute toxicity (Oral/ Inhalation), Skin Sensitizer, Carcinogenicity, Specific Target Organ Toxicity
Label Elements: Signal word: Danger; pictograms: Skull and Crossbones, Exclamation Mark, Health Hazard
Hazard Statements: Harmful if swallowed, toxic if inhaled, suspected of causing cancer, may cause allergic skin reaction, damages organs through repeated exposure
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing dust or fumes, wear protective gear, use in ventilated areas, wash hands thoroughly after handling, avoid eating or drinking during use
Emergency Overview: Deep red crystals carrying a faint metallic odor; dangerous through skin, mouth or inhalation; exposure can irritate eyes, skin and airways, breeds long-term health concerns with repeated contact

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Cobalt Nitrate Hexahydrate: 98-100%
Chemical Formula: Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O
CAS Number: 10026-22-9
Impurities: Small traces of related metal salts, generally less than 2%; none expected to increase hazard level, but typical lab safety applies

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Get to fresh air right away. Any breathing trouble deserves oxygen or ventilation support, call medical care for severe exposure.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing; wash skin with soap and water for several minutes; continue rinsing for irritation.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes gently with water for at least 15 minutes, lift upper and lower eyelids; contact an eye physician.
Ingestion: If swallowed accidentally, rinse mouth with water, do not induce vomiting without professional guidance, seek medical help right away.
Most Important Symptoms: Cough, sore throat, skin redness, rash, eye irritation, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or more severe reactions on repeat exposure
Note: Medical teams should know this compound triggers allergic reactions and possible chronic health ailments; treat accordingly.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or foam for small fires; water spray for larger fires; do not use water jets directly on chemical.
Hazardous Combustion Products: Emits harmful nitrous oxides, cobalt oxides, and toxic gases under fire conditions.
Special Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Firefighters need self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective suits.
Fire/Explosion Hazards: Not combustible on its own, but acts as a strong oxidizer and can accelerate other combustibles around it; risk rises once heated, since it releases toxic vapors and increases fire severity.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Move people from the affected zone. Use personal protective gear including gloves, goggles, and respirators.
Environmental Precautions: Block entry into waterways, sewers, or soil; this chemical builds up in water and soil, harms aquatic systems.
Cleanup Methods: Sweep up without dusting, using non-sparking tools; pick up chemically and place in labeled, sealable containers for disposal.
Decontamination: Wash area with plenty of water, ventilate zone well; contaminated clothing and equipment need thorough washing before reuse or safe disposal.

Handling and Storage

Handling: Avoid dust formation; use in fume hood or well-ventilated areas. Keep away from heat sources, flammable material, or anything reducing agents. Wear gloves, eye protection, and lab coats during any use.
Storage: Keep in tightly sealed containers, away from sunlight, moisture, and incompatible substances like strong acids or bases, metals, and organic material. Secure storage area with separate shelves, clear chemical hazard labeling, and controls to prevent unauthorized access.
Special Storage Needs: Store at room temperature, away from vibration or handling that may stir dust into air.
Incompatibilities: Contact with reducing agents, combustibles, and organic material may produce hazard conditions.

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Engineering Controls: Required fume extraction or local ventilation at processing or handling sites; safety showers and eyewash stations accessible in work areas.
Occupational Exposure Limits: Cobalt compounds: ACGIH TLV 0.02 mg/m³ TWA; OSHA PEL: 0.1 mg/m³
Personal Protective Equipment: Protective gloves (nitrile/rubber), lab apron or coat, chemical safety goggles/face shields, dust masks, or NIOSH-approved respirators for airborne dust.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and exposed areas after handling, avoid eating/drinking/smoking near chemical; change contaminated clothing sooner, never bring work gear home.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: Red crystals, easily dissolved in water
Odor: Faint metallic
Molecular Weight: 291.03 g/mol
Melting Point: 55°C (decomposes)
Boiling Point: Not relevant (decomposes before boiling)
Solubility: High solubility in water; moderate in alcohol
Density: About 1.88 g/cm³ (at 20°C)
pH: Acidic in solution (pH around 4 for 10% solution)
Vapor Pressure: Not significant at standard temperature
Decomposition: Releases toxic, reddish-brown fumes of nitrogen oxide and cobalt oxides on heating

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable in unopened containers at room temperature and dry conditions
Reactivity: Strong oxidizer, reacts with reducing agents, flammable substances, acids, or metals to release heat and toxic fumes
Hazardous Polymerization: Does not occur
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Releases nitrogen oxides, cobalt oxides on high heat or fire
Incompatibility: Avoid storing or handling with reducing agents, strong acids/bases, finely powdered metals, or organic material

Toxicological Information

Acute Toxicity: Ingestion or inhalation can cause headache, vomiting, nausea, cough, shortness of breath, skin rash, and eye redness; higher doses can be fatal
Chronic Health Effects: Long-term exposure damages lungs, heart, thyroid, reproductive system; evidence shows it causes cancer in humans
Sensitization: Exposure leads to skin sensitization and allergic reactions; asthma-like symptoms can follow repeated inhalation
Mutagenic/Carcinogenic Effects: IARC classifies cobalt compounds as Group 2B carcinogens (possible cancer risk)
Routes of Exposure: Skin, eye, ingestion, inhalation
Target Organs: Lungs, blood, heart, thyroid, skin, kidneys

Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates; persistence leads to bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms and sediments
Mobility in Soil and Water: Soluble, it moves fast in groundwater; difficult to contain after spill
Persistence and Degradability: Cobalt and nitrates persist in the environment, no significant breakdown
Bioaccumulation Potential: Builds up in aquatic food chains, hazardous for birds and mammals relying on contaminated food
Other Adverse Effects: Chronic low-level exposure affects plant development, aquatic population health, and ecological stability

Disposal Considerations

Waste Disposal Methods: Handle as hazardous waste; send to licensed chemical disposal facility
Containers: Rinse and discard empty containers through hazardous chemical program after thorough cleaning
Do Not: Dump into sewer systems, surface water, soil, or regular trash; risk of environmental and public health damage is too high.
Regulatory References: Local, state, and federal hazardous waste regulations apply at all disposal stages

Transport Information

UN Number: UN 1477 (oxidizing solid, n.o.s., includes cobalt nitrate)
Shipping Name: Cobalt Nitrate
Transport Hazard Class: 5.1 (Oxidizing substances)
Packing Group: III (minor danger, but regulated tightly)
Labels Required: Oxidizer label and clear chemical identification
Special Precautions for Transport: Protect from moisture, avoid rough handling, keep container upright and tight; emergency teams should know oxidizer and toxicity risks; follow all DOT, IMDG, IATA shipping rules

Regulatory Information

OSHA: Classified hazardous, strict workplace controls and disclosures enforced
TSCA: On U.S. inventory, requires chemical use tracking
SARA Title III: Listed as Extremely Hazardous, Section 313 (Toxic Chemical Release Reporting)
RCRA: Regulated hazardous waste, special handling needed
WHMIS (Canada): Class D2A (Very toxic, carcinogen), Class C (Oxidizer)
EU Regulation: Uses REACH registration, labeled as Toxic and Dangerous for the Environment
Other: Subject to export controls and international transport restrictions due to health and environment impact