Phenol Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

Identification

Product Name: Phenol
Chemical Formula: C6H5OH
Other Names: Carbolic acid, Hydroxybenzene
CAS Number: 108-95-2
EC Number: 203-632-7
Recommended Use: Laboratory reagent, chemical synthesis, medicinal preparation
Supplier Information: Reliable distributors and laboratory supply companies provide phenol in various grades, always labeling containers for quick recognition and emergency response.
Emergency Phone Numbers: Chemical emergencies handled by poison control and local hazardous materials contacts.

Hazard Identification

Classification: Acute Toxicity (Category 3), Skin Corrosion (Category 1B), Serious Eye Damage (Category 1), Specific Target Organ Toxicity (Category 1)
GHS Label Elements: Danger; Pictograms indicating toxicity, corrosion, and environmental hazard.
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed, absorbed through skin, or inhaled; causes severe burns and eye damage; harmful to aquatic life due to its persistence and potential for bioaccumulation.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid contact with skin and eyes; prevent release to environment; use personal protective equipment; wash thoroughly after handling.
Potential Health Effects: Immediate pain on skin or eye contact; vapor can irritate nose and lungs; high exposure leads to convulsions, shock, kidney, liver damage, and possibly fatal systemic cyanosis.
Target Organs: Liver, kidneys, central nervous system.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Chemical Name: Phenol
Common Synonyms: Carbolic acid
Concentration: 99-100% phenol in pure form, rarely below technical grade in commercial containers.
Impurities and Stabilizing Additives: Trace water less than 1%, possible stabilizers in commercial or laboratory mixtures. No significant hazardous stabilizers at typical purity used in most labs and industry settings.

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Remove to fresh air immediately; help victim breathe by supporting airway; give oxygen if breathing becomes difficult; seek immediate medical attention for coughing, dizziness, or chest pain.
Skin contact: Remove contaminated clothing under safety shower; flush affected areas with running water for no less than 15 minutes; use polyethylene glycol or soap and water to help decontaminate; obtain urgent medical care for burns or persistent effects.
Eye contact: Rinse open eyes with water, holding eyelids open, for at least 20 minutes; remove contact lenses if present; seek emergency medical evaluation without delay.
Ingestion: Call poison control and get emergency medical help; do not induce vomiting; rinse mouth with water if conscious; keep patient calm and still until care arrives.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide for small fires; water spray only to cool unbroken containers and control vapors—directed water jets may spread liquid fire.
Specific Hazards: Combustible liquid; burns with smoky, irritating vapors that can form explosive mixtures with air above 79°C (175°F); thermal decomposition releases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and toxic phenolic fumes.
Protective Equipment and Precautions for Firefighters: Full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus needed for all fires due to risk of inhaling toxic gases and phenol vapors; isolate area and evacuate people downwind if vapors threaten safety.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Ensure proper ventilation; restrict access to spill area; wear impermeable gloves, chemical splash goggles, and full face shield; use chemical resistant apron and boots for large spills.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent phenol from entering sewers, drains, or water courses; sand or earth barriers help contain liquid; notify environmental authorities if large releases threaten waterways.
Methods for Cleanup: Absorb spills with inert material such as sand, earth, or commercial spill media; collect material in suitable labeled steel drums for chemical disposal; use water spray to reduce vapor generation during cleanup.

Handling and Storage

Handling: Open containers in fume hood or well-ventilated area; handle with chemical-resistant gloves and face protection; avoid creating aerosol or mist; label all work areas; avoid eating, drinking, or smoking while working.
Storage: Store phenol in tightly sealed containers made of compatible material such as glass or steel, away from sunlight and heat sources; maintain storage at cool, stable temperatures below 30°C; segregate from oxidizers, strong acids, alkalis, and halogens; implement secondary containment to prevent leaks; post hazard warnings clearly at entry and on containers.
Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizing agents, lime, aluminum chloride, peroxides, nitrating agents; avoid contact with oxidizers and strong bases to prevent violent chemical reactions.

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Occupational Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL 5 ppm (19 mg/m³) TWA; ACGIH TLV 5 ppm (19 mg/m³) TWA
Engineering Controls: Laboratory fume hoods, local exhaust ventilation, and closed transfer systems help limit airborne phenol concentrations.
Personal Protective Equipment: Splash goggles or face shield for eye protection; nitrile, neoprene, or butyl rubber gloves protect hands; lab coats or aprons shield clothing; closed shoes essential; respiratory protection required in poorly ventilated spaces or during spill response, preferably air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and face after handling; launder contaminated clothing before reuse; keep eye wash stations and emergency showers accessible.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: White crystalline solid or colorless to faintly pinkish liquid with sweet, tarry odor.
Melting Point: 43°C (109°F)
Boiling Point: 182°C (360°F)
Flash Point: 79°C (175°F) (closed cup)
Vapor Pressure: 0.4 mmHg at 20°C
Solubility: Highly soluble in alcohol and ether; moderate solubility in water (8g/100ml at 20°C)
Density: 1.07 g/cm³ at 20°C
Odor Threshold: 0.04-1.9 ppm, strong and characteristic

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions; sensitive to moisture, air, and light over extended periods, which may cause color change.
Reactivity: Reacts violently with strong oxidizing agents, calcium hypochlorite, formaldehyde, nitric acid; releases heat and chemicals in strong acid/base conditions.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, phenol vapors and partially oxidized organics form during incomplete combustion or intense heating.
Conditions to Avoid: Direct sunlight, heat, sparks, or open flames; contact with incompatible materials triggers hazardous reactions.

Toxicological Information

Acute Toxicity: Median lethal dose (oral, rat) 317 mg/kg; rapidly absorbed through skin, with dermal lethal dose 630 mg/kg; vapors more harmful above threshold limit levels.
Chronic Toxicity: Extended low-level exposure may weaken liver and kidney function; phenol linked to nervous system effects over long periods.
Symptoms of Exposure: Severe burns, whitening and shedding of skin, blisters, headache, dizziness, respiratory distress, muscle tremors, shock.
Carcinogenicity: No confirmed human carcinogen classification, but continuous monitoring advised due to structural similarity with other aromatic compounds.
Mutagenicity and Reproductive Toxicity: Laboratory data show genetic changes in some animal studies, but evidence in humans remains limited.

Ecological Information

Aquatic Toxicity: Highly toxic to fish, aquatic invertebrates, and some algae; LC50 for fish (96 hours) around 5-7 mg/L.
Environmental Fate: Persistence in water from slow microbial breakdown; volatility contributes to spread in contaminated areas; bioaccumulates only modestly in most species.
Soil Mobility: Moves through soil into water tables; breakdown retarded by lack of sunlight or low bacteria numbers.
Special Ecological Notes: Spillage causes immediate loss of aquatic life and disrupts soil bacteria.

Disposal Considerations

Waste Treatment Methods: Send contaminated waste and cleanup materials to approved hazardous waste handlers; chemical incineration with afterburner and scrubber remains safest method; dilution or medicinal use not allowed for discarded materials.
Container Disposal: Wash with appropriate solvent under fume hood, then triple rinse and mark as chemical waste for regulated disposal.
Precautions for Disposal: Never pour down drains, mix with general trash, or dump outdoors; always record disposal actions in laboratory or company log.

Transport Information

UN Number: UN 1671
Proper Shipping Name: Phenol, solid or solution
Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic Substances)
Packing Group: II
Labeling Requirements: Toxic, corrosive, and environmental hazard labels
Transportation Precautions: Containers must be tightly sealed, upright, with secondary containment; drivers and handlers trained in accident response.

Regulatory Information

OSHA: Listed as hazardous; strict regulation in the workplace.
TSCA: Phenol appears in the United States Toxic Substances Control Act inventory.
SARA Title III: Phenol is subject to reporting under Section 313 (Toxic Chemical Release Inventory) and Sections 302/304 (Emergency Planning and Reporting).
European Union: Classified as dangerous substance under REACH guidelines and requires safety assessment for industrial handling and sale.
Other Regulations: Subject to restrictions under DOT for transportation; handled with extra restrictions in medical and food-contact applications.