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Chemical Datasheet

SODIUM THIOCYANATE

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 540-72-7
none data unavailable
  • SCY
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
none
  • SODIUM THIOCYANATE
NFPA 704
data unavailable
General Description
Odorless white solid. Sinks and mixes with water. (USCG, 1999)

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
none
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble.
Fire Hazard
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Irritating oxides of sulfur and nitrogen may form in fire. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
Inhalation of dust causes irritation of nose and throat. Ingestion of large doses causes vomiting, extreme cerebral excitement, convulsions, and death in 10-48 hrs.; chronic poisoning can cause flu-like symptoms, skin rashes, weakness, fatigue, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion. Contact with eyes causes irritation. Prolonged contact with skin may produce various skin eruptions, dizziness, cramps, nausea, and mild to severe disturbance of the nervous system. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
Nitric acid violently oxidized a thiocyanate solution [Bretherick 1979 p. 121]. Caution should be exercised in treating a thiocyanate with an oxidizing agent such as a peroxide or chlorate as such mixtures have been known to explode. Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Irritating oxides of sulfur and nitrogen may form in fire (USCG, 1999). Carbonyl sulfide is produced in a violent reaction by the mixture of sulfuric acid and sodium thiocyanate.
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

No information available.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
No information available.
Firefighting
No information available.
Non-Fire Response
No information available.
Protective Clothing
Rubber or plastic gloves; standard goggles; rubber or plastic apron (USCG, 1999)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
INHALATION: move to fresh air; if exposure has been great, get medical attention.

INGESTION: consult physician; hemodialysis is recommended as the treatment of choice.

EYES or SKIN: flush with water for 15 min. (USCG, 1999)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula:
  • NaSCN
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: data unavailable
Melting Point: 572°F (USCG, 1999)
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: greater than 1 at 68°F (USCG, 1999)
Boiling Point: data unavailable
Molecular Weight: 81.08 (USCG, 1999)
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: data unavailable

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

No AEGL information available.

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

No ERPG information available.

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Sodium isothiocyanate; (Thiocyanic acid, sodium salt) (540-72-7) 0.7 mg/m3 7.7 mg/m3 46 mg/m3
(DOE, 2018)

Regulatory Information

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

Regulatory Name CAS Number/
313 Category Code
EPCRA 302
EHS TPQ
EPCRA 304
EHS RQ
CERCLA RQ EPCRA 313
TRI
RCRA
Code
CAA 112(r)
RMP TQ
Cyanide Compounds N106 & 313

(EPA List of Lists, 2022)

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

No regulatory information available.

OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List

No regulatory information available.

Alternate Chemical Names