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Chemical Datasheet

SODIUM HYDRIDE

4.3 - Dangerous when wet
Chemical Identifiers | Hazards | Response Recommendations | Physical Properties | Regulatory Information | Alternate Chemical Names

Chemical Identifiers

The Chemical Identifier fields include common identification numbers, the NFPA diamond U.S. Department of Transportation hazard labels, and a general description of the chemical. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 7646-69-7
  • Dangerous When Wet
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
none none
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
3
3 2
W
Blue Health 3 Can cause serious or permanent injury.
Red Flammability 3 Can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions.
Yellow Instability 2 Readily undergoes violent chemical changes at elevated temperatures and pressures.
White Special W Reacts violently or explosively with water.
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
A silvery to whitish powder or slurry in oil. Used to make other chemicals.

Hazards

The Hazard fields include special hazard alerts air and water reactions, fire hazards, health hazards, a reactivity profile, and details about reactive groups assignments and potentially incompatible absorbents. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Ignites or explodes in contact with air of high humidity [Bretherick 1979 p. 107]. Reacts violently with water producing a caustic solution (NaOH) and hydrogen (H2). Heat of reaction may ignite the hydrogen.
Fire Hazard
FLAMMABLE. MAY EXPLODE ON CONTACT WITH WATER. Accidental contact with water used to extinguish surrounding fire will result in the release of hydrogen gas and possible explosion. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
SOLID: Will burn skin and eyes. Harmful if swallowed. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
SODIUM HYDRIDE is a powerful reducing agent. Attacks SiO2 in glass. Ignites on contact with gaseous F2, Cl2, Br2, and I2 (the last at temperatures exceeding 100°C), especially in the presence of moisture, to form HF, HCl, HBr, and HI [Mellor 2:483 1946-47]. Reacts with sulfur to give Na2S and H2S [Bretherick 1979 p. 107]. Can react explosively with dimethyl sulfoxide [Chem. Eng. News 44(24):7 1966]. Reacts vigorously with acetylene, even at -60°C [Mellor 2:483 1946-47]. Spontaneously flammable in fluorine. Reaction with dimethylformamide, when heated, runs away [Chem. Eng. News, 1982, 60(28), 5]. Initiates a polymerization reaction in ethyl-2,2,3-trifluoropropionate such that the ester decomposed violently [Bretherick 5th ed. 1995]. Presence in the reaction of diethyl succinate and ethyl trifluoroacetate, has twice caused explosions [Chem. Brit., 1983, 19, 645].
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

No information available.

Response Recommendations

The Response Recommendation fields include isolation and evacuation distances, as well as recommendations for firefighting, non-fire response, protective clothing, and first aid. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

SPILL: Increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind direction, as necessary.

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)
Firefighting
Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:

DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM.

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, soda ash, lime or sand.

LARGE FIRE: DRY sand, dry chemical, soda ash or lime or withdraw from area and let fire burn. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING METALS OR POWDERS (ALUMINUM, LITHIUM, MAGNESIUM, ETC.): Use dry chemical, DRY sand, sodium chloride powder, graphite powder or class D extinguishers; in addition, for Lithium you may use Lith-X® powder or copper powder. Also, see ERG Guide 170.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS OR CAR/TRAILER LOADS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Do not get water inside containers. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. (ERG, 2020)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. DO NOT GET WATER on spilled substance or inside containers.

SMALL SPILL: Cover with DRY earth, DRY sand or other non-combustible material followed with plastic sheet to minimize spreading or contact with rain. Dike for later disposal; do not apply water unless directed to do so.

POWDER SPILL: Cover powder spill with plastic sheet or tarp to minimize spreading and keep powder dry. DO NOT CLEAN-UP OR DISPOSE OF, EXCEPT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A SPECIALIST. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
Wear rubber overclothing (including gloves). (USCG, 1999)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
INGESTION: do NOT induce vomiting; neutralize alkali in stomach by drinking dilute vinegar, lemon juice, or orange juice; call a physician.

SKIN CONTACT: brush off all particles at once and flood the affected area with water. (USCG, 1999)

Physical Properties

The Physical Property fields include properties such as vapor pressure and boiling point, as well as explosive limits and toxic exposure thresholds The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.

Note: For Vapor Density and Specific Gravity, comparing the value to 1.0 can tell you if the chemical will likely sink/rise in air or sink/float in fresh water (respectively). Short phrases have been added to those values below as an aid. However, make sure to also consider the circumstances of a release. The Vapor Density comparisons are only valid when the gas escaping is at the same temperature as the surrounding air itself. If the chemical is escaping from a container where it was pressurized or refrigerated, it may first escape and behave as a heavy gas and sink in the air (even if it has a Vapor Density value less than 1). Also, the Specific Gravity comparisons are for fresh water (density 1.0 g/mL). If your spill is in salt water (density about 1.027 g/mL), you need to adjust the point of comparison. There are some chemicals that will sink in fresh water and float in salt water.
Chemical Formula:
  • HNa
Flash Point: Not Applicable. Oil is flammable. (USCG, 1999)
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: data unavailable
Melting Point: data unavailable
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: data unavailable
Boiling Point: Very high. (USCG, 1999)
Molecular Weight: data unavailable
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 hydride (7646-69-7) 1.2 mg/m3 13 mg/m3 79 mg/m3
(DOE, 2018)

Regulatory Information

The Regulatory Information fields include information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Title III Consolidated List of Lists, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Standard List (see more about these data sources).

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

No regulatory information available.

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

This section provides a listing of alternate names for this chemical, including trade names and synonyms.