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Chemical Datasheet

PHOSPHORUS, AMORPHOUS (RED OR VIOLET)

4.1 - Flammable solid
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
  • 7723-14-0   (red, violet, and black)
  • Flammable Solid
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Phosphorus (yellow)external_link none
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
1
1 1
Blue Health 1 Can cause significant irritation.
Red Flammability 1 Must be preheated before ignition can occur.
Yellow Instability 1 Normally stable but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures.
White Special
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
Red or dark crystals or powder. Not white phosphorus but rather one of the numerous less reactive polymorphic forms of the element. Not soluble in water.

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
none
Air & Water Reactions
Not reactive with air (unlike white phosphorus). Not soluble in water.
Fire Hazard
Will reignite itself after fire is extinguished. White/Yellow: Ignites at approximately 86F in air; ignition temperature is higher when air is dry. Black: Does not catch fire spontaneously. Red: Catches fire when heated in air to approximately 500F, and burns with formation of the pentoxide. Burns when heated in atmosphere of chlorine. Caution: Avoid contact with potassium chlorate, potassium permanganate, peroxides and other oxidizing agents; explosions may result on contact or friction. Upon heating Red releases toxic oxides of phosphorus and Yellow emits toxic gases and vapors such as phosphoric acid fumes. Red: Avoid uncontrolled contact with oxidizing agents, or with strong alkaline hydroxides. Can react violently with oxidizing agent in presence of air and moisture, liberating phosphorus acids and toxic, spontaneously flammable phosphine gas. White/Yellow: Avoid air, all oxidizing agents including elemental sulfur, strong caustics. White/Yellow: Darkens on exposure to light. Gives off acrid fumes on exposure to air. Ignites spontaneously in air at or above 86F. Black: stable in air. Avoid heat. Red: burning yields toxic oxides of phosphorus. White/Yellow: toxic gases and vapors such as phosphoric acid fumes are released. (EPA, 1998)
Health Hazard
It is classified as super toxic. The probable lethal dose is less than 5 mg/kg (a taste or less than 7 drops) for 70 kg (150 lb.) person. Poisonous if swallowed or if fumes are inhaled. Yellow: Fumes are irritating to the respiratory tract and cause severe ocular irritation. On contact with the skin it may ignite and produce severe skin burns with blistering. Red: Irritates eyes. (EPA, 1998)
Reactivity Profile
PHOSPHORUS, AMORPHOUS (RED OR VIOLET) is a reducing agent. Much less reactive than the allotropic white phosphorus. Reacts strongly with bromine trifluoride. [Mellor 2:113. 1946-47]. Explodes on contact with bromoazide.
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 133 [Flammable Solids]:

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

LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).

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
White/Yellow: Deluge with water, taking care not to scatter, until fire is extinguished and phosphorus has solidified, then cover with wet sand or dirt. Red: Flood with water and when fire is extingushed, cover with wet sand or dirt. Extreme caution should be used during clean up since reignition may occur. Under certain conditions at high temperature, red phosphorus reverts to more hazardous white phosphorus.

Small fires: dry chemical, sand, water spray, or foam. Large fires: water spray, fog, or foam. Cool containers that are exposed to flames with water from the side until well after fire is out. (EPA, 1998)
Non-Fire Response
Caution : Flammable solid. Avoid sources of extreme heat or ignition including sparks or fire. White (or yellow) phosphorus may spontaneously ignite on contact with damp surfaces, including water or skin. Phosphorus will liberate toxic gases and vapors when heated.

Keep unnecessary people away; isolate hazard area and deny entry. Stay upwind; keep out of low areas. Any clothing which becomes contaminated should be removed immediately. (EPA, 1998)
Protective Clothing
For emergency situations, wear a positive pressure, pressure-demand, full facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or pressure- demand supplied air respirator with escape SCBA and a fully-encapsulating, chemical resistant suit. (EPA, 1998)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
Signs and Symptoms of Acute Phosphorus Exposure: Signs and symptoms of acute exposure to phosphorus may be severe and occur in three stages. The first stage will involve burns, pain, shock, intense thirst, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and "smoking stools." The breath and feces may have garlicky odor. The second stage will be a symptom-free period of several days in which the patient appears to be recovering. The third stage may be severe and include nausea, bloody vomitus, diarrhea (may be bloody), jaundice, liver enlargement with tenderness, renal damage, hematuria (bloody urine), and either oliguria (little urine formation) or anuria (no urine formation). Headache, convulsions, delirium, coma, cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiovascular collapse may also occur. If phosphorus contacts the eyes, then severe irritation and burns, blepharospasm (spasmodic winking), lacrimation (tearing), and photophobia (heightened sensitivity to light) may occur. Eye contact may lead to a total destruction of the eyes. Victims may experience spontaneous hemorrhaging of phosphorus-contaminated skin and mucous membranes.

Emergency Life-Support Procedures: Acute exposure to phosphorus may require decontamination and life support for the victims. Emergency personnel should wear protective clothing appropriate to the type and degree of contamination. Air-purifying or supplied-air respiratory equipment should also be worn, as necessary. Rescue vehicles should carry supplies such as plastic sheeting and disposable plastic bags to assist in preventing spread of contamination.

Inhalation Exposure:
1. Move victims to fresh air. Emergency personnel should avoid self-exposure to phosphorus.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
4. RUSH to a health care facility.

Dermal/Eye Exposure:
1. Remove victims from exposure. Emergency personnel should avoid self- exposure to phosphorus.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Remove contaminated clothing as soon as possible.
4. Brush nonadherent phosphorus from skin areas, then flush skin with water. Immerse exposed skin areas in water or cover with a wet dressing.
5. If eye exposure has occurred, eyes must be flushed with lukewarm water for AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. Keep exposed eyes covered with wet compresses.
6. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
7. RUSH to a health care facility.

Ingestion Exposure:
1. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
2. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
3. Activated charcoal may be administered if victims are conscious and alert. Use 15 to 30 g (1/2 to 1 oz) for children, 50 to 100 g (1-3/4 to 3-1/2 oz) for adults, with 125 to 250 mL (1/2 to 1 cup) of water.
4. Promote excretion by administering a saline cathartic or sorbitol to conscious and alert victims. Children require 15 to 30 g (1/2 to 1 oz) of cathartic; 50 to 100 g (1-3/4 to 3-1/2 oz) is recommended for adults.
5. Ambulate (walk) and give water to the victims.
6. RUSH to a health care facility. (EPA, 1998)

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:
  • P
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): White-yellow: Can be ignited under almost all normal temperature conditions. Red: Material that must be preheated before ignition can occur. (EPA, 1998)
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): White-yellow: Can be ignited under almost all normal temperature conditions. Red: Material that must be preheated before ignition can occur. (EPA, 1998)
Autoignition Temperature: 500°F (USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: 111.2°F white-yellow; 1094°F violet; 1094°F red (EPA, 1998)
Vapor Pressure: 0.026 mmHg at 68°F White-yellow (EPA, 1998)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): 4.77 red; 4.42 white-yellow (EPA, 1998)
Specific Gravity: 2.34 red, 2.36 violet; 2.70 black; 1.8 white-yellow (EPA, 1998)
Boiling Point: 536°F at 760 mmHg ; white-yellow ignites at 86°F in moist air; red ignites at 500°F. (EPA, 1998)
Molecular Weight: 30.97 (EPA, 1998)
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: 5 mg/m3 [From NPG: Phosphorus (yellow)] (NIOSH, 2023)

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
Phosphorus (red, violet, and black) (7723-14-0) 0.27 mg/m3 3 mg/m3 18 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

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
Phosphorus 7723-14-0 100 pounds 1 pound 1 pound
Phosphorus (yellow or white) 7723-14-0 100 pounds 1 pound 1 pound

(EPA List of Lists, 2022)

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

RELEASE THEFT SABOTAGE
Chemical of Interest CAS Number Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Phosphorus 7723-14-0 ACG 400 pounds EXP/IEDP

(CISA, 2007)

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.