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Chemical Datasheet

SODIUM DICHROMATE

5.1 - Oxidizer 6.1 - Poison
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
  • 10588-01-9   (anhydrous)
  • 7789-12-0   (dihydrate)
  • Oxidizer
  • Poison
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Chromic acid and chromatesexternal_link
NFPA 704
data unavailable
General Description
A red or red-orange crystalline solid. May be strongly irritating to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Used as a corrosion inhibitor, and in the manufacture of 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
Deliquescent. Soluble in water.
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Decomposes to produce oxygen when heated. May ignite other combustibles upon contact. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
Inhalation of dust or mist causes respiratory irritation sometimes resembling asthma; nasal septal perforation may occur. Ingestion causes vomiting, diarrhea, and (rarely) stomach and kidney complications. Contact with eyes or skin produces local irritation; repeated skin exposure causes dermatitis. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
SODIUM DICHROMATE is a strong oxidizing agent. Incompatible with strong acids. (NTP, 1992). Contact with combustible materials may lead to fires. Toxic chromium oxide fumes may form in fire (USCG, 1999). The well known "chromic acid mixture" of dichromate and sulfuric acid with organic residue led to violent exothermic reaction. This mixture in combination with acetone residue also led to violent reaction. The combination of the dichromate and sulfuric acid with alcohols, ethanol and 2-propanol, led to violent exothermic reaction. Because of the occurrence of many incidents involving the dichromate-sulfuric acid mix with oxidizable organic materials, it is probably best to avoid such interactions. The combination of the dichromate with hydrazine is explosive (one may expect the reaction of the dichromate to be vigorous with amines in general), [Mellor, 1943, Vol. 11, 234]. The addition of the dehydrated dichromate salt to acetic anhydride led to an exothermic reaction which eventually exploded. An induction period proceeded the explosion event [Bretherick, 5th Ed., 1995]. Boron, silicon, and dichromates form pyrotechnic mixtures. A mixture of acetic acid, 2-methyl-2-pentenal and the dichromate led to a runaway reaction and eruption of the reactor contents, [J. Haz. Mat., 1987, 233-239].
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

Use caution: Liquids with this reactive group classification have been known to react with the absorbents listed below. More info about absorbents, including situations to watch out for...

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 141 [Oxidizers - Toxic]:

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.

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
Excerpt from ERG Guide 141 [Oxidizers - Toxic]:

SMALL FIRE: Use water. Do not use dry chemicals or foams. CO2 or Halon® may provide limited control.

LARGE FIRE: Flood fire area with water from a distance. Do not move cargo or vehicle if cargo has been exposed to heat. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS OR CAR/TRAILER LOADS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. (ERG, 2020)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from ERG Guide 141 [Oxidizers - Toxic]:

Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material. Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk.

SMALL DRY SPILL: With clean shovel, place material into clean, dry container and cover loosely; move containers from spill area.

LARGE SPILL: Dike far ahead of spill for later disposal. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
Approved dust mask; protective gloves; goggles or face shield. (USCG, 1999)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
INGESTION: have victim drink water or milk; do NOT induce vomiting; call a doctor.

SKIN OR EYE CONTACT: treat like acid burns; flush eyes with water for at least 15 min.; external lesions can be scrubbed with a 2% solution of sodium thiosulfate. (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:
  • Na2Cr2O7
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: Not flammable (USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: 675°F (USCG, 1999)
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: 2.35 at 77°F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point: data unavailable
Molecular Weight: 262.01 (USCG, 1999)
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: 15 mg Cr(VI)/m3 ; A potential occupational carcinogen. (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
Sodium dichromate; (Disodium dichromate) (10588-01-9) 0.38 mg/m3 6.5 mg/m3 39 mg/m3
Sodium dichromate dihydrate (7789-12-0) 0.43 mg/m3 7.5 mg/m3 45 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
Chromium Compounds N090 & 313
Sodium bichromate 10588-01-9 10 pounds 313c

(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

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