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Chemical Datasheet

ZIRCONIUM TETRACHLORIDE

8 - Corrosive
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
  • 10026-11-6
  • Corrosive
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Zirconium compounds (as Zr)external_link none
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
0
3 2
W
Blue Health 3 Can cause serious or permanent injury.
Red Flammability 0 Will not burn under typical fire 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
White lustrous crystalline solid. Used as a source of pure zirconium, as a tanning agent, in analytical chemistry and in treating textiles. Zirconium tetrachloride is decomposed by water. Corrosive to metals in the presence of moisture and to tissue.

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
Reacts vigorously with water forming hydrochloric acid with the evolution of heat.
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Will not burn - sublimes above 626°F (331°C). May give off HCl fumes. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
INHALATION: Irritating to upper respiratory tract; presumably caused by liberated HCl. EYES: Irritating. SKIN: Irritating. INGESTION: Burning pain in the mouth and throat, vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhea, retching, collapse, and convulsions. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
ZIRCONIUM TETRACHLORIDE is corrosive to metals in the presence of moisture and to tissue. Behavior in Fire: Will not burn - sublimes above 626°F (331°C). May give off HCl fumes (USCG, 1999). It is incompatible with alcohols (ethanol), lithium metal, and tetrahydrofuran.
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 137 [Substances - Water-Reactive - Corrosive]:

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 tank car or highway tank 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, 2024)
Firefighting
Excerpt from ERG Guide 137 [Substances - Water-Reactive - Corrosive]:

When material is not involved in fire, do not use water on material itself.

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical or CO2. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

LARGE FIRE: Flood fire area with large quantities of water, while knocking down vapors with water fog. If insufficient water supply, responders should withdraw.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS, RAIL TANK CARS OR HIGHWAY TANKS: Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Do not get water inside containers. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames. (ERG, 2024)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from ERG Guide 137 [Substances - Water-Reactive - Corrosive]:

Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Use water spray to reduce vapors; do not put water directly on leak, spill area or inside container. Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material.

SMALL SPILL: Cover with DRY earth, DRY sand or other non-combustible material followed with plastic sheet to minimize spreading or contact with rain. Use clean, non-sparking tools to collect material and place it into loosely covered plastic containers for later disposal. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. (ERG, 2024)
Protective Clothing
Helmet, self-contained breathing apparatus, rubber boots, gloves, bands around legs, arms and waist. Facemask as well as covering rest of head. (USCG, 1999)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
Call a physician.

INHALATION: Remove from exposure.

EYES: Flush with water.

SKIN: Wash with soap and plenty of water.

INGESTION: Dilute with water or milk. Give milk of magnesia. (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:
  • Cl4Zr
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: Not flammable (USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: None, except under pressure, since it sublimes. (USCG, 1999)
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: 2.083 at 59°F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point: Sublimes 627.8°F (USCG, 1999)
Molecular Weight: 233.05 (USCG, 1999)
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: 25 mg Zr/m3 (NIOSH, 2024)

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
Zirconium tetrachloride; (zirconium chloride) (10026-11-6) 26 mg/m3 220 mg/m3 1300 mg/m3
(DOE, 2024)

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
Zirconium tetrachloride 10026-11-6 5000 pounds

(EPA List of Lists, 2024)

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.