Chemical Datasheet
MAGNESIUM |
|
Chemical Identifiers
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| NIOSH Pocket Guide | International Chem Safety Card | ||
| none | |||
NFPA 704
| Diamond | Hazard | Value | Description | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Health
|
0 | No hazard beyond that of ordinary combustible material. | |||||||||
Flammability
|
1 | Must be preheated before ignition can occur. | ||||||||||
Instability
|
1 | Normally stable but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. | ||||||||||
Special
|
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
A light silvery metal. The more finely divided material reacts with water to liberate hydrogen, a flammable gas, though this reaction is not as vigorous as that of sodium or lithium with water. In finely divided forms is easily ignited. Burns with an intense white flame. Can be wax coated to render magnesium as nonreactive.
Hazards
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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.
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Reactivity Alerts
- Strong Reducing Agent
- Water-Reactive
- Pyrophoric
Air & Water Reactions
Magnesium ribbon and fine magnesium shavings can be ignited at air temperatures of about 950°F and very finely divided powder has been ignited at air temperatures below 900°F. [Magnesium Standard 1967 p. 4]. May react slowly with water to liberate hydrogen, a flammable gas.
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Forms dense white smoke. Flame is very bright. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
Dust irritates eyes in same way as any foreign material. Penetration of skin by fragments of metal is likely to produce local irritation, blisters, and ulcers which may become infected. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
MAGNESIUM slowly oxidizes in moist air. Reacts very slowly with water at ordinary temperatures, less slowly at 100°C. Reacts with aqueous solutions of dilute acids with liberation of hydrogen [Merck 11th ed. 1989]. In the presence of carbon, the combination of chlorine trifluoride with aluminum, copper, lead, magnesium, silver, tin, or zinc results in a violent reaction [Mellor 2, Supp. 1. 1956]. A mixture of powdered magnesium with trichloroethylene or with carbon tetrachloride will flash or spark under heavy impact [ASESB Pot. Incid, 39. 1968]. Stannic oxide, heated with magnesium explodes [Mellor 7:401. 1946-47]. When carbon dioxide gas is passed over a mixture of powdered magnesium and sodium peroxide, the mixture exploded [Mellor 2:490. 1946-47]. Powdered magnesium plus potassium (or sodium) perchlorate is a friction-sensitive mixture [Safety Eng. Reports. 1947]. An explosion occurred during heating of a mixture of potassium chlorate and magnesium [Chem. Eng. News 14:451. 1936]. Powdered magnesium can decompose performic acid violently [Berichte 48:1139. 1915]. A mixture of finely divided magnesium and nitric acid is explosive [Pieters 1957. p. 28]. Magnesium exposed to moist fluorine or chlorine is spontaneously flammable [Mellor 4:267. 1946-47].
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents
No information available.
Response Recommendations
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Response Recommendation fields
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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.
LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 300 meters (1000 feet).
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)
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 300 meters (1000 feet).
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
Fire Extinguishing Agents Not to Be Used: Water, foam, halogenated agents, carbon dioxide.
Fire Extinguishing Agents: Inert dry powders (e.g., graphite, limestone, salt) (USCG, 1999)
Fire Extinguishing Agents: Inert dry powders (e.g., graphite, limestone, salt) (USCG, 1999)
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, 2024)
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, 2024)
Protective Clothing
Eye protection (USCG, 1999)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
EYES: flush with water to remove dust.
SKIN: treat as any puncture. (USCG, 1999)
SKIN: treat as any puncture. (USCG, 1999)
Physical Properties
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The
Physical Property fields
include properties such as vapor pressure and
boiling point, as well as explosive limits and
toxic exposure thresholds
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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.
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: |
|
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature:
883°F
(USCG, 1999)
Melting Point:
1202°F
(USCG, 1999)
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity:
1.74
at 68°F
(USCG, 1999)
- Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point:
2012°F
at 760 mmHg
(USCG, 1999)
Molecular Weight:
24.3
(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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium (7439-95-4) | 18 mg/m3 | 200 mg/m3 | 1200 mg/m3 |
(DOE, 2024)
Regulatory Information
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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)
| RELEASE | THEFT | SABOTAGE | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical of Interest | CAS Number | Min Conc | STQ | Security Issue |
Min Conc | STQ | Security Issue |
Min Conc | STQ | Security Issue |
| Magnesium (powder) | 7439-95-4 | ACG | 100 pounds | EXP/IEDP | ||||||
- ACG = a commercial grade.
- EXP/IEDP = explosives/improvised explosive device precursors.
(CISA, 2007)
OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List
No regulatory information available.Alternate Chemical Names
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This section provides a listing of alternate names for this chemical,
including trade names and synonyms.
- ANHYDRONE
- DEHYDRITE
- JIS 1
- MAGNESIUM
- MAGNESIUM (INCLUDING ALLOYS)
- MAGNESIUM ALLOY, [WITH > 50% MAGNESIUM, PELLETS, TURNINGS]
- MAGNESIUM ALLOYS, WITH MORE THAN 50% MAGNESIUM, IN PELLETS, TURNINGS OR RIBBONS
- MAGNESIUM ELEMENT
- MAGNESIUM GRANULES COATED, [PARTICLE SIZE >= 149 MICRONS]
- MAGNESIUM GRANULES, COATED
- MAGNESIUM SCRAP
- PK 31
- PK 31 (MAGNESIUM)
Web site owner:
Office of Response and Restoration
,
National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
USA.gov.
CAMEO Chemicals version 3.1.0 rev 1.