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Chemical Datasheet

MERCURY

8 - Corrosive 6.1 - Poison

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 7439-97-6   (MERCURY)
  • 2809
  • Corrosive
  • Poison
  • MCR
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Mercury compounds [except (organo) alkyls] (as Hg)
  • MERCURY
NFPA 704
data unavailable
General Description
An odorless, silvery metallic liquid. Insoluble in water. Toxic by ingestion, absorption and inhalation of the fumes. Corrosive to aluminum. Used as a catalyst in instruments, boilers, mirror coatings.

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
none
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Not flammable (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
No immediate symptoms. As poisoning becomes established, slight muscular tremor, loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea are observed. Psychic, kidney, and cardiovascular disturbances may occur. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
MERCURY forms an explosive acelylide when mixed with acetylene. Can form explosive compounds with ammonia (a residue resulting from such a reaction exploded when an attempt was made to clean it off a steel rod [Chem. Eng. News 25:2138. 1947]. Chlorine dioxide (also other oxidants, such as: chlorine, bromine, nitric acid, performic acid), and mercury explode when mixed [Mellor 2, Supp. 1:381. 1956]. Methyl azide in the presence of mercury is potentially explosive [Can. J. Chem. 41:1048. 1963]. Ground mixtures of sodium carbide and mercury can react vigorously [Mellor 5:848. 1946-47]. Ammonia forms explosive compounds with gold, mercury, or silver. (Eggeman, Tim. "Ammonia". Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2001.).
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

No information available.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from 172 Polymerizable warning [Gallium and Mercury]:

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

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

FIRE: When any large container is involved in a fire, consider initial evacuation for 500 meters (1/3 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)
Firefighting
Excerpt from 172 Polymerizable warning [Gallium and Mercury]:

Use extinguishing agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. Do not direct water at the heated metal. (ERG, 2020)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from 172 Polymerizable warning [Gallium and Mercury]:

Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. Do not use steel or aluminum tools or equipment. Cover with earth, sand or other non-combustible material followed with plastic sheet to minimize spreading or contact with rain. For mercury, use a mercury spill kit. Mercury spill areas may be subsequently treated with calcium sulphide/calcium sulfide or with sodium thiosulphate/sodium thiosulfate wash to neutralize any residual mercury. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Mercury compounds [except (organo) alkyls] (as Hg):

Skin: PREVENT SKIN CONTACT - Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact.

Eyes: No recommendation is made specifying the need for eye protection.

Wash skin: WHEN CONTAMINATED - The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.

Remove: WHEN WET OR CONTAMINATED - Work clothing that becomes wet or significantly contaminated should be removed and replaced.

Change: DAILY - Workers whose clothing may have become contaminated should change into uncontaminated clothing before leaving the work premises. (NIOSH, 2023)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
Normalized Breakthrough Times (in Minutes)
Chemical CAS Number State QS QC SL C3 TF TP RC TK RF
Mercury 7439-97-6 Liquid >480 >480 >480 >480 >480 >480 >480 >480
> indicates greater than.

Special Warning from DuPont: Tychem® and Tyvek® fabrics should not be used around heat, flames, sparks or in potentially flammable or explosive environments. Only...

(DuPont, 2023)

First Aid
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Mercury compounds [except (organo) alkyls] (as Hg):

Eye: IRRIGATE IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately.

Skin: SOAP WASH PROMPTLY - If this chemical contacts the skin, promptly wash the contaminated skin with soap and water. If this chemical penetrates the clothing, promptly remove the clothing and wash the skin with soap and water. Get medical attention promptly.

Breathing: RESPIRATORY SUPPORT - If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Keep the affected person warm and at rest. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Swallow: MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention immediately. (NIOSH, 2023)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula:
  • Hg
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: Not flammable (USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: -38°F (USCG, 1999)
Vapor Pressure: 0.0012 mmHg (NIOSH, 2023)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: 13.55 at 68°F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point: 675°F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)
Molecular Weight: 200.59 (USCG, 1999)
Water Solubility: Insoluble (NIOSH, 2023)
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: 10 mg Hg/m3 (NIOSH, 2023)

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

Interim AEGLs for Mercury Vapor (7439-97-6)
Exposure Period AEGL-1 AEGL-2 AEGL-3
10 minutes NR 3.1 mg/m3 16 mg/m3
30 minutes NR 2.1 mg/m3 11 mg/m3
60 minutes NR 1.7 mg/m3 8.9 mg/m3
4 hours NR 0.67 mg/m3 2.2 mg/m3
8 hours NR 0.33 mg/m3 2.2 mg/m3
NR = Not recommended due to insufficient data
(NAC/NRC, 2023)

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

Chemical ERPG-1 ERPG-2 ERPG-3
Mercury Vapor (7439-97-6) NA 0.25 ppm 0.5 ppm
NA = not appropriate.
(AIHA, 2022)

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Mercury vapor (7439-97-6) 0.15 mg/m3 1.7 mg/m3 8.9 mg/m3
(DOE, 2018)

Regulatory Information

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
Mercury 7439-97-6 1 pound 313 U151
Mercury Compounds N458 & 313

(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