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Chemical Datasheet

TOLUENE SULFONIC ACID, SOLID, WITH NOT MORE THAN 5% FREE SULFURIC ACID

8 - Corrosive

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 104-15-4
  • 7664-93-9
  • 2585
  • Corrosive
none
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Sulfuric acid
  • SULFURIC ACID
  • p-TOLUENESULFONIC ACID (max. 5% sulfuric acid)
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
1
3 0
Blue Health 3 Can cause serious or permanent injury.
Red Flammability 1 Must be preheated before ignition can occur.
Yellow Instability 0 Normally stable, even under fire conditions.
White Special
Note: NFPA ratings shown are for p-toluenesulfonic acid, CAS number 104-15-4
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
Probably the ortho isomer, which is manufactured by treating toluene with concentrated sulfuric acid. Used to make dyes and in organic sythesis.

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
Freely soluble in water, possibly with generation of heat.
Fire Hazard
Excerpt from 153 Polymerizable warning [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:

Combustible material: may burn but does not ignite readily. When heated, vapors may form explosive mixtures with air: indoors, outdoors and sewers explosion hazards. Those substances designated with a (P) may polymerize explosively when heated or involved in a fire. Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may pollute waterways. Substance may be transported in a molten form. (ERG, 2020)
Health Hazard
Excerpt from 153 Polymerizable warning [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:

TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause environmental contamination. (ERG, 2020)
Reactivity Profile
TOLUENE SULFONIC ACID, SOLID, WITH NOT MORE THAN 5% FREE SULFURIC ACID is a strong acid. Reacts exothermically with chemical bases (for example: amines and inorganic hydroxides) to form salts. The reactions can generate dangerously large amounts of heat in small spaces. Dissolution in water or dilution of concentrated solutions with water may generate significant heat. Reacts with sodium hypochlorite to produce chlorine gas. Can react with active metals, including iron and aluminum, and also many less active metals, to dissolve the metal and liberate hydrogen and/or toxic gases. Can initiate possibly violent polymerization in certain alkenes such as allyl chloride. Reacts with cyanide salts and compounds to release gaseous hydrogen cyanide. Flammable and/or toxic gases are also often generated by reactions with dithiocarbamates, isocyanates, mercaptans, nitrides, nitriles, sulfides, and weak or strong reducing agents. Additional gas-generating reactions may occur with sulfites, nitrites, thiosulfates (to give H2S and SO3), dithionites (SO2), and carbonates: the carbon dioxide gas from the last is nontoxic but the heat and spattering from the reaction can be troublesome. Can catalyze (increase the rate of) chemical reactions. May burn but not ignited readily. Incompatible with carbides, bromates, chlorates, fulminates, picrates, and powdered metals [Haz. Chem. Data 1966]. Produces highly toxic fumes of oxides of sulfur when heated to decomposition.
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.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from 153 Polymerizable warning [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:

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 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 153 Polymerizable warning [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2 or water spray.

LARGE FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2, alcohol-resistant foam or water spray. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire. Dike runoff from fire control for later disposal.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS OR CAR/TRAILER LOADS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Do not get water inside containers. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. (ERG, 2020)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from 153 Polymerizable warning [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. 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. Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand or other non-combustible material and transfer to containers. DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAINERS. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from ERG Guide 153 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer when there is NO RISK OF FIRE. Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection. (ERG, 2020)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
Normalized Breakthrough Times (in Minutes)
Chemical CAS Number State QS QC SL C3 TF TP RC TK RF
Sulfuric acid (30%) 7664-93-9 Liquid >480
Sulfuric acid (50%) 7664-93-9 Liquid >480
Sulfuric acid (70%) 7664-93-9 Liquid >480
Sulfuric acid (98% at 50°C) 7664-93-9 Liquid >480
Sulfuric acid (>95%) 7664-93-9 Liquid >480 >480 >480 >480 >480 50 >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 153 Polymerizable warning [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:

Call 911 or emergency medical service. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves. Move victim to fresh air if it can be done safely. Give artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. Do not perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if victim ingested or inhaled the substance; wash face and mouth before giving artificial respiration. Use a pocket mask equipped with a one-way valve or other proper respiratory medical device. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. For minor skin contact, avoid spreading material on unaffected skin. Keep victim calm and warm. Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or skin contact) to substance may be delayed. (ERG, 2020)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula:
  • C7H7SO3H (toluenesulfonic acid)
  • H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: data unavailable
Melting Point: data unavailable
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: data unavailable
Boiling Point: data unavailable
Molecular Weight: data unavailable
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: 15 mg/m3 [From NPG: Sulfuric acid] (NIOSH, 2023)

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

Interim AEGLs for Sulfuric acid (7664-93-9)
Exposure Period AEGL-1 AEGL-2 AEGL-3
10 minutes 0.2 mg/m3 8.7 mg/m3 270 mg/m3
30 minutes 0.2 mg/m3 8.7 mg/m3 200 mg/m3
60 minutes 0.2 mg/m3 8.7 mg/m3 160 mg/m3
4 hours 0.2 mg/m3 8.7 mg/m3 110 mg/m3
8 hours 0.2 mg/m3 8.7 mg/m3 93 mg/m3
(NAC/NRC, 2023)

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

Chemical ERPG-1 ERPG-2 ERPG-3
Sulfuric Acid (Oleum [8014-95-7], Sulfur Trioxide [7446-11-9], and Sulfuric Acid [7664-93-9]) 2 mg/m3 star-in-circle icon indicates that odor should be detectable near ERPG-1. 10 mg/m3 120 mg/m3
star-in-circle icon indicates that odor should be detectable near ERPG-1.
(AIHA, 2022)

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Sulfuric acid (7664-93-9) 0.2 mg/m3 8.7 mg/m3 160 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
Sulfuric acid 7664-93-9 1000 pounds 1000 pounds 1000 pounds
Sulfuric acid (aerosol forms only) 7664-93-9 1000 pounds 1000 pounds 1000 pounds 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