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Chemical Datasheet

PLATINUM

4.1 - Flammable solid

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 7440-06-4
  • 3089 (powder)
  • Flammable Solid
none
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Platinum
  • PLATINUM POWDER
NFPA 704
data unavailable
General Description
Silvery, whitish-gray, malleable, ductile metal. Mp: 1772°C; bp: 2187°C. Density: 21.45 g cm-3 at room conditions (very dense). Also shipped as a finely divided powder (platinum black), as a sponge, and as particles deposited on a supporting material such as alumina. Has strong catalytic activity in these forms; finely divided platinum can be dangerous to handle in the vicinity of other chemicals on this account. Used platinum catalysts are particularly dangerous and can be explosive.

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
No rapid reaction with air. No rapid reaction with water.
Fire Hazard
Excerpt from 170 Polymerizable warning [Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)]:

May react violently or explosively on contact with water. Some are transported in flammable liquids. May be ignited by friction, heat, sparks or flames. Some of these materials will burn with intense heat. Dusts or fumes may form explosive mixtures in air. Containers may explode when heated. May re-ignite after fire is extinguished. (ERG, 2020)
Health Hazard
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Platinum:

Exposure Routes: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Symptoms: Irritation skin, respiratory system; dermatitis

Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system (NIOSH, 2023)
Reactivity Profile
Massive platinum (lump, ingot, etc.) is generally inert. Dissolves readily in aqua regia (mixture of concentrated hydrochloride and concentrated nitric acids). Reacts rapidly with molten alkali metal oxides and peroxides. Reacts with F2 and Cl2 at red heat. Absorbs large volumes of hydrogen when hot. Catalyzes the exothermic oxidation of ammonia by air. Finely divided platinum is incompatible with aluminum, acetone, arsenic, ethane, hydrazine, hydrogen peroxide, lithium, phosphorus, selenium, tellurium and many fluorides. Explosion can occur upon contact with hydrogen peroxide. Platinum black, sponge and supported catalysts have strong catalytic activity; can be dangerous to handle in the vicinity of other chemicals on this account. Used platinum catalysts are particularly dangerous and can cause explosions. Ethanol or methanol can ignite on contact with a platinum-black catalyst. (Urben 1794).
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

No information available.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from 170 Polymerizable warning [Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)]:

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 50 meters (160 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 170 Polymerizable warning [Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)]:

DO NOT USE WATER, FOAM OR CO2. Dousing metallic fires with water will generate hydrogen gas, an extremely dangerous explosion hazard, particularly if fire is in a confined environment (i.e., building, cargo hold, etc.). Use DRY sand, graphite powder, dry sodium chloride-based extinguishers, or class D extinguishers. Confining and smothering metal fires is preferable rather than applying water. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS OR CAR/TRAILER LOADS: If impossible to extinguish, protect surroundings and allow fire to burn itself out. (ERG, 2020)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from 170 Polymerizable warning [Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)]:

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. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Platinum:

Skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for personal protective equipment for the body.

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

Wash skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for washing the substance from the skin (either immediately or at the end of the work shift).

Remove: No recommendation is made specifying the need for removing clothing that becomes wet or contaminated.

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
No information available.
First Aid
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Platinum:

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 - If this chemical contacts the skin, wash the contaminated skin with soap and water.

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:
  • Pt
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: data unavailable
Melting Point: 3222°F (NIOSH, 2023)
Vapor Pressure: 0 mmHg (approx) (NIOSH, 2023)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: 21.45 (NIOSH, 2023) - Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point: 6921°F at 760 mmHg (NIOSH, 2023)
Molecular Weight: 195.1 (NIOSH, 2023)
Water Solubility: Insoluble (NIOSH, 2023)
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
Platinum (7440-06-4) 3 mg/m3 33 mg/m3 200 mg/m3
(DOE, 2018)

Regulatory Information

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

No regulatory information available.

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