POTASSIUM

Diamond	Hazard	Value	Description
3 3 2 W	Health	3	Can cause serious or permanent injury.
	Flammability	3	Can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions.
	Instability	2	Readily undergoes violent chemical changes at elevated temperatures and pressures.
	Special	W	Reacts violently or explosively with water.

Potassium is a soft silvery metal though normally grayish white due to oxidation.

• Strong Reducing Agent
• Water-Reactive
• Pyrophoric

Reacts vigorously with oxygen. Reacts very vigorously with water [Merck 11th ed. 1989]. Water (to give a caustic solution and gaseous hydrogen). The oxidation of potassium in air is so rapid that the heat generated by the reaction melts and ignites the metal. This is particularly the case when pressure is applied at ordinary temperatures [Sidgwick 1950]. Potassium burns in moist air at room temperature [Mellor 2:468. 1946-47]. The higher oxides of potassium formed in air react explosively with pure potassium, sodium, sodium-potassium alloys, or organic matter [Mellor 2, Supp. 3:1559. 1963].

Combustible. IGNITES WHEN EXPOSED TO WATER OR MOISTURE. Flammable gas is produced on contact with water. Reacts violently with water, forming flammable and explosive hydrogen gas. May ignite spontaneously in air. (USCG, 1999)

SOLID: Will burn skin and eyes. (USCG, 1999)

Very reactive. A strong reducing agent. Boron trifluoride reacts with incandescence when heated with potassium [Merck 11th ed. 1989]. Maleic anhydride decomposes explosively in the presence of potassium[Chem Safety Data Sheet SD-88. 1962]; [Chem. Haz. Info. Series C-71. 1960]. Sodium peroxide oxidizes potassium with incandescence [Mellor 2:490-93. 1946-47]. May catalyze rearrangement and polymerization of ethylene oxide liberating heat [J. Soc. Chem. Ind. 68:179. 1949]. A mixture of potassium and any of the following metallic halides produces a strong explosion on impact: aluminum chloride, aluminum fluoride, ammonium fluorocuprate, antimony tribromide, antimony trichloride, antimony triiodide, cadmium bromide, cadmium chloride, cadmium iodide, chromium tetrachloride, cupric bromide, cupric chloride, cuprous bromide cuprous chloride, cuprous iodide, manganese chloride, mercuric bromide, mercuric chloride, mercuric fluoride, mercuric iodide, mercurous chloride, nickel bromide, nickel chloride, nickel iodide, silicon tetrachloride, silver fluoride, stannic chloride, stannic iodide (with silver), stannous chloride, sulfur dibromide, thallous bromide, vanadium pentachloride, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, and zinc iodide [Mellor 2, Supp. 3:1571. 1963]. A mixture of potassium and any of the following compounds produces a weak explosion on impact: ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, cadmium fluoride, chromium trifluoride, manganous bromide, manganous iodide, nickel fluoride, potassium chlorocuprate, silver chloride, silver iodide, strontium iodide, thallous chloride, and zinc fluoride [Mellor 2, Supp. 3:1571. 1963]. A mixture of potassium and any of the following compounds may explode on impact: boric acid, copper oxychloride, lead oxychloride, lead peroxide, lead sulfate, silver iodate, sodium iodate, and vanadium oxychloride [Mellor 2, Supp. 3:1571. 1963]. A mixture of potassium with any of the following compounds produces a very violent explosion on impact: boron tribromide, carbon tetrachloride, cobaltous bromide, cobaltous chloride, ferric bromide, ferric chloride, ferrous bromide, ferrous chloride, ferrous iodide, phosphorus pentachloride, phosphorus tribromide, and sulfur dichloride [Mellor 2, Supp. 3:1571. 1963]. Mixture of solid potassium and solid carbon dioxide (Dry Ice) explodes when subjected to shock [Mellor 2, Supp. 3:1568. 1963]. Potassium and its alloys form explosive mixtures with chlorinated hydrocarbons [Chem. Eng. News 26:2604. 1948]. Potassium in contact with the following oxides causes an explosive reaction: potassium ozonide, potassium peroxide, or potassium superoxide [Mellor 2, Supp. 3:157. 1963].

• Metals, Alkali, Very Active

No information available.

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)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:

DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM.

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, soda ash, lime or sand.

LARGE FIRE: DRY sand, dry chemical, soda ash or lime or withdraw from area and let fire burn. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING METALS OR POWDERS (ALUMINUM, LITHIUM, MAGNESIUM, ETC.): Use dry chemical, DRY sand, sodium chloride powder, graphite powder or class D extinguishers; in addition, for Lithium you may use Lith-X® powder or copper powder. Also, see ERG Guide 170.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS, RAIL TANK CARS OR HIGHWAY TANKS: 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 in direct contact with flames. (ERG, 2024)

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)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:

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, 2024)

No information available.

EYES or SKIN: flush with water; treat caustic burns. (USCG, 1999)

• POTASSIUM
• POTASSIUM, METAL
• POTASSIUM, [METAL]