Material Safety Data Sheet: Bromoacetic Acid

Identification

Product Name: Bromoacetic Acid
Chemical Formula: C2H3BrO2
Synonyms: Monobromoacetic Acid; Acetic Acid, bromo-
CAS Number: 79-08-3
Recommended Uses: Organic synthesis, laboratory reagent
Manufacturer Information: Check supplier documentation for local contact information and emergency assistance lines.
Emergency Contact: Refer to local Poison Control or manufacturer support in case of urgent incidents involving this chemical.

Hazard Identification

GHS Classification: Acute Toxicity (Oral) – Category 3; Acute Toxicity (Inhalation, Vapors) – Category 3; Skin Corrosion – Category 1B; Eye Damage – Category 1
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Harmful if swallowed, extremely toxic through inhalation, causes severe skin burns, causes serious eye damage, may produce respiratory irritation.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid all contact, keep away from untrained individuals, use only with adequate ventilation, do not eat or drink near workplace.
Pictograms: Corrosive, Skull and Crossbones, Exclamation Mark
Routes of Exposure: Skin, eyes, ingestion, inhalation.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Chemical Name: Bromoacetic Acid
Concentration: 99%+
Impurities: Usually present in trace amounts, further information from specific supplier as required
Other Identifiers: EINECS: 201-184-2
Molecular Weight: 138.95 g/mol

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Remove to fresh air at once, keep at rest in position comfortable for breathing, seek medical attention if symptoms appear persistent or severe.
Skin Contact: Remove all contaminated clothing straight away, wash skin gently with soap and copious amounts of water for a minimum of 15 minutes, seek immediate medical evaluation.
Eye Contact: Rinse with tempered water or saline solution for at least 20 minutes, do not allow victim to rub eyes, seek urgent medical assistance.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly, do not induce vomiting, seek immediate medical help.
Advice for Medical Personnel: Offer symptomatic and supportive care, monitor respiratory, gastric, and neurological symptoms with urgency; consider oxygen and lung monitoring.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or alcohol-resistant foam
Specific Dangers: Thermal decomposition may release toxic fumes of hydrogen bromide, bromine, carbon oxides
Special Equipment: Self-contained breathing apparatus, full protective gear required for firefighting
Additional Recommendations: Avoid directing water into containers; containers might rupture if exposed to heat.
Hazardous Combustion Products: Hydrogen bromide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide
Firefighting Instructions: Control runoff and prevent entry into waterways, attempt evacuation if fire reaches stored containers under pressure.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Protection: Secure area, evacuate unnecessary personnel, don resistant gloves, goggles, protective clothing, and an approved respirator.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent contamination of soil, ditches, sewers, and waterways.
Clean-Up Methods: Absorb spill with inert material like sand or diatomaceous earth, collect using non-sparking tools, place in chemical waste container, ventilate wash area thoroughly afterward.
Decontamination: Neutralize residues with dilute alkali solution, verify complete containment before disposal.
Reporting Procedures: Notify proper authorities if spill reaches public area or waterway.

Handling and Storage

Precautions: Avoid breathing dust, contact with eyes or skin, and ingestion; always work in a chemical fume hood or with local exhaust ventilation.
Handling: Use only tools and containers that do not react with acids; open containers carefully in well-ventilated areas.
Storage: Keep container tightly closed in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space, separate from bases, oxidizers, and flammable substances.
Incompatible Materials: Avoid storing near strong bases, strong oxidizers, metals; do not expose to strong heat.
Other Advice: Use secondary containment and post warning signs; equipment should be acid-resistant.

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Exposure Limits: No ACGIH, OSHA, or NIOSH exposure limits are currently established, but recommended to minimize exposure and monitor air regularly.
Engineering Controls: Fume hoods, adequate ventilation systems, eyewash stations, emergency showers required.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wear chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene), goggles or face shield, lab coat, respiratory protection if vapors or dust become significant.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and affected skin thoroughly after handling; avoid eating or drinking until clean.
Environmental Protection: Set up local exhaust ventilation to capture vapors and dust at the source.
Monitoring: Regular air quality assessment in storage and working areas highly recommended.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Form: Crystalline solid or white powder
Appearance: White, odorless or faint acetic acid-like smell
Melting Point: 50-52°C (122-126°F)
Boiling Point: 208°C (406°F) at atmospheric pressure
Flash Point: 110°C (closed cup, literature value)
Solubility: Miscible with water, alcohol, and ether.
Vapor Pressure: Approximately 0.35 mmHg at 25°C
Specific Gravity: 1.93 at 20°C
pH: Strongly acidic in solution, around 1 (1% in water)
Partition Coefficient (Log Kow): -0.38
Evaporation Rate: Not identified for typical use concentrations.

Stability and Reactivity

Stability: Remains stable in closed containers under recommended storage, decomposes when exposed to heat, humidity, and sunlight.
Conditions to Avoid: Moisture, heat, and direct sunlight accelerate decomposition and corrosion.
Incompatible Materials: Strong alkalis, strong oxidizers, metals; contact with bases causes rapid heat generation and splattering.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hydrogen bromide, carbon oxides, bromine gas may release upon burning or decomposition.
Polymerization: Hazardous polymerization does not occur.

Toxicological Information

Likely Routes of Exposure: Inhalation of dust and vapors, skin absorption, eye contact, and swallowing
Acute Toxicity: LD50 (Oral-Rat): 155 mg/kg; LD50 (Dermal-Rabbit): 500 mg/kg (literature/published values); highly toxic even at small dose
Symptoms: Severe burns to mouth, throat, eyes, and skin, impaired breathing and coughing; headaches, nausea upon inhalation
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure leads to ulceration or scarring, potential kidney and liver effects, suspected carcinogenicity not well established.
Sensitization: Reports exist of potential allergic skin reaction.
Further Notes: Take immediate action to minimize all exposures, particularly in sensitive populations.

Ecological Information

Environmental Fate: Highly soluble and mobile in water, likely to contaminate surface water or soil if significant quantity released.
Toxicity to Aquatic Life: LC50 (Fish, 96 hr): 23 mg/L, EC50 (Daphnia, 48 hr): 15 mg/L
Persistence and Degradability: Expected to degrade under natural conditions, but acidity and bromide release threaten organisms in aquatic systems.
Bioaccumulation: Low potential for bioaccumulation due to low log Kow.
Mobility in Soil: Highly mobile; strong potential for groundwater contamination.
Other Hazards: Alters pH and increases bromide in water, may depress populations of aquatic and terrestrial species.

Disposal Considerations

Waste Disposal Methods: Collect in tightly closed, labelled container; treat as hazardous chemical waste. Incineration by licensed chemical disposal contractor recommended.
Precautions: Do not discharge to drains or soil, separate from incompatible substances in waste streams. Neutralize with suitable agents before disposal.
Container Disposal: Triple rinse empty containers, puncture or crush before disposal according to federal, state, and local guidelines.
Regulatory Requirements: Follow local, regional, national, and international regulations for hazardous materials.
Transport Waste: Ensure all manifests, labels, and documentation meet transport law for hazardous chemicals.

Transport Information

UN Number: UN1938
Shipping Name: Bromoacetic Acid
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic Substances)
Packing Group: II
Labeling: Toxic, Corrosive
Hazards During Transport: Packages must be protected from rough handling, temperature extremes, moisture, incompatible loadings.
Special Precautions: Trained personnel only, maintain proper documentation, notification requirements for spills or leaks en route.
Passenger Aircraft/Rail: Restrictions likely, consult carrier regulations.
Emergency Response Guide: Reference ERG Guide Number 157 for poisoning or contamination events during shipment.

Regulatory Information

TSCA Status: Listed on the US Toxic Substances Control Act inventory
EU REACH Registration: Covered by applicable annexes, substance of concern due to toxicity
SARA Section 302/313: Subject to reporting; check for local inclusion in Extremely Hazardous Substances List
Hazardous Substance Classification: Classified as toxic and corrosive by most major regulatory bodies; strict storage and documentation required
Labeling Requirements: Chemical name, hazard warnings, manufacturer/distributor contact, precautionary information, compliant with OSHA, GHS, and CLP rules
Other Regulatory Considerations: Soil and groundwater discharges monitored under local environmental codes; international shipment subject to stricter controls under IMDG and IATA.
Workplace Requirements: Employee safety training, exposure monitoring, and recordkeeping needed per local and national law.