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This page is an example of an old-style and outdated (M)SDS sheet. We will be updating it with a new sheet that reflects the current GHS standard in the near future. In the meantime, if you need an SDS for benzoic acid, try the manufacturer directly.

Sample MSDS for

Benzoic Acid

  **BENZOIC ACID**
  **BENZOIC ACID**
  **BENZOIC ACID**

                     MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
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FISHER SCIENTIFIC                      EMERGENCY NUMBER: (201) 796-7100
CHEMICAL DIVISION                      CHEMTREC ASSISTANCE: (800) 424-9300
1 REAGENT LANE
FAIR LAWN NJ 07410
(201) 796-7100

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE AND REPRESENTS THE BEST
INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO US.  HOWEVER, WE MAKE NO WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WIth RESPECT TO
SUCH INFORMATION, AND WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY RESULTING FROM ITS USE.  USERS
SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF THE
INFORMATION FOR THEIR PARTICULAR PURPOSES.

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                      SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION

                                                    CAS-NUMBER 65-85-0
SUBSTANCE: **BENZOIC ACID**

TRADE NAMES/SYNONYMS:
  BENZENECARBOXYLIC ACID; CARBOXYBENZENE; DRACYLIC ACID;
  PHENYL CARBOXYLIC ACID; PHENYLFORMIC ACID; RETARDER BA; TENN-PLAS; RETARDEX;
  SOLVO POWDER; SALVO LIQUID; PHENYLCARBOXYLIC ACID; BENZOATE;
  BENZENEMETHANOIC ACID; BENZENEFORMIC ACID; STCC 4966340;
  A-63; A-65; A-68; BP344; C7H6O2; ACC02720

CHEMICAL FAMILY:
Carboxylic acid, aromatic

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C6-H5-C-O2-H

MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 122.12

CERCLA RATINGS (SCALE 0-3):  HEALTH=3  FIRE=1  REACTIVITY=0  PERSISTENCE=2
NFPA RATINGS (SCALE 0-4):  HEALTH=2  FIRE=1  REACTIVITY=U
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                     COMPONENTS AND CONTAMINANTS

COMPONENT: BENZOIC ACID                                    PERCENT: 100
           CAS# 65-85-0

EXPOSURE LIMITS:
BENZOIC ACID:
  No occupational exposure limits established by OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH.

  5000 pounds CERCLA Section 103 Reportable Quantity

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                            PHYSICAL DATA

DESCRIPTION: White powder or crystals with an odor of benzoin or benzaldehyde.

BOILING POINT: 480 F (249 C)    MELTING POINT: 252 F (122 C)

SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 1.2659 @ 15 C    VAPOR PRESSURE: 1 mmHg @ 205 F

PH: 2.8 (satd solution)    SOLUBILITY IN WATER: 2.9% @ 20 C

VAPOR DENSITY: 4.2

SOLVENT SOLUBILITY: Soluble in alcohol, ether, benzene, chloroform,
acetone, carbon disulfide, oil of turpentine, carbon tetrachloride, fixed and
volatile oils; slightly soluble in petroleum ether, hexane.

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                       FIRE AND EXPLOSION DATA

FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD:
Slight fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame.
Dust/air mixtures may be explosive above the flash point.
Vapor from molten benzoic acid may form explosive mixture with air.

FLASH POINT: 250 F (121 C)    UPPER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: 35 g/ft3 (optimum)

LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: 3 g/ft3    AUTOIGNITION TEMP.: 1060 F (571 C)

FIREFIGHTING MEDIA:
Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray or regular foam
(1990 Emergency Response Guidebook, DOT P 5800.5).

For larger fires, use water spray, fog or regular foam
(1990 Emergency Response Guidebook, DOT P 5800.5).

FIREFIGHTING:
Move container from fire area if you can do it without risk. Do not scatter
spilled material with high-pressure water streams. Dike fire-control water for
later disposal (1990 Emergency Response Guidebook, DOT P 5800.5, Guide
Page 31).

Use water in flooding quantities as a fog; solid streams of water may be
ineffective. Cool affected containers with flooding quantities of water
applying water from as far a distance as possible. Avoid breathing vapors or
dusts.

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                              TOXICITY

BENZOIC ACID:
IRRITATION DATA: 22 mg/3 days intermittent skin-human moderate;
  500 mg/24 hours skin-rabbit mild; 100 mg eye-rabbit severe.
TOXICITY DATA: 6 mg/kg skin-human TDLo; 500 mg/kg oral-man LDLo; 1700 mg/kg
  oral-rat LD50; 1940 mg/kg oral-mouse LD50; 2 gm/kg oral-guinea pig LDLo;
  2000 mg/kg oral-dog LD50; 2000 mg/kg oral-cat LD50; 2000 mg/kg oral-rabbit
  LDLo; 2000 mg/kg subcutaneous-rabbit LDLo; 1400 mg/kg intraperitoneal-guinea
  pig LDLo; 1460 mg/kg intraperitoneal-mouse LD50; mutagenic data (RTECS).
CARCINOGEN STATUS: None.
LOCAL EFFECTS: Irritant- eye.
ACUTE TOXICITY LEVEL: Moderately toxic by ingestion.
TARGET EFFECTS: Poisoning may affect the respiratory and central nervous
  system.

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                    HEALth EFFECTS AND FIRST AID

INHALATION:
BENZOIC ACID:
  ACUTE EXPOSURE- Dust may cause mild respiratory irritation with sore throat
    and coughing.
  CHRONIC EXPOSURE- No data available.

FIRST AID- Remove from exposure area to fresh air immediately. If breathing
  has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Keep person warm and at rest.
  Treat symptomatically and supportively. Get medical attention immediately.

SKIN CONTACT:
BENZOIC ACID:
  ACUTE EXPOSURE- Dust and liquid may cause mild irritation and redness.
    Concentrations up to 0.2%, may elicit an immediate skin reaction varying
    from erythema to a non-immunologic contact urticaria in some persons.
  CHRONIC EXPOSURE- Repeated application to human skin produced moderate
    irritation.

FIRST AID- Remove contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. Wash affected
  area with soap or mild detergent and large amounts of water until no
  evidence of chemical remains (approximately 15-20 minutes). Get medical
  attention immediately.

EYE CONTACT:
BENZOIC ACID:
IRRITANT.
  ACUTE EXPOSURE- Dust may cause strong irritation and redness.
  CHRONIC EXPOSURE- Repeated or prolonged contact with irritants may cause
    conjunctivitis.

FIRST AID- Wash eyes immediately with large amounts of water or normal saline,
  occasionally lifting upper and lower lids, until no evidence of chemical
  remains (approximately 15-20 minutes). Get medical attention immediately.

INGESTION:
BENZOIC ACID:
  ACUTE EXPOSURE- Large doses may cause sore throat, gastric pain, nausea,
    vomiting, and possible allergic reactions. A 67 kg man ingested 50 gm
    without ill effects.
  CHRONIC EXPOSURE- A daily intake of 4-6 grams produced no toxic effects
    outside of gastric irritation. Larger doses may have systemic effects
    similar to salicylates and may include disturbances in acid base balance,
    tremor and convulsions.

FIRST AID- Treat symptomatically and supportively. Get medical attention
  immediately. If vomiting occurs, keep head lower than hips to prevent
  aspiration.

ANTIDOTE:
No specific antidote. Treat symptomatically and supportively.

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                             REACTIVITY

REACTIVITY:
Stable under normal temperatures and pressures.

INCOMPATIBILITIES:
BENZOIC ACID:
  OXIDIZERS (STRONG): Vigorous exothermic reaction.

DECOMPOSITION:
Thermal decomposition products may include toxic oxides of carbon.

POLYMERIZATION:
Hazardous polymerization has not been reported to occur under normal
temperatures and pressures.

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                        STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

Observe all federal, state and local regulations when storing or disposing
of this substance.


                                 **Storage**

Store away from incompatible substances.

******************************************************************************
                        CONDITIONS TO AVOID

May burn but does not ignite readily. Avoid contact with strong oxidizers,
excessive heat, sparks, or open flame.

******************************************************************************
                      SPILL AND LEAK PROCEDURES

SOIL SPILL:
Dig holding area such as lagoon, pond or pit for containment.

Use protective cover such as a plastic sheet to prevent material from
dissolving in fire extinguishing water or rain.

WATER SPILL:
Use activated carbon to absorb spilled substance that is dissolved.

Use mechanical dredges or lifts to extract immobilized masses of pollution and
precipitates.

Use suction hoses to remove trapped spill material.

OCCUPATIONAL SPILL:
Sweep up and place in suitable clean, dry containers for reclamation or later
disposal. Do not flush spilled material into sewer. Keep unnecessary people
away.

Reportable Quantity (RQ): 5000 pounds
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Section 304 requires
that a release equal to or greater than the reportable quantity for this
substance be immediately reported to the local emergency planning committee
and the state emergency response commission (40 CFR 355.40). If the release of
this substance is reportable under CERCLA Section 103, the National Response
Center must be notified immediately at (800) 424-8802 or (202) 426-2675 in the
metropolitan Washington, D.C. area (40 CFR 302.6).

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                        PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

VENTILATION:
Provide local exhaust ventilation. Ventilation equipment should be
explosion-proof if explosive concentrations of dust, vapor or fume are
present.

RESPIRATOR:

Note:ILPI's retail division, Safety Emporium, carries a complete line of respirators, including those suitable for protection against nuclear/chemical/biological (NBC) agents.


The following respirators are recommended based on information found in the
  physical data, toxicity and health effects sections. They are ranked in
  order from minimum to maximum respiratory protection.
The specific respirator selected must be based on contamination levels found
  in the work place, must be based on the specific operation, must not exceed
  the working limits of the respirator and must be jointly approved by the
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Mine Safety
  and Health Administration (NIOSH-MSHA).


  Any dust and mist respirator.

  Any air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter.

  Any powered air-purifying respirator with a dust and mist filter.

  Any powered air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate
    filter.

  Any type 'C' supplied-air respirator operated in the pressure-demand or
    other positive pressure or continuous-flow mode.

  Any self-contained breathing apparatus.

FOR FIREFIGHTING AND OTHER IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS TO LIFE OR HEALth CONDITIONS:

  Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is
    operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.

  Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a
    pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an
    auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in pressure-demand
    or other positive-pressure mode.

CLOTHING:
Employee must wear appropriate protective (impervious) clothing and equipment
to prevent repeated or prolonged skin contact with this substance.

GLOVES:
Employee must wear appropriate protective gloves to prevent contact with this
substance.

EYE PROTECTION:
Employee must wear splash-proof or dust-resistant safety goggles to prevent
eye contact with this substance.

Emergency eye wash: Where there is any possibility that an employee's eyes may
be exposed to this substance, the employer should provide an eye wash
fountain within the immediate work area for emergency use.


               AUTHORIZED - FISHER SCIENTIFIC GROUP, INC.
          CREATION DATE: 11/02/84          REVISION DATE: 12/23/93

                           -ADDITIONAL INFORMATION-
THE INFORMATION BELOW IS BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE AND REPRESENTS THE BEST
INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO US.  HOWEVER, WE MAKE NO WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WIth RESPECT TO
SUCH INFORMATION, AND WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY RESULTING FROM ITS USE.  USERS
SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF THE
INFORMATION FOR THEIR PARTICULAR PURPOSES.
Limitation of Liability


    The Fisher MSDS's provided to you in electronic form were
developed under license from Occupational Health Services, Inc.
Each MSDS was developed to be used only with the corresponding
Fisher Scientific labeled product, and is believed to be accurate
and represents the best information currently available.  We
make, however, NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER
WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, with respect to such information,
and we assume no liability resulting from its use.  Users should
make their own investigations to determine the suitability of the
information for their particular purposes.  These MSDS's are not
for resale.

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This page was last updated Tuesday, April 14, 2015