Material Safety Data Sheet

Acetic Acid
1. PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME: Acetic Acid

(Includes Glacial Acetic Acid and 10% Acetic Acid)

OTHER/GENERIC NAMES: Acetic Acid

Ethanoic Acid
Methane Carboxylic Acid

PRODUCT USE: Industrial

MANUFACTURER: General Chemical Corporation

90 East Halsey Road
Parsippany, NJ 07054

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 973-515-1840 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL: 800-631-8050

(Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:30pm) (24 Hours/Day, 7 Days/Week)

2. COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS

FOR GLACIAL ACETIC ACID:

INGREDIENT NAME CAS NUMBER WEIGHT %
Acetic Acid 64-19-7 99-100

FOR 10% ACETIC ACID:

INGREDIENT NAME CAS NUMBER WEIGHT %
Acetic Acid 64-19-7 10
Water 7732-18-5 90

Trace impurities and additional material names not listed above may appear in Section 15 of this MSDS. These
materials may be listed for local "Right-To-Know" compliance and for other reasons.

OSHA Hazard Communication Standard: This product is considered hazardous under the OSHA Hazard
Communication Standard.

3. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: A clear, colorless liquid with a sour, pungent odor resembling
vinegar. Causes severe burns to the skin and eyes. Harmful if inhaled or swallowed.
POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS

SKIN: Concentrated solution causes severe burns if not promptly washed off. Vapor may blacken skin and
exposed teeth. Dilute solutions may cause dermatitis in some sensitive individuals.

EYES: Causes severe burns. May cause permanent corneal injury, which may be followed by blindness. High
vapor concentrations may result in conjunctivitis.

MSDS Number: GC-4003 Page 1 of 7

Current Issue Date: January, 2002
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Acetic Acid

INHALATION: Vapor causes irritation of eyes, nose and throat; can affect respiratory response, causing
coughing and chest pains.

INGESTION: Causes severe pain in the mouth, gullet and stomach; possibly circulatory collapse, uremia
and death.

DELAYED EFFECTS: Irritation of respiratory tract, chronic bronchitis, erosion of teeth.

Ingredients found on one of the three OSHA designated carcinogen lists are listed below.
INGREDIENT NAME NTP STATUS IARC STATUS OSHA LIST
No ingredients listed in this section.

4. FIRST AID MEASURES

SKIN: Immediately flush with plenty of water for 15 minutes, while removing contaminated clothing. Wash clothing
before reuse. Get medical attention.

EYES: Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. If irritation persists, flush an additional
15 minutes. Get medical attention.

INHALATION: Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth. If
breathing is difficult, give oxygen provided a qualified operator is available. Get medical attention.

INGESTION: Do not induce vomiting. Give tap water, milk (2-3 glasses), milk of magnesia or egg whites beaten
with water. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Get medical attention.

ADVICE TO PHYSICIAN: Treat symptomatically.

5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES

FLAMMABLE PROPERTIES

FLASH POINT: 40C (104F) glacial

FLASH POINT METHOD: Closed Cup
AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE: 426-465C glacial
UPPER FLAME LIMIT (volume % in air): 16.0 glacial
LOWER FLAME LIMIT (volume % in air): 5.4 glacial
FLAME PROPAGATION RATE (solids): Not applicable
OSHA FLAMMABILITY CLASS: Flammable

EXTINGUISHING MEDIA:
Water spray, foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical. Avoid water in a solid stream which will scatter and spread
fire.

UNUSUAL FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS:

Material gives off flammable vapors above its flash point.

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SPECIAL FIRE FIGHTING PRECAUTIONS/INSTRUCTIONS:

Use water spray to cool containers exposed to fire and to protect those involved in firefighting. Involved personnel
should wear self-contained breathing apparatus and eye protection and full protective clothing. Water may be
used to dilute spilled material, to reduce flammability and to dissipate irritating vapors evolving from the fire.

6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES

IN CASE OF SPILL OR OTHER RELEASE: (See section 8 for recommended personal protective equipment.)
Provide adequate ventilation. Clean-up personnel should wear self-contained breathing apparatus and personal
protective equipment to prevent liquid contact. Use water spray to dispense vapors and protect involved
personnel and to reduce flammability. Eliminate ignition sources. Small spills can be neutralized with soda ash or
sodium bicarbonate. Large spills should be contained and collected in covered containers, if possible, and then
labeled for eventual disposal.

Spills and releases may have to be reported to Federal and/or local authorities. See Section 15 regarding
reporting requirements.

7. HANDLING AND STORAGE

NORMAL HANDLING: (See section 8 for recommended personal protective equipment.)

Avoid breathing vapors. Avoid liquid or vapor contact with eyes, skin and clothing. Use with adequate ventilation.
Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame (also, electrical equipment and wiring). Wear personal protective
equipment as needed.

STORAGE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Store in closed containers in a well-ventilated area. Outdoors or detached storage is preferred. Keep away from
oxidizing agents and combustible materials. Keep above its freezing point (62F) to avoid rupture of carboys and
glass containers due to expansion upon solidification. If frozen, thaw by carefully moving container to a warm
area.

8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION

ENGINEERING CONTROLS:
Provide adequate exhaust ventilation to meet TLV/TWA requirements. Local exhaust from floor and low spaces.
Mechanical (general) floor-mounted fan or blower. Material should preferably be used in an exhausted hood.
Equipment should be explosion-proof and exhaust ducts should be acid-resistant.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

SKIN PROTECTION: Wear impervious gloves (rubber or neoprene) and rubber apron. In case of leak,
spill or emergency situations with possibility of contact with the material, add full
impervious clothing. Rubber boots may be required depending upon working
conditions.

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Current Issue Date: January, 2002
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Acetic Acid

EYE PROTECTION: For material handled normally in a closed ventilated system, wear safety glasses
with nonperforated side shields. For leak, spill or other emergency, wear chemical
safety goggles or full face shield to guard against splashing. Do not wear contact
lenses under these conditions.

RESPIRATORY Where vapors are below 500 ppm, use a NIOSH-approved chemical cartridge,
PROTECTION: organic vapor respirator with full facepiece or a self-contained breathing apparatus
with full facepiece. Vapors to 1000 ppm require a NIOSH-approved air-supplied
respirator with full facepiece. Escape conditions call for NIOSH-approved gas mask
with organic vapor canister or self-contained breathing apparatus.

ADDITIONAL Eyewash stations and safety showers should be provided in areas of use or
RECOMMENDATIONS: handling. Provide protective carriers for handling material in glass bottles.

EXPOSURE GUIDELINES

INGREDIENT NAME ACGIH TLV OSHA PEL OTHER LIMIT

Acetic acid 10 ppm TWA 10 ppm TWA ------
15 ppm STEL
1
= Limit established by General Chemical Corporation.
2
= Workplace Environmental Exposure Level (AIHA).
3
= Biological Exposure Index (ACGIH).

OTHER EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR POTENTIAL DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS:

None.

9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

APPEARANCE: Clear, colorless liquid

PHYSICAL STATE: Liquid
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 60.05
CHEMICAL FORMULA: CH3COOH
ODOR: Sour, pungent odor resembling vinegar
SPECIFIC GRAVITY (water = 1.0): 1.05 - glacial
SOLUBILITY IN WATER (weight %): Complete
pH: 2.4 @ 1.0M
2.9 @ 0.1M
3.4 @ 0.01M
BOILING POINT: 117.9C - glacial
MELTING POINT: 16.7C - glacial
VAPOR PRESSURE: 11.4 mm Hg @ 20C - glacial
VAPOR DENSITY (air = 1.0): 2.07 - glacial
EVAPORATION RATE: 11.0 - glacial COMPARED TO: Butyl acetate
% VOLATILES: 100
FLASH POINT: 40C - glacial
(Flash point method and additional flammability data are found in Section 5.)

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Current Issue Date: January, 2002
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10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY

NORMALLY STABLE? (CONDITIONS TO AVOID):

Stable under normal conditions.

INCOMPATIBILITIES:
Strong oxidizing agents, hydroxides, amines, oxides, carbonates. Avoid contamination with acetaldehyde,
chromic acid and alkalis.

HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS:

Would expect burning to produce carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide.

HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION:
Will not occur.

11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

IMMEDIATE (ACUTE) EFFECTS:

LD50 (oral, rat): 3310 mg/kg
LD50 (skin, rabbit): 1060 mg/kg
LC50 (mouse): 5620 ppm/1 hr

DELAYED (SUBCHRONIC AND CHRONIC) EFFECTS:

Data not available.

OTHER DATA:
None.

12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

BOD5 (g/g): 0.34 0.88 Std. Dilution / Sewage Seed

TLm96: 100-10 ppm

13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS

RCRA

Is the unused product a RCRA hazardous If yes, the RCRA ID number is:
waste if discarded? No

OTHER DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Dispose of in accordance with all federal, state and local regulations.

The information offered in section 13 is for the product as shipped. Use and/or alterations to the product such as
mixing with other materials may significantly change the characteristics of the material and alter the RCRA
classification and the proper disposal method.

MSDS Number: GC-4003 Page 5 of 7

Current Issue Date: January, 2002
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Acetic Acid

14. TRANSPORT INFORMATION

FOR GLACIAL ACETIC ACID:
US DOT HAZARD CLASS: 8 (3), PG II
US DOT ID NUMBER: UN 2789
PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Acetic acid, glacial or Acetic acid solution

FOR 10% ACETIC ACID:

US DOT HAZARD CLASS: 8, PG III
US DOT ID NUMBER: UN 2790
PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Acetic acid solution

For additional information on shipping regulations affecting this material, contact the information number found in
Section 1.

15. REGULATORY INFORMATION

TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT (TSCA)

TSCA INVENTORY STATUS: Listed on the TSCA inventory.

OTHER TSCA ISSUES: None.

SARA TITLE III/CERCLA

"Reportable Quantities" (RQs) and/or "Threshold Planning Quantities" (TPQs) exist for the following ingredients.

INGREDIENT NAME SARA/CERCLA RQ (lb) SARA EHS TPQ (lb)

Acetic acid 5000 -----

Spills or releases resulting in the loss of any ingredient at or above its RQ requires immediate notification
to the National Response Center [(800) 424-8802] and to your Local Emergency Planning Committee.

SECTION 311 HAZARD CLASS: Immediate. Fire.

SARA 313 TOXIC CHEMICALS:

The following ingredients are SARA 313 "Toxic Chemicals" and may be subject to annual reporting requirements.
CAS numbers and weight percents are found in Section 2.

INGREDIENT NAME COMMENT

No ingredients listed in this section.

STATE RIGHT-TO-KNOW

In addition to the ingredients found in Section 2, the following are listed for state right-to-know purposes.

INGREDIENT NAME WEIGHT % COMMENT

No ingredients listed in this section.

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Current Issue Date: January, 2002
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Acetic Acid

ADDITIONAL REGULATORY INFORMATION:

None

WHMIS CLASSIFICATION (CANADA):

B3, E (glacial)
E (10%)

FOREIGN CHEMICAL CONTROL INVENTORY STATUS:

Listed on EU EINECS and Canadian DSL.

16. OTHER INFORMATION

CURRENT ISSUE DATE: January, 2002

PREVIOUS ISSUE DATE: October, 1989

CHANGES TO MSDS FROM PREVIOUS ISSUE DATE ARE DUE TO THE FOLLOWING:
Change in format.

OTHER INFORMATION: None

MSDS Number: GC-4003 Page 7 of 7

Current Issue Date: January, 2002