sodium silicate

H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage [Danger Skin corrosion/irritation]

H335: May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]

P260, P261, P264, P271, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P319, P321, P363, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 7.2% (290 of 4043) of reports.

H290 (13.9%): May be corrosive to metals [Warning Corrosive to Metals]

H302 (24.1%): Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]

H314 (20%): Causes severe skin burns and eye damage [Danger Skin corrosion/irritation]

H315 (72.6%): Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]

H318 (61.5%): Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H319 (28%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H335 (46.6%): May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]

P234, P260, P261, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P280, P301+P317, P301+P330+P331, P302+P352, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P305+P354+P338, P316, P317, P319, P321, P330, P332+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P363, P390, P403+P233, P405, P406, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 4043 reports by companies from 85 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria per 290 of 4043 reports by companies.

There are 83 notifications provided by 3753 of 4043 reports by companies with hazard statement code(s).

Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website.

H290 (13.1%): May be corrosive to metals [Warning Corrosive to Metals]

H314 (> 99.9%): Causes severe skin burns and eye damage [Danger Skin corrosion/irritation]

H318 (13.9%): Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H335 (98.6%): May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]

P234, P260, P261, P264, P264+P265, P271, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P317, P319, P321, P363, P390, P403+P233, P405, P406, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 2971 reports by companies from 63 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

H302: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]

H318: Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H371: May cause damage to organs [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure]

P260, P264, P264+P265, P270, P280, P301+P317, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P308+P316, P316, P317, P321, P330, P363, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Fresh air, rest.

First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again. Refer for medical attention .

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Give one or two glasses of water to drink. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer for medical attention .

INGESTION (large doses): give water or milk; do NOT induce vomiting. (USCG, 1999)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 154 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Non-Combustible)]:

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2 or water spray.

LARGE FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2, alcohol-resistant foam or water spray. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire. Dike runoff from fire control for later disposal.

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)

In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 154 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Non-Combustible)]:

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.

SPILL: Increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind direction, as necessary.

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)

Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations. Personal protection: self-contained breathing apparatus.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 154 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Non-Combustible)]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand or other non-combustible material and transfer to containers. DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAINERS. (ERG, 2024)

Separated from strong acids, aluminium and zinc.

3.5 [mg/m3]

38 [mg/m3]

230 [mg/m3]

Evaporation at 20 °C is negligible; a harmful concentration of airborne particles can, however, be reached quickly on spraying.

The aerosol is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.

Residues of sodium metasilicate are exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used as a surfacant, emulsifier, wetting agent, suspending agent, dispersing agent, or buffer in accordance with good agricultural practices as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops or to raw agricultural commodities after harvest.

Residues of sodium silicate are exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used as a surfactant, emulsifier, wetting agent, stabilizer, or inhibitor in accordance with good agricultural practices as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops or to raw agricultural commodities after harvest.

Goggles or face shield. (USCG, 1999)

RUBBER OR POLYETHYLENE GLOVES; SAFETY GLASSES OR OTHER FORM OF EYE PROTECTION; SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS OR ONE THAT ABSORBS ORGANIC VAPORS. /ETHYL SILICATE/

PREVENT GENERATION OF MISTS!

Use ventilation. Use local exhaust.

Protective gloves.

Wear face shield.

Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work.

Sodium silicate appears as a powdered or flaked solid substance. Strong irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion. Concentrated aqueous solutions used as a glue.

Large Crystals; Liquid; Liquid; Dry Powder; Liquid; Liquid; Other Solid; Large Crystals; CBI; Dry Powder; Other Solid; Wet Solid

Liquid; Other Solid; Dry Powder; Liquid; Liquid; Dry Powder; Dry Powder; Gas Vapor; Liquid; CBI; Large Crystals

Deliquescent powder or flakes; [CAMEO] Amorphous lumps, aqueous solution, or spray-dried powder with approximately 20% residual water; [Reference #1]

White solid; [Hawley] Colorless to white hygroscopic solid; [ICSC] White odorless granules; [Alfa Aesar MSDS]

COLOURLESS 25-50% SODIUM SILICATE SOLUTION IN WATER.

COLORLESS MONOCLINIC CRYSTALS

USUALLY OBTAINED AS A GLASS; ALSO ORTHORHOMBIC CRYSTALS

DUSTLESS WHITE GRANULES

COLORLESS TO WHITE OR GRAYISH-WHITE, CRYSTAL-LIKE PIECES OR LUMPS

LUMPS OF GREENISH GLASS; WHITE POWDERS; LIQUIDS CLOUDY OR CLEAR

BOILING POINT: 100 °C -6H20 /NONAHYDRATE/

102 °C @760 [mm Hg]

MELTING POINT: 48 °C IN WATER OF CRYSTALLIZATION; HEAT OF HYDRATION: -24.15 KCAL/MOLE; EFFLORESCENT; ORTHORHOMBIC BIPYRAMIDAL PLATELETS /NONAHYDRATE/

VERY SOL IN COLD & HOT WATER; SOLUBLE IN DILUTE SODIUM HYDROXIDE; INSOLUBLE IN ALCOHOL, ACIDS /NONAHYDRATE/

SOL IN WATER; INSOL IN ALCOHOL

INSOL IN ACIDS, SALT SOLN

In commerce mole ratios of SiO2 to Na2O vary from 1.5 to 3.3. ... The higher the ratio (e.g., the less sodium) the lower the solubility and alkalinity.

VERY SLIGHTLY SOL OR ALMOST INSOL IN COLD WATER; LESS READILY SOL IN LARGE AMT OF WATER THAN IN SMALL AMT; ANHYD DISSOLVE WITH MORE DIFFICULTY THAN HYDRATE IN WATER

GLASS FORM SOL IN STEAM UNDER PRESSURE; PARTIALLY MISCIBLE WITH PRIMARY ALC & KETONES; MISCIBLE WITH SOME POLYHYDRIC ALC

INSOL IN ALC, POTASSIUM, & SODIUM SALTS

BROUGHT INTO SOLN BY HEATING WITH WATER UNDER PRESSURE; SILICATES CONTAINING MORE SODIUM DISSOLVE MORE READILY

Solubility in water at 20 °C: miscible

1.1 to 1.7 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999)

Relative density (water = 1): 1.4

1.1 to 1.7 @ 15°C

18 [mm Hg]

HYDROLYZED BY HOT WATER

Not flammable (USCG, 1999)

Solutions of sodium metasilicate, when heated or acidified, are hydrolyzed to free sodium ions and silicic acid.

Sodium metasilicate is considered to be too corrosive to be widely used in consumer product laundering formulations.

PH: ABOUT 12.5; HAS RELATIVELY HIGH BUFFER CAPACITY /0.5% SOLUTION/

AQ SOLN ARE STRONGLY ALKALINE

INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.520 (GLASS)

INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.518 (ALPHA), 1.527 (GAMMA)

HEAT OF SOLUTION: -7.45 KCAL/MOLE (CRYSTALS); HEAT OF FUSION: 10.3 KCAL/MOLE; SPECIFIC HEAT: 0.217 AT 20 °C; HEAT OF FORMATION: 371.2 KCAL/MOLE

PPT BY ACIDS & BY ALKALINE EARTH & HEAVY METAL IONS

MELTING POINT 72.2 °C; DENSITY 1.75 OR 55 LB/CU FT /PENTAHYDRATE/

COAGULATED BY BRINE; PRECIPITATED BY ALKALINE EARTH & HEAVY METAL IONS

FORMS GELATINOUS MIXTURES WITH WATER

Deliquescent. Water soluble [Handbook of Chemistry and Physics].

Salts, Basic

SODIUM SILICATE contains a variable amount of water of hydration. Rate of dissolution depends on the degree of hydration, the amount of water that is used as solvent (less soluble in large amounts of water) and the temperature (higher temperature means quicker solution). Aqueous solutions react as bases. Reacts violently with fluorine [Lewis.]

Sodium metasilicate ignites in fluorine.

Sodium silicate (water glass) burns in fluorine.

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety concluded that the following 24 silicate ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment when formulated to be non-irritating, with the exception that the available data are insufficient to make a determination of safety for the use of naturally-sourced (i.e., mined) silicate ingredients in products that may be incidentally inhaled: Sodium Metasilicate.

Safe for use in cosmetics, with qualifications

The available data are insufficient to support safety

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety concluded that the following 24 silicate ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment when formulated to be non-irritating, with the exception that the available data are insufficient to make a determination of safety for the use of naturally-sourced (i.e., mined) silicate ingredients in products that may be incidentally inhaled: Sodium Silicate.

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.

Cough. Sore throat.

Redness. Pain.

Diarrhoea. Nausea. Vomiting.

Dermatotoxin - Skin burns.

Nephrotoxin - The chemical is potentially toxic to the kidneys in the occupational setting.

Toxic Pneumonitis - Inflammation of the lungs induced by inhalation of metal fumes or toxic gases and vapors.

LD50 Rat oral 1280 mg/kg

LD50 Mouse oral 2400 mg/kg

LD50 Rat oral 1.1 - 1.6 g/kg

LD50 Mouse oral 1,100 mg/kg

A 57 yr old man had had recurrent ulcerative lesions on his left hand for 2 yr. The ulcers were associated with chronic eczematous changes resulting from primary irritant contact dermatitis to sodium silicate, as indicated by positive patch tests. He used sodium silicate in a dyeing process in his work. He also had contact urticaria. An immediate wheal and flare reaction was found 15 min after application of sodium silicate to a scratch test site. This response was not seen in healthy control subjects.

MORE...CAUSTIC THAN SODIUM SILICATE. ... /IT IS/ THE MOST ALKALINE & CORROSIVE SUBSTANCE IN.../PHOSPHATE-FREE & LOW-PHOSPHATE LAUNDRY DETERGENTS & DISHWASHER PRODUCTS/.

IRRITATING & CAUSTIC TO SKIN, MUCOUS MEMBRANES. IF SWALLOWED CAUSES VOMITING & DIARRHEA.

Upper airway irritation, fever/hyperthermia (metal fume fever), leukocytosis (metal fume fever).

ACCIDENTAL SPLASHES IN EYE FOLLOWED PROMPTLY BY WASHING WITH WATER HAVE BEEN OBSERVED TO DAMAGE THE CORNEAL EPITHELIUM.

ORAL PREPN OF SODIUM METASILICATE WERE FED TO YOUNG ADULT BEAGLE DOGS AND YOUNG RATS OF BOTH SEXES FOR 4 WK. POLYDIPSIA, POLYURIA & SOFT STOOLS RESULTED IN SOME ANIMALS. GROSS & MICROSCOPIC RENAL LESIONS OBSERVED IN DOGS BUT NOT IN RATS.

... /In/ studies of detergent emesis in 11 dogs by gastric intubation ... 8 mg/kg as a 10.5% aqueous solution of a sodium silicate (SiO2:Na2O= 3.2:1) produced emesis in 6 minutes which continued for up to 33 minutes.

Sodium metasilicate is used with sodium carbonate in heavy duty alkaline laundry detergents. In rabbits this type of detergent causes damage to the cornea, with opacification, proportional to the alkalinity of the preparation. Irrigation of the eye with water must be done within 60 seconds to reduce the severity of injury.

The ip injection in rats of the nonahydrate as a neutral solution in amounts of 300 mg on day 1 and 200 mg on days 2 and 3 produced lesions in the spleen and lymph nodes and caused mitotic changes in the nuclie of cells resembling those from ionizing radiation or hypoxia. /Nonahydrate/

For more Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for SODIUM METASILICATE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Mussels are controlled on water inlets, underwater substructures, ditches, etc by asphyxiation subsequent to coating with a hydrogel made of sodium silicate. Furthermore, algae and aquatic plants can be eliminated by addition of herbicides to the hydrogel. ... Water glass, diluted 1:2, with pH adjusted to 7.4, controlled mussels in a water inlet.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

UN 1346; Silicon powder, amorphous

IMO 4.1; Silicon powder, amorphous

No person may /transport,/ offer or accept a hazardous material for transportation in commerce unless that material is properly classed, described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in condition for shipment as required or authorized by ... /the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR 171-177)./

Int'l Air Shipments: Chemical: Silicon powder, amorphous. IMO Class: 4.1. UN 1346. Primary hazard label: Flammable solid (packaging group III). Additional packaging instructions listed in the table must also be followed. /Silicon powder, amorphous/

International Water Shipments: Chemical: Silicon powder, amorphous. IMO Class: 4.1, flammable solids. UN 1346. Packaging Group: III. Label(s) required: Flammable solid. /Silicon powder, amorphous/

Corrosive