LITHIUM
SYNONYMS:
EEC
No. 003-001-00-4; EINECS No. 231-102-5; ELEMENTAL LITHIUM; LITHIUM ELEMENT;
LITHIUM METAL; LITIO (Spanish); STCC 4916428
IDENTIFICATION:
CAS:
7439-93-2
DOT ID:
UN1415
Hazard Class or Division:
4.3 (DANGEROUS WHEN WET)
ERG Guide:
138
Formula:
Li
RTECS No:
OJ5540000
Properties:
Very
flammable, soft, silver-white metal; turns yellow on exposure to moisture.
Usually stored and shipped in hermetically sealed can or under inert gas,
mineral oil or kerosene. Odorless. Floats on the surface of water and reacts
violently with water forming explosive hydrogen gas and caustic solution;
ignition may occur. Finely divided powder or shavings may ignite spontaneously
in air.
Uses:
In the manufactures of metals.
HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION
•
Corrosive. Corrosive to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Eye contact
causes severe burns and possible blindness. Corrosive if ingested. Vapor
inhalation may cause shortness of breath, irritation of the mucous membrane and
lung edema; the effects may be delayed. Lithium reacts with body moisture to cause
chemical burns: foil, ribbon, and wire react relatively slowly. Prolonged or
repeated exposure can cause kidney damage.
Respirator: Escape:
GMFOV* [any air-purifying, fullfacepiece respirator (gas mask)
with a chin-style, frontor back-mounted organic vapor canister] SCBAE (any
appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing
apparatus).
Note:
*SCBA may not provide adequate protection. If
exposure occurs, remove and isolate gear immediately and thoroughly
decontaminate personnel.
Reactivity:
Reacts
violently with water, producing explosive hydrogen gas, corrosive fumes, and a
strong caustic solution. May ignite damp combustible materials. Finely divided
particles or powder may ignite spontaneously in air. Contact with air produces
corrosive fumes of lithium hydroxide. Reacts violently with oxidizers,
acetonitrile, nitric acid, arsenic, bromobenzene, carbon tetrachloride, sulfur,
and many other substances (see
FIRE
INFORMATION
for reaction
with fire extinguishing agents). Forms impactand friction-sensitive mixtures
with bromobenzene, carbon tetrabromide, chloroform (weak explosion), iodoform,
halogens, halocarbons, methyl dichloride, methyl diiodide, and their
substances. Attacks plastics, rubber ceramic materials, concrete, sand, and
metal alloys of cobalt, iron, manganese, and nickel.
FIRE INFORMATION:
Fire fighting gear, including SCBA, does not provide adequate
protection. If exposure occurs, remove and isolate gear immediately and
thoroughly decontaminate personnel. Fumes from burning metal are highly
irritating to skin, eyes, nose and lungs. Reacts violently with extinguishing
agents: water, halons, carbon dioxide, and bicarbonate powder. If material or
contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially
contaminated water.
Hazard Classifications:
Health Hazard (Blue)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Flammability (Red)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Reactivity (Yellow)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Special situations
. . . . . . . . . . .WATER
FIRST AID:
Move
victim to fresh air. Call emergency medical care. Apply artificial respiration
if victim is not breathing. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove
and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with substance,
wipe from skin immediately; flush skin or eyes with running water for at least
20 minutes. Keep victim warm and quiet. Ensure that medical personnel are aware
of the material(s) involved, and take precautions to protect themselves.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
•
In case of spill notify local health and fire officials and pollution control
agencies. Prevent runoff from entering sewers and waterways if it can be done
safely ahead of the release.
•
California LOL: C