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Product Name: Cobalt Nitrate
Chemical Formula: Co(NO3)2·6H2O
CAS Number: 10026-22-9
Synonyms: Cobaltous Nitrate, Hexahydrate, Nitric acid cobalt(II) salt
Manufacturer: Sourced from industrial chemical suppliers, important to check for updated contact numbers on delivery manifests
Recommended Use: Used in the coloring of ceramics and glass, catalyst preparation, electroplating baths, and laboratory reagents
Emergency Contacts: Seek Poison Control or Occupational Safety contacts in case of major exposure, never delay reporting an incident
Classification: Identified by GHS as Acute Toxicity (oral, inhalation), Skin Sensitization, Carcinogenicity, Specific Target Organ Toxicity
Warning Signs: Harmful or fatal if swallowed or inhaled; skin and eye damage; chronic exposure could trigger cancer in humans
Pictograms: Skull and crossbones; exclamation mark; health hazard
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Toxic by ingestion, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, suspected of causing genetic defects, can cause cancer with prolonged exposure, harms aquatic life because cobalt ions persist in water systems, stays in sediments, and affects microorganisms
Chemical Name: Cobalt(II) nitrate
Concentration: Purity levels often above 98%, impurities vary by supplier but common impurities include magnesium, iron, nickel
Molecular Weight: 291.03 g/mol
Inert Components: Hydration water content forms bulk of solid crystals, not inert, participates in chemical reactivity on heating
Trace Hazardous Components: None at significant concentration, but always verify lot analysis data before mass handling
Inhalation: Take individual to fresh air immediately. Open windows, use fans, avoid compressing chest or delaying ambulance call if breathing stalls. Emergency responders can give oxygen and administer rescue breathing if needed.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing at once, rinse affected area for at least 15 minutes, neutral soap is best, never use solvents to clean skin.
Eye Contact: Lift eyelids and flush eyes using running water for at least 20 minutes; avoid giving ointment or drops except under medical direction.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth out, avoid inducing vomiting unless a poison response center gives go-ahead. Get medical assistance quickly since cobalt toxicity hits digestive, nervous, and cardiovascular systems.
Medical Attention: Tell medical personnel what was contacted and how, show packaging where available; cobalt poisoning sometimes needs chelation therapy or specific medication, only professionals assess the need.
Flammability: Not itself flammable, but enhances burning of combustibles by providing nitrate as oxidizer
Suitable Extinguishers: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam on adjacent fires, dry agents only on very small secondary fires, not on cobalt nitrate itself which dissolves easily.
Hazards from Burning: Gives off nitrogen oxides, cobalt oxides, toxic fumes if heated, so firefighters always wear full protection and SCBA
Fire Response: Keep unnecessary personnel away, avoid breathing smoke, and cool drums or containers from a distance with lots of water
Advice for Firefighters: Sealing masks tightly avoids inhaling vapors; decontaminate gear and skin after fire work is finished
Spill Procedure: Evacuate area, ventilate, keep untrained people clear until cleanup is complete, avoid raising dust or splashing liquids
Personal Protection: Require chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection, boots, long-sleeve aprons, or Tyvek suits
Containment: Prevent leaking into water drains, sweep solid carefully and collect into containers, absorb solutions with sand or vermiculite
Clean-Up: Place collected waste in designated hazardous containers, label clearly, dispose following local hazardous waste code, and ensure full decontamination
Environmental Precaution: Alert staff and supervisors if spillage contacts soil or water since nitrate ions move quickly and cobalt persists
Handling: Only trained workers use this material, wear gloves, goggles, and avoid eating or drinking in work zones. Wash thoroughly after each shift and avoid contact with clothing, skin, or face. Prevent friction, shocks, and static at weighing and dispensing stations.
Storage: Store in cool, dry, tightly closed containers; stainless steel or certain plastics work best. Keep well away from organic material, acids, alkalis, and reducing agents. Post hazard signs on storage rooms. Monitor for leaks and humidity which cause clumping and poorer handling. Never store above eye height or below knee level due to spill risk.
Control Parameters: OSHA and ACGIH set cobalt exposure limits as low as 0.02 mg/m3 for workplace air, measured as elemental cobalt; check facility air regularly, especially if respirators are not worn. Local extractor hoods or gloveboxes help keep dust under control.
Personal Protection: Gloves—nitrile, latex, or neoprene; safety goggles or full-face shield when splashing possible; long sleeves and chemically resistant apron/lab coat. Closed-toed shoes only. Respirators fit-tested and used for any dust-generating operations or during spills/cleanup.
Ventilation: Local exhaust systems are key in weighing and dispensing areas, maintenance should clean ducts to prevent dust build-up which can re-enter air. Eye showers and emergency wash stations should be close to major work areas.
Appearance: Reddish, pink crystalline solid, sometimes clumps into chunky granules under humid air
Odor: Mild, metallic, not strong or pungent
pH: Weakly acidic in water solution
Melting Point: Decomposes at 100-102°C, never melts cleanly like table salt due to hydrate structure
Boiling Point: Loses water, then breaks down chemically, doesn’t have a “true” boiling in the technical sense
Solubility: Completely soluble in water, produces dark red solution that stains hands, clothing, containers
Density: About 1.88 g/cm³ as solid
Other Info: Non-volatile at room temperature, crumbly if exposed to moisture
Stability: Stable if dry and stored at room temperature, absorbs water fast from humid air then starts clumping
Instability: Heats up if in contact with strong reducing agents, can react strongly with organic materials, risking fire or explosion
Hazardous Products: Decomposition (via heat or acid) generates nitrogen oxides, cobalt oxides, which bring major health and environmental worries if vented or leaked
Reactivity Profile: Never mix with powdered metals, sulfides, or combustibles like paper in trash bins; store far from acids or bases
Polymerization: No risk of dangerous polymerization under normal storage conditions
Acute Toxicity: Swallowing just a gram or two can cause nausea, vomiting, and pain; repeated low-level exposure increases the risk for heart, thyroid, and nervous system disease
Chronic Effects: Workers handling cobalt nitrate over years experience breathing trouble, bronchitis, dermatitis, possible heart changes
Carcinogenic Risks: Classified as a possible human carcinogen by IARC and NTP, some studies point to increased risk with occupational contact
Sensitization: Some people get highly sensitive to cobalt after just a few exposures—once the allergy sets in, much smaller exposures can bring out rash, shortness of breath, or asthma
Other Risks: Metal toxicity symptoms: blue fingers, headache, difficulty sleeping, mood changes; seek medical attention on any signs of systemic poisoning
Environmental Behavior: Once released, cobalt nitrate dissociates in water, mobile in streams and soils which means easier transport into groundwater
Aquatic Toxicity: Harmful to fish and aquatic plants even in low concentrations, can bioaccumulate and damage smaller organisms which upsets food chain
Persistence: Both nitrate and cobalt ions linger in soils and sediments, long-term monitoring needed near sites with big releases
Degradability: Cobalt ion does not break down biologically, nitrate ions eventually reach atmosphere as nitrogen oxide, which has regional impact beyond spill site
Impact Mitigation: Neutralize spills on site, avoid rinsing to drains, always notify local environmental officials if large amounts reach water or soils
Waste Methods: Treat as hazardous chemical waste, enriched in heavy metals and nitrates—never landfill with regular trash
Container Disposal: Triple-rinse, deface labels, send out for chemical waste management by licensed contractor
Forbidden Actions: Never incinerate in open air as toxic fumes develop, not for household waste streams
Recycling: Not feasible on small scale, best approach is legitimate chemical recovery firms
Local Law: Always follow regional waste regulations or Clean Water Act/NPDES where released into sewers
UN Number: 1477
Shipping Name: Cobalt Nitrate, hazardous solid
Transport Hazard Class: 5.1 (oxidizer)
Packing Group: III for most pack sizes, may escalate by traffic authority for bulk shipments
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Mark aquatic hazard symbol, notify shipper of specific container requirements
Precautions: Secure drums, prevent tipping or moisture contact, full documentation for truck or air carriage, carriers must check MSDS before handling cargo
OSHA: Listed hazardous substance, includes strict reporting and training mandates
SARA Title III: Triggering thresholds for reporting under Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know
TSCA: Appears on inventory, import and manufacture under EPA scrutiny
REACH: Registration needed in Europe, extended chemical safety reports for bulk dealers
California Proposition 65: Listed as cancer-causing chemical, must give warning label in California
GHS: Required classification and labeling, pictogram and hazard statement display for shipped or stored containers
