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Chemical Name: Heptafluorobutyric Acid
Other Names: Perfluorobutyric Acid, HFBA
CAS Number: 375-22-4
Formula: C4HF7O2
Appearance: Colorless, fuming liquid with a sharp, irritating odor
GHS Classification: Corrosive to skin, Causes serious eye damage, Harmful if swallowed or inhaled
Warning: Irritates eyes, skin, and respiratory tract; can cause severe burns upon contact
Health Hazards: Exposure may bring respiratory discomfort, persistent coughing, and chemical burns; long-term contact can damage tissues
Environmental Hazards: Persistent in water, harmful to aquatic life, fluorinated acids tend to resist breakdown in the environment
Precautionary Statements: Keep container tightly closed; avoid breathing fumes; wash hands and faces after handling; wear protective equipment
Substance: Pure Heptafluorobutyric Acid
Concentration: Typically above 99% in laboratory settings
Impurities: Trace organic and inorganic acids may be present, but most commercial HFBA is highly pure
Eye Contact: Flush eyes for fifteen minutes with running water, lifting eyelids; seek immediate medical help
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing; wash area thoroughly with soap and water
Inhalation: Move to fresh air and seek medical attention if symptoms like coughing, trouble breathing, or throat irritation appear
Ingestion: Rinse mouth; never induce vomiting; get emergency medical care quickly; risk of burns and systemic toxicity is high
Symptoms: Redness, pain, blurred vision, difficulty breathing, nausea
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, CO2, alcohol-resistant foam
Hazards from Fire: Hydrogen fluoride, carbon oxides, and potentially toxic vapors released when heated
Protective Equipment: Firefighters must wear full gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus
Special Tips: Cool exposed containers with water; keep people upwind to reduce inhalation of fumes
Personal Protection: Use chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection, and suitable respirators
Containment: Ventilate the area; stop the source of leak; contain with inert absorbent materials such as sand or vermiculite
Cleanup: Collect absorbed material in labeled drums for proper disposal
Avoid: Contaminating soil, drains, or waterways; this is a persistent pollutant
Spill Response: Neutralize acid trace with sodium bicarbonate if safe; wash area clean after removal
Safe Handling: Always handle in a chemical fume hood; avoid direct contact and prevent the buildup of vapors
Storage Conditions: Keep tightly sealed in corrosion-resistant containers; store away from bases or reactive metals
Incompatibility: Avoid storing near bases, oxidizing agents, active metals like sodium or magnesium
Hygiene Practices: Wash hands thoroughly after use; never eat, drink, or smoke in work areas
Engineering Controls: Use chemical fume hoods, local exhaust, and eyewash stations
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical splash goggles, full face shield, acid-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene), lab coat
Respiratory Protection: Use NIOSH-approved respirators if exposure limits are approached or exceeded
Environmental Precautions: Prevent uncontrolled release; routine lab practices should include secondary containment for storing acids
Form: Liquid
Color: Colorless or faint yellow
Odor: Sharp, acrid, irritating
Boiling Point: Around 92°C
Melting Point: Roughly –24°C
Solubility: Miscible with water
Vapor Pressure: Moderate
pH: Strongly acidic
Density: About 1.6 g/cm³
Reactivity: Highly reactive with bases and strong reducing agents
Stability: Remains stable at ordinary temperatures and pressures in original containers
Incompatible Materials: Reacts violently with bases, strong oxidizers, active metals
Hazardous Reactions: Releases toxic hydrogen fluoride and carbon oxides on decomposition
Polymerization: Does not undergo hazardous polymerization
Acute Toxicity: Harmful if inhaled or swallowed even in small quantities
Irritation: Causes burns to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; exposure can result in severe tissue and organ injury
Chronic Effects: Long-term or repeated exposure may bring respiratory disease or persistent skin disorders
Sensitization: No reliable data on skin or respiratory sensitization
Other Effects: Studies on similar perfluoroalkyl acids have linked high doses to liver and kidney toxicity in lab animals
Persistence: Remains in water and soil for years due to strong carbon-fluorine bonds
Ecotoxicity: Harmful to aquatic organisms, long-term exposure disrupts aquatic systems
Bioaccumulation: Perfluorinated acids may persist and bioaccumulate, though data on HFBA itself is scarce
Degradability: Not readily biodegradable; conventional water treatment often fails to remove it from wastewater
Aquatic Mobility: Highly mobile in groundwater and surface water, so accidental releases can spread widely
Waste Treatment: Collect waste in tightly closed, acid-resistant containers
Disposal Method: Incinerate in approved facilities capable of handling fluorinated compounds to avoid environmental persistence
Disposal Precautions: Do not discharge into drains or waterways; disposal through chemical waste contractors preferred
Contaminated Packaging: Rinse thoroughly with compatible solvents; treat rinse as hazardous waste
UN Number: Classified as corrosive under most international guidelines
Transport Hazard Class: Corrosive liquid
Packing Group: II (depends on concentration and quantity)
Special Considerations: Corrosive labels required; package securely to prevent leaks; avoid transport with incompatible materials such as alkalis or strong oxidizers
Transport Precautions: Use chemical-resistant containers; double containment for air shipments
Occupational Exposure Limit: Not established specifically for HFBA; general acid and fluorinated vapor guidelines may apply
Chemical Inventory Status: Listed under chemical regulations in US, EU, and several Asia-Pacific countries
Regulatory Concerns: Ongoing scrutiny of perfluorinated acids due to persistence and bioaccumulation; some regions may have restrictions on use or disposal
Right-to-Know Laws: HFBA appears on safety and hazardous chemical inventories such as US TSCA and EU REACH
