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Product Name: Phosphorus Pentabromide
Synonyms: Phosphorane, pentabromo-; Phosphorus(V) bromide
CAS Number: 7789-60-8
Molecular Formula: PBr5
Manufacturer: Chemical suppliers should provide current contact information, including emergency phone numbers and address.
Recommended Uses: Used as a brominating agent in organic synthesis, especially for converting alcohols to alkyl bromides or introducing bromine atoms into aromatic compounds.
GHS Classification: Acute Toxicity (Oral, Inhalation, Dermal), Corrosive to Metals, Skin Corrosion/Irritation, Serious Eye Damage
Label Elements: Pictograms include skull and crossbones, corrosion symbol; signal word: Danger.
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin or inhaled; causes severe skin burns and eye damage; reacts violently with water.
Physical Hazards: Highly reactive and corrosive; exposure to moisture releases dense, toxic hydrogen bromide gas.
Health Hazards: Causes burning pain, blisters, or severe tissue destruction on contact with skin or eyes; inhalation leads to irritation of respiratory tract, coughing, labored breathing; ingestion may cause severe damage to mucous membranes, nausea, vomiting.
Environmental Hazards: Releases bromine compounds that threaten aquatic species; does not degrade rapidly in water, persists in the environment.
Chemical Identity: Phosphorus Pentabromide
CAS Number: 7789-60-8
Concentration: 100% (pure substance)
Impurities: Trace amounts of phosphorus tribromide, phosphorus oxybromide possible due to decomposition or side reactions, with their own hazards.
Molecular Weight: 430.49 g/mol
Physical State: Yellow to orange crystals or powder; emits acrid odor on exposure to humid air.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes gently but thoroughly with plenty of water for a minimum of 15 minutes, holding eyelids open; contact poison control and seek immediate medical attention.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing quickly; flush affected area with water for at least 15 minutes; do not attempt to neutralize with chemical agents; call emergency medical assistance.
Inhalation: Move affected person to fresh air; support breathing with oxygen if available; prevent chilling; seek emergency care without delay.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting; rinse mouth if victim is conscious; provide water to drink only if medical help will be immediate; contact poison center.
Delayed Effects: Corrosive damage may progress after exposure; monitor airway, breathing, and circulation; signs of systemic poisoning require hospitalization.
Self-protection of First Responders: Use chemical-protective gloves and goggles, avoid breathing vapors, remove all sources of ignition.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical powder or carbon dioxide; do not use water, as contact with water produces highly toxic and corrosive hydrogen bromide gas.
Specific Hazards: Intense heat decomposes material, generating toxic fumes including bromine gas and phosphorus oxides; dense white clouds form quickly.
Firefighting Tactics: Approach from upwind; wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective suit; contain spill, prevent runoff from firefighting from reaching drains.
Explosion Risk: Violent reaction possible with water or moisture, risk of container rupture under fire conditions.
Products of Combustion: Bromine gas, hydrogen bromide, phosphorus oxides, all hazardous if inhaled.
Protection of Firefighters: Full body, chemical-resistant suit recommended; maintain safe evacuation routes.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate non-essential personnel; avoid contact with material and its vapors; prevent inhalation and contact with skin or eyes; use chemical-resistant gloves, apron, and face shield.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent spillage from entering sewers or waterways; report significant releases to environmental authorities.
Containment Methods: Stop leak only if safe to do so; control dust clouds; cover with dry earth or sand, not water or absorbents that might release hydrogen bromide.
Cleanup Procedures: Collect spilled material using non-sparking tools; place in tightly-sealed container for disposal; ventilate area; neutralize equipment with sodium bicarbonate solution after cleanup.
Decontamination: Wash area thoroughly with soap and water solution only after residues have been safely removed.
Prevent Recurrence: Initiate periodic building air quality checks in storage and use areas.
Handling: Work in well-ventilated fume hoods; keep container tightly closed; avoid inhalation, and prevent any moisture contact; transfer only in dry, inert atmosphere using specialized equipment.
Storage: Store in airtight, moisture-proof containers made from compatible glass or polyethylene; segregate from water, acids, bases, strong oxidizers, and combustibles; facility must maintain dry environment with good ventilation.
Temperature Controls: Keep material away from heat sources; store below 30°C; do not refrigerate below freezing, as jar or bottle could crack.
Incompatible Materials: Strong bases, oxidizers, acids, water, alcohols, reactive metals.
Special Instructions: Clearly label all containers and storage areas; provide secondary spill containment; periodic inspection for leaks or container degradation; maintain clear access to emergency eyewash/shower.
Engineering Controls: Use certified chemical fume hoods; ensure local exhaust ventilation to keep vapor concentrations below occupational limits; monitor workplace bromide levels regularly.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wear butyl rubber or Viton gloves, chemical-resistant apron, splash-proof goggles, and face shield; long sleeves and pants recommended.
Respiratory Protection: Use full-facepiece respirator with acid gas cartridge in case of airborne exposure risk; emergency supply of self-contained breathing apparatus recommended onsite.
Hygiene Measures: Prohibit eating, drinking, or smoking near workstations; wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling.
Exposure Limits: No specific OSHA or ACGIH limits for phosphorus pentabromide, but closely monitor for HBr exposure (OSHA PEL: 3 ppm as ceiling value).
Appearance: Pale yellow to orange crystalline solid or powder.
Odor: Acrid, strong, irritating reminiscent of bromine.
Odor Threshold: Not established, but strong irritant at low concentrations.
pH: No measured value in water (reacts violently to produce HBr).
Melting Point: 160°C (decomposes on melting).
Boiling Point: Decomposes without boiling.
Solubility: Reacts vigorously with water, forming HBr and phosphoric acid.
Density: 3.52 g/cm³ (at 20°C).
Vapor Pressure: Not established; emits fumes at room temperature.
Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water): Not applicable (reacts with water).
Evaporation Rate: Not available.
Flammability: Non-flammable, but strong oxidizer properties.
Other Data: Loses bromine vapor rapidly on standing; containers may become pressurized.
Chemical Stability: Unstable in presence of moisture or heat; decomposes quickly in humid air.
Reactivity: Highly reactive; brominates organic substrates; reacts violently with water, alcohols, and other protic solvents.
Hazardous Reactions: May explode or release toxic gases when mixed with flammable substances or acids.
Incompatible Materials: Avoid any contact with water, strong bases, reducing agents, combustibles.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Bromine gas, hydrogen bromide, phosphorus trioxide, other brominated species.
Special Conditions to Avoid: Exposure to air or humidity, elevated temperatures, friction or physical shock may cause dangerous release of bromine.
Likely Routes of Exposure: Skin contact, eye exposure, inhalation, accidental ingestion.
Acute Toxicity: Highly corrosive; causes severe burns on skin contact or eye exposure; inhalation leads to sore throat, coughing, lung inflammation, difficulty breathing; ingestion causes severe abdominal pain and systemic effects.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause chronic respiratory or skin conditions; animal studies suggest organ damage over time.
LD50 (oral, rat): Data not available; expected to be highly toxic due to reactivity and bromide release.
Other Effects: Risk of delayed pulmonary edema after inhalation; severe poisoning risk in unprotected exposure.
Sensitization: Not reported, but repeated exposure intensifies irritation.
Carcinogenicity: No IARC or NTP listing for phosphorus pentabromide; not classified as a known carcinogen.
Reproductive Toxicity: Data lacking, but bromides have known developmental risks.
Aquatic Toxicity: Releases reactive bromine compounds, highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates and fish.
Persistence: Does not degrade rapidly; hydrolyzes to form persistent bromide and phosphate compounds.
Bioaccumulation: Not expected to bioaccumulate significantly in aquatic organisms, but breakdown products persist in water and sediment.
Mobility in Soil: Bromide ions exhibit high mobility; pose risk of groundwater contamination.
Other Adverse Effects: Repeated spills lead to changes in soil and water acidity, placing local fauna and flora at risk.
Waste Treatment Methods: Place all waste in corrosion-resistant, clearly labeled containers; neutralize cautiously with dilute sodium hydroxide or sodium thiosulfate before disposal.
Chemical Waste Disposal: Provide to registered hazardous waste disposal company; never pour down sink or regular trash.
Contaminated Packaging: Decontaminate by triple rinsing with suitable agents, collecting rinsate for hazardous waste treatment.
Precautions: Use local regulatory guidance for treatment and destruction; take additional care with management of liquid residues and absorbent materials.
UN Number: 3264
UN Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive liquid, acidic, inorganic, n.o.s. (contains Phosphorus Pentabromide)
Transport Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive substances)
Packing Group: II
Marine Pollutant: Yes—report required for international and marine transport.
Precautionary Transport Measures: Recommend inner packaging with moisture-resistant seals, overpack in rigid, non-metallic containers; keep separate from foodstuffs and living quarters; emergency response required for any spill.
Special Transport Requirements: Label all sides of transport container with corrosive and toxic pictograms; provide vehicle operator with emergency procedure instructions.
OSHA: Covered under Hazard Communication Standard as hazardous material.
TSCA Status: Listed in TSCA inventory for industrial use in the United States.
REACH (EU): Registration or notification may be required before import or manufacture in the European Union.
SARA Title III: Subject to reporting as an extremely hazardous substance if threshold levels are exceeded.
Other International Regulations: Subject to restrictions under transport and workplace chemical safety legislation in Canada, Australia, and Asia-Pacific.
Labeling Requirements: Include GHS hazard statements and pictograms on all containers and shipping documents; safety instructions in local language as per jurisdictions.
Workplace Signage: Clearly mark storage areas and provide accessible safety data sheets for all workers.
