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Product Name: Potassium Nitrite
Chemical Formula: KNO2
Synonyms: Nitrous acid, potassium salt; nitrite of potash
CAS Number: 7758-09-0
Manufacturer Details: Contact information, including address and emergency telephone number, must appear here as required by regulations
Intended Use: Industrial laboratory reagent, food preservative, corrosion inhibitor
GHS Classification: Oxidizing solid (Category 3), Acute toxicity – Oral (Category 3), Eye irritation (Category 2A), Acute aquatic toxicity (Category 1)
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: May intensify fire; oxidizer. Toxic if swallowed. Causes serious eye irritation. Very toxic to aquatic life.
Precautionary Statements: Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames, and combustible material, wear protective gloves and eye protection, avoid release into the environment, wash hands thoroughly after handling
Health Effects: Shortness of breath, headache, cyanosis (blue skin), nausea, dizziness after significant exposure
Fire and Explosion Risk: Reacts with reducing agents, combustibles; may support combustion of other materials
Chemical Name: Potassium Nitrite
Percentage: 98-100%
Impurities and Stabilizing Additives: Trace potassium nitrate, moisture content typically less than 1%
Ingredient Classification: Oxidizing agent, acute oral toxicant, aquatic toxicant
Molecular Weight: 85.10 g/mol
Inhalation: Move to fresh air immediately, keep at rest, give artificial respiration if breathing has stopped, seek medical attention as soon as possible
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash affected skin thoroughly with water and soap, monitor for irritation or burns, seek medical care for severe symptoms
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes carefully under running water for at least 15 minutes, remove contact lenses if easy to do, get medical help if irritation or pain persists
Ingestion: Rinse mouth but do not induce vomiting, give water unless unconscious, call poison control or seek emergency care immediately, show label or MSDS to healthcare provider
Most Important Symptoms: Cyanosis, drop in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, headache, drowsiness, confusion; risk increases with higher exposure
Advice to Physician: Administer oxygen, treat symptomatically, methylene blue may reverse methemoglobinemia
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical, foam, do not use carbon dioxide directly on burning material
Specific Hazards from Fire: Potassium nitrite decomposes at high temperature releasing toxic nitrogen oxides, strong oxidizing properties can accelerate burning of combustibles
Protective Equipment: Firefighters need full protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus, avoid inhaling smoke or combustion gases, evacuate area if large fire
Special Methods: Cool containers with flooding quantities of water, separate from burning materials, avoid use of dry chemicals where possible due to reaction with oxidizer
Personal Precautions: Wear suitable respiratory protection, gloves, and goggles, avoid dust formation, evacuate unnecessary personnel
Environmental Precautions: Prevent runoff into sewers, waterways, or soil, contain with inert absorbent (sand, earth), notify environmental authorities if contamination occurs
Cleanup Methods: Sweep up carefully, avoid creating dust, place in labeled containers for disposal, ventilate area well, decontaminate surfaces with copious water
Safe Handling: Only handle in well-ventilated areas, use non-sparking tools, avoid contact with organic substances, keep containers tightly sealed
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and face thoroughly after handling, do not eat, drink, or smoke around the product, remove protective equipment before entering eating areas
Storage Requirements: Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated places away from incompatible substances (acids, reducing agents, organic materials), keep out of reach of children, maintain container integrity
Storage Temperature: Stable under recommended conditions at room temperature, avoid excessive heat or sunlight
Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL and ACGIH TLV not specifically assigned, minimize exposure as a general practice
Engineering Controls: Provide local exhaust ventilation, use closed handling systems or fume hoods where available
Personal Protection: Wear chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene), goggles or face shield, lab coat or apron, use NIOSH-approved respirator for dust exposure above control limits or in emergencies
Environmental Protection: Install spill capture systems, use secondary containment, always wash hands after handling
Appearance: Pale yellow to white crystalline solid
Odor: Odorless
Melting Point: 441°C (826°F)
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility: Soluble in water (281 g/L at 20°C)
Density: 1.915 g/cm³
pH (aqueous solution): 9-10 (10% solution)
Vapor Pressure: Negligible
Flash Point: Non-flammable
Oxidizing Properties: Strong oxidizer
Decomposition Temperature: >320°C, releases nitrogen oxides and potassium oxide
Partition Coefficient: Not available
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions
Reactivity: Reacts with acids (releases poisonous gases), reducing agents, organic material, ammonium salts (may cause explosion)
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, flame, moisture, contamination with other chemicals especially combustibles
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, strong reducing agents, organic materials, ammonium compounds, powdered metals
Hazardous Decomposition: Potassium oxide, nitrogen oxides, toxic gases when heated beyond decomposition temperature
Acute Oral Toxicity: LD50 (rat): ~180 mg/kg
Acute Dermal Toxicity: Data not available; may cause skin irritation
Inhalation: Dust can irritate respiratory system; symptoms include coughing, dizziness, cyanosis
Chronic Effects: Repeated exposure damages blood (methemoglobinemia), can cause anemia, long-term organ effects
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic by IARC, NTP, ACGIH, or OSHA
Reproductive Toxicity: No specific reproductive effects documented
Other Effects: Danger of kidney disease, risk of poisoning increases with exposure; exposure symptoms generally progress with dose and duration
Toxicity to Aquatic Life: Extremely toxic to freshwater and marine organisms; LC50 (fish, 96 hr): 0.48 mg/L
Persistence and Degradability: Does not readily degrade, persists in environment, may contribute to eutrophication
Bioaccumulation Potential: Low potential for bioaccumulation
Mobility in Soil: High mobility, leaches readily through soil, contaminating groundwater
Additional Environmental Hazards: Even small discharges harm aquatic ecosystem, alert authorities if large releases threaten surface water
Waste Disposal: Treat as hazardous waste, follow local, regional, and national regulations
Contaminated Packaging: Rinse thoroughly before disposal or recycling, incinerate or hand over to authorized waste disposal contractors
Environmental Precautions: Do not dispose of into drains, soil, or natural water supplies, segregate from incompatible materials during disposal
Recommended Disposal Method: Neutralize under controlled conditions or deliver to licensed hazardous waste facility
UN Number: 1488
UN Proper Shipping Name: Potassium nitrite
Transport Hazard Class: 5.1 (oxidizer)
Packing Group: II
Labeling Requirements: Oxidizer symbol, toxicity warning
Special Transport Precautions: Separate from acids, organic materials, and combustibles during transit, keep containers tightly sealed
Environmental Hazard: Marine pollutant
Other Information: Follow local and international transport regulations for hazardous materials
Regulations: Listed in toxic substance control inventories (TSCA, EINECS/ELINCS); subject to workplace safety, pollution control, and hazardous materials transportation laws
US Federal Regulations: OSHA (hazardous chemical), CERCLA (reportable quantity 100 lbs.), SARA Title III (Section 313 toxic chemical)
EU Regulations: Complies with REACH, classified under CLP Regulation as oxidizer, toxic, environmentally hazardous
Label Elements: Hazard pictograms include exclamation mark, dead fish and tree, flame over circle
Local Disposal Requirements: Consult local waste handling authorities for additional restrictions or permit requirements
Workplace Controls: Enforce exposure limits, provide training on chemical safety, keep documentation available to staff
