Material Safety Data Sheet: Cupric Sulfate

Identification

Product Name: Cupric Sulfate Pentahydrate
SYNONYMS: Blue vitriol, Bluestone
CAS Number: 7758-99-8
Recommended Use: Agriculture, electroplating, chemical education, laboratory reagent, algicide, root killer
Manufacturer: Consult supplier for up-to-date contact details
Emergency Phone: Local emergency response authorities or Poison Control Center

Hazard Identification

Classification: Acute toxicity, Oral (Category 4), Acute toxicity, Dermal (Category 4), Acute toxicity, Inhalation (Category 4), Eye damage (Category 1), Aquatic acute hazard (Category 1), Aquatic chronic hazard (Category 1)
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin, or if inhaled. Causes serious eye damage. Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Pictograms: Corrosive, Exclamation mark, Environment
Precautionary Statements: Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Avoid breathing dust or mists. Do not eat, drink, or smoke during use. Wear protective clothing.
Potential Health Effects: Irritation to eyes and respiratory tract, nausea, vomiting, metallic taste, abdominal pain, kidney and liver damage in severe cases.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Chemical Name: Copper(II) Sulfate Pentahydrate
Chemical Formula: CuSO₄·5H₂O
CAS Number: 7758-99-8
EC Number: 231-847-6
Concentration: Typically 98 – 100% by weight

First Aid Measures

Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower eyelids occasionally. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Seek immediate medical attention.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin thoroughly with plenty of water and soap. Wash clothes before reuse. Obtain medical advice if irritation develops.
Inhalation: Move the exposed person to fresh air. Keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. Seek medical advice if breathing becomes difficult or symptoms persist.
Ingestion: If swallowed, rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Seek immediate medical attention.
Most Important Symptoms: Severe eye damage, gastrointestinal disturbances, burns, shortness of breath
Notes to physician: Treat symptomatically. For significant exposure, monitor serum copper and renal function.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, water spray, carbon dioxide, or foam for surrounding fire. Material itself is not combustible.
Specific Hazards: Decomposition may release toxic and corrosive fumes including sulfur oxides and copper oxides.
Protective Equipment: Firefighters should wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective clothing to prevent exposure.
Advice for firefighters: Contain runoff to prevent entry into waterways.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Use personal protective equipment including gloves, goggles, and dust mask or respirator if necessary. Avoid contact with spilled material.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry to drains, sewers, or any waterways. Notify authorities in case of large spills.
Methods for Clean-up: Sweep up and place in a suitable, labeled container for disposal. Avoid generating dust. Ventilate affected area.
Reference to other sections: See Exposure Controls and Personal Protection for further information.

Handling and Storage

Safe Handling: Use with adequate ventilation. Don’t handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood. Minimize generation of dust and avoid breathing particles.
Hygiene measures: Wash hands and face thoroughly after handling. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. Do not eat, drink, or smoke in work areas.
Conditions for Safe Storage: Store in a tightly closed, labeled container, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from incompatible substances such as acids, metals, and reducing agents.
Incompatibilities: Store separate from strong acids and bases, magnesium, and finely powdered metals.

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL (Copper dusts and mists, as Cu): 1 mg/m³ (TWA); ACGIH TLV (Copper dusts and mists): 1 mg/m³ (TWA)
Engineering Controls: Work in areas with local exhaust ventilation or use fume hoods. Avoid confined spaces with poor air exchange.
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene), safety goggles, face shield for splash risk, impervious clothing, and approved particulate respirator if dust is generated.
Environmental Exposure Controls: Prevent spilled material from entering the environment using proper containment and clean-up practices.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: Blue crystalline solid
Odor: Odorless
Odor threshold: Not available
pH: 3.7 – 4.5 (50g/L solution at 25°C)
Melting Point: 110°C (decomposes – pentahydrate)
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility in Water: 22.7g/100ml at 20°C
Vapor Pressure: Not applicable
Vapor Density: Not applicable
Relative Density: 2.284 g/cm³
Partition Coefficient: log Kow -2.19
Decomposition Temperature: 150°C
Evaporation Rate: Not applicable
Flammability: Not flammable
Explosion Limits: Not explosive
Other Properties: Strongly hygroscopic; effloresces in dry air

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable under standard temperatures and pressures.
Reactivity: Reacts with acids, aluminum, magnesium, and zinc with generation of hydrogen gas.
Hazardous Reactions: Contact with reducing agents or finely divided metals can generate flammable gases.
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, moisture, exposure to incompatible substances.
Incompatible Materials: Reducing agents, finely powdered metals, alkali metals, ammonium salts.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Copper oxides, sulfur oxides, toxic fumes under fire conditions.

Toxicological Information

Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact.
Acutely Toxic Effects: LD₅₀ (oral, rat): 300 mg/kg. Ingestion causes gastrointestinal upset, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea. Swallowing large amounts can lead to liver and kidney damage, hemolysis, hematuria.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure may cause liver, kidney, or hematopoietic system effects, anemia, or skin irritation.
Eye Contact: Risk of severe and permanent eye damage.
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic by IARC, NTP, or OSHA.
Mutagenicity: Not classified.
Reproductive Toxicity: Some animal studies suggest possible reproductive system effects at high exposures, with no clear evidence in humans.
Other Notes: No evidence of bioaccumulation in humans.

Ecological Information

Toxicity: Highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. LC₅₀ (Oncorhynchus mykiss): 0.1–2.5 mg/L (96hr). Can disrupt aquatic ecosystems at very low concentrations.
Persistence and Degradability: Not readily degradable. Copper ions can persist and bioaccumulate in soils and sediments.
Bioaccumulation: Copper bioaccumulates in aquatic organisms and plants.
Mobility in Soil: Binds to organic matter and clay, moderate to low mobility in most soils.
Other Adverse Effects: Harmful effect on microorganisms in sewage and natural water systems, reduces biodiversity where present in higher concentration.

Disposal Considerations

Disposal Methods: Handle contents and container as hazardous waste. Dispose through licensed chemical waste disposal contractor. Do not rinse to drain, watercourses, or soil.
Packaging: Cleaned containers may be recycled or reused after decontamination. Contaminated packaging must be handled as hazardous waste.
Environmental Precautions: Minimize release into environment. Report significant spills or releases as required by regulations.
Relevant Legislation: Consult regional, national, and local laws before disposal.

Transport Information

UN Number: 3077
Proper Shipping Name: Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s. (Copper(II) sulfate)
Transport Hazard Class: 9
Packing Group: III
Labels: Environmentally Hazardous Substance, Miscellaneous
Marine Pollutant: Yes
Special Precautions: Protect packaging from puncture and keep dry. Notify carrier of hazardous material status.

Regulatory Information

EU Classification: Classified as Dangerous for the Environment, Irritant
US Regulations: Listed on EPA TSCA Inventory. Subject to SARA Section 313 reporting for copper compounds.
Canadian Inventory: Listed on DSL/NDSL
Other Regulation: Complies with GHS, OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200, REACH - Annex XVII restrictions apply for certain uses.
Label Elements: Pictograms, hazard and precaution statements as outlined above required on workplace containers.