Material Safety Data Sheet: Nickel Carbonate

Identification

Product Name: Nickel Carbonate
Chemical Formula: NiCO₃
CAS Number: 3333-67-3
Synonyms: Nickel(II) carbonate, Nickelous carbonate
Product Use: Found in ceramics, pigments, and electroplating. Used as a precursor for nickel catalysts and in specialty chemicals manufacturing.
Manufacturer/Supplier: Contact supplier directly for up-to-date credentials and emergency numbers.
Emergency Phone: Reach local poison control center or industrial safety office for chemical incidents.
Address: Check with the supplier distributing this product in your region for the most current contact information.

Hazard Identification

Hazard Class: Acute toxicity (oral, inhalation), Skin sensitization, Carcinogenicity
Hazard Symbols: GHS07 (exclamation mark), GHS08 (health hazard)
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed. Causes skin and eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation. Suspected of causing cancer. May cause sensitization by skin contact.
Precautionary Statements: Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Avoid breathing dust or fumes. Wear protective gloves, eye protection, and suitable respirators. Do not eat, drink, or smoke near this material.
Potential Health Effects: Repeated or prolonged exposure may cause asthma, lung damage, and allergic reactions. Nickel compounds have links to increased cancer risk according to IARC studies. Eye contact can provoke severe irritation and pain.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Nickel Carbonate: 98−100%
Impurities: May contain traces of nickel oxide, nickel hydroxide.
Component Type: Inorganic salt
Molecular Weight: About 118.7 g/mol
Other Ingredients: Water of hydration can be present in some commercial grades. Check the technical data sheet from your supplier for exact formulation.

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Move the person to fresh air. Support breathing as needed with supplemental oxygen. Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms persist, such as difficulty breathing or coughing.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Use soap if available. Seek medical advice if irritation continues.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower eyelids. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Call for medical help right away.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Get medical attention immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless directed by poison control or a healthcare professional.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry powder, foam, carbon dioxide, or water spray. Nickel carbonate does not burn, but packaging and nearby combustibles might.
Hazards During Fire: Nickel oxides and other toxic metal fumes may develop if exposed to high heat or fire.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Firefighters should wear full protective gear plus self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to avoid inhalation of harmful fumes.
Precautions: Keep runoff water from fire-fighting separated from storm drains or natural water sources as it may contain dangerous amounts of nickel.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Clear unnecessary personnel from spill area. Put on gloves, chemical safety goggles, dust mask or respirator, and protective clothing.
Environmental Precautions: Avoid release to soil, waterways, or storm drains, due to the toxic nature of nickel on aquatic life.
Methods for Cleanup: Sweep up spill gently without creating dust. Transfer material into labelled waste containers with secure lids for proper disposal. Ventilate the area and clean contaminated surfaces with water.

Handling and Storage

Safe Handling: Use in a chemical fume hood or well-ventilated area. Limit airborne dust and use local exhaust ventilation. Do not eat or drink around chemical use zones.
Storage Conditions: Store in tightly closed containers, in cool, dry, and well-ventilated spaces away from strong acids, oxidizing agents, and foodstuffs.
Special Requirements: Label storage containers clearly. Separate from incompatible materials. Avoid prolonged storage in open air due to possible hydration changes or reaction with CO₂ and H₂O.

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Permissible Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 1 mg/m³ (as Ni, 8-hr TWA); ACGIH TLV: 0.1 mg/m³ (inhalable fraction, 8-hr TWA).
Engineering Controls: Use fume hoods or local exhaust ventilation to keep exposures at or below regulatory limits. Facilities must have emergency eyewash stations and drench showers.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wear nitrile or neoprene gloves, chemical-resistant clothing, goggles, and a NIOSH-approved particulate respirator if airborne concentrations exceed exposure limits. Change contaminated clothing and wash hands before breaks and after work.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: Light green powder
Odor: Odorless
pH (in suspension): Basic
Melting Point: Decomposes above 100 °C
Boiling Point: Not applicable (decomposes before boiling)
Solubility in Water: Slightly soluble (about 0.09 g/100 mL at 20 °C)
Vapor Pressure: Not applicable
Density: Approximately 4.4 g/cm³
Other: Decomposition releases toxic fumes of nickel oxide and carbon dioxide.

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable under moderate temperatures and dry conditions.
Incompatible Materials: Avoid contact with strong acids (release toxic CO₂ and soluble nickel salts), oxidizing agents.
Hazardous Polymerization: Will not occur.
Decomposition: Heating can break it down to nickel oxide, carbon dioxide, and possibly toxic nickel fumes.

Toxicological Information

Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, eye contact.
Acute Effects: Irritation of skin, eyes, nasal passages, throat; nausea and vomiting if swallowed; coughing and difficulty breathing if inhaled.
Chronic Effects: Nickel sensitization (eczema, allergic dermatitis). Lung and nasal cancers have stronger occurrence in occupational exposures to nickel compounds.
Carcinogenicity: IARC Group 1, carcinogenic to humans; NTP and OSHA recognize nickel compounds as carcinogens based on epidemiological studies.
Other Risks: Risk of asthma and respiratory tract problems increases with frequent or prolonged exposure. Those with pre-existing skin or respiratory conditions experience stronger symptoms.

Ecological Information

Aquatic Toxicity: Nickel ions produced from this compound pose high toxicity risk for fish, algae, and aquatic invertebrates, even in very low concentrations.
Persistence and Degradability: Not biodegradable. Stays in soils and sediments for years.
Bioaccumulation Potential: Buildup in aquatic life can affect the food chain and compromise aquatic ecosystem health.
Other Environmental Hazards: Water soluble nickel can move into groundwater. Avoid letting materials enter waterways. Always collect spills and contaminated rinse waters for proper treatment.

Disposal Considerations

Waste Handling: Treat material and contaminated packaging as hazardous waste.
Disposal Methods: Dispose of through a licensed hazardous waste contractor. Follow local, regional, and national environmental regulations. Incineration inappropriate due to toxic emissions.
Container Management: Decontaminate containers before reuse or disposal.

Transport Information

UN Number: 3077
Proper Shipping Name: Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s. (Nickel carbonate)
Transport Hazard Class: 9 (Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials)
Packing Group: III
Environmental Hazards: Marine pollutant
Special Precautions: Package tightly to prevent dust release during transit. Follow regulations under ADR/RID, IATA, and IMDG codes for hazardous shipments.

Regulatory Information

OSHA: Listed hazardous substance under the Hazard Communication Standard.
TSCA: Appears in the US Toxic Substances Control Act inventory.
SARA 313: Subject to reporting as Nickel compound.
WHMIS (Canada): Classified as D2A – Very Toxic, D2B – Toxic.
REACH (EU): Registered substance, follow chemical safety assessment conclusions in SDS provided by supplier.
California Proposition 65: Known to cause cancer.
Other Local Regulations: Check compliance requirements for nickel compounds within your state, province, or country.