Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Ammonia
Identification
Product Name: Ammonia
Chemical Formula: NH3
Synonyms: Anhydrous Ammonia, Aqueous Ammonia, Ammonia Gas
Manufacturer/Supplier: Listed on product label or supplier sheet
Contact for Emergency: Refer to company emergency numbers or local poison control
Recommended Use: Fertilizer manufacturing, industrial refrigeration, water treatment, cleaning products, chemical synthesis
Restrictions on Use: Not for consumer or food applications unless specified
Hazard Identification
Classification: Compressed gas, Acute toxicity (oral, inhalation, dermal), Corrosive to skin and eyes, Aquatic toxicity
GHS Label Elements: Danger symbol (gas cylinder, corrosion, skull and crossbones)
Hazard Statements: Toxic if inhaled, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause respiratory irritation, hazardous to the aquatic environment
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing gas, fumes, or vapor, avoid release to environment, wear protective gloves, eye and face protection, wash hands thoroughly after handling, seek medical care if exposed
Composition / Information on Ingredients
Chemical Name: Ammonia
Concentration: 99.5 – 100% for anhydrous ammonia, variable for aqueous solutions
CAS Number: 7664-41-7
Impurities: Trace amounts of water, hydrocarbons, or other minor residuals possible
Other Components: None for pure anhydrous ammonia; aqueous forms feature water as remainder
First Aid Measures
Inhalation: Remove exposed individual to fresh air, provide oxygen or artificial respiration if breathing is difficult, ensure airway is open, get immediate medical attention
Skin Contact: Immediately flush skin with copious amounts of water, remove contaminated clothing and accessories, seek urgent medical help for burns or irritation
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes cautiously with water for at least 15 minutes, hold eyelids open, seek ophthalmological care without delay
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, give victims water to drink if fully conscious, never give anything orally to unconscious person, immediate medical attention required
Most Important Symptoms: Burning, irritation, difficulty breathing, chest pain, cough, vision change, chemical burns
Fire-Fighting Measures
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray to cool containers, but water has limited use on actual ammonia fire; also carbon dioxide and dry chemical for surrounding fire
Unsuitable Media: Direct water jet may be ineffective
Specific Hazards: Releases toxic and irritating ammonia gas and potentially nitrogen oxides during combustion, containers may rupture from heat
Special Protective Equipment: Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and chemical protective suit, fire-resistant clothing
Recommendations for Firefighters: Approach upwind, evacuate personnel, avoid inhalation of fumes, isolate area, cool tanks exposed to heat
Explosion Data: Ammonia is not flammable at room temperature but forms explosive mixtures with air between approximately 15–28% ammonia in air
Accidental Release Measures
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area, isolate spill, provide ventilation, wear protective equipment including respiratory protection and chemically resistant gloves
Environmental Precautions: Prevent runoff to waterways or sewers, soil, or storm drains, report to local authorities if significant quantities escape
Clean-Up Methods: Stop leak if safe to do so, neutralize with dilute acids, absorb spills with sand or suitable inert material, collect for disposal in approved containers
Handling and Storage
Handling Guidelines: Only trained personnel should handle ammonia, open containers carefully, avoid contact with skin and eyes, never mix with acids or oxidizers, use only outdoors or with proper ventilation
Storage Requirements: Store in tightly closed, properly labeled containers under pressure, keep away from sources of ignition, separate from incompatible substances, protect containers from physical damage, keep storage temperature controlled
Storage Materials: Suitable tank and pipe material includes special alloys (e.g., carbon steel), avoid storage in copper, brass, zinc, or galvanized containers due to reaction risk
Special Considerations: Maintain spill kits nearby, regularly inspect system integrity and pressure relief valves, keep emergency eyewash and shower stations on site
Exposure Controls and Personal Protection
Occupational Exposure Limits: ACGIH TLV 25 ppm (TWA), OSHA PEL 50 ppm (TWA), NIOSH REL 25 ppm (TWA), 35 ppm (STEL)
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation, gas detection and monitoring systems, maintain tightly sealed transfer systems
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves, full face-shield or goggles, impervious clothing, appropriate respiratory protection (e.g., air-purifying or supplied-air respirators in high concentrations), protective boots
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and face after use, remove contaminated clothing and launder before reuse
Environmental Controls: Prevent releases to environment using secondary containment, scrubbers or neutralization systems on vents
Physical and Chemical Properties
Appearance: Colorless gas or liquid under pressure, strong penetrating odor
Odor: Pungent, suffocating, distinctly recognizable
Odor Threshold: Approximately 5 ppm
pH: Basic in solution; about 11.6 (1% solution)
Melting Point: –77.7 °C
Boiling Point: –33.34 °C (anhydrous)
Flash Point: Not applicable; forms flammable mixtures at high concentrations
Evaporation Rate: Extremely rapid for anhydrous ammonia at room temperature
Flammability: Forms explosive mixture with air (15–28%)
Vapor Pressure: 8.6 atm at 20 °C
Vapor Density: 0.59 (air = 1)
Solubility: Highly soluble in water, forming ammonium hydroxide
Partition Coefficient: Not relevant for gases
Auto-ignition Temperature: 651°C
Decomposition Temperature: Ammonia decomposes into nitrogen and hydrogen at high temperatures
Viscosity: Not significant for gas
Stability and Reactivity
Stability: Stable under normal conditions; decomposes at high temperature
Reactivity: Reactive with acids, halogens, oxidizers, and some metals; reacts with moisture to form corrosive ammonium hydroxide
Hazardous Reactions: Violent reaction with chlorine and other halogens, fire or explosion possible with oxidizers
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, direct sunlight, high pressure, incompatible materials
Incompatible Materials: Copper, brass, zinc, strong acids and oxidizers, hypochlorites, mercury
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Nitrogen, hydrogen, nitrogen oxides possibly released during combustion or decomposition
Toxicological Information
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin, eyes, ingestion
Acute Toxicity: Inhalation of 300 ppm or more may cause burning, choking, coughing, potentially fatal pulmonary edema; skin contact with liquid can cause freeze burns; severe eye injury possible at low concentrations
Chronic Effects: Chronic or repeated exposure may cause bronchitis, irritation to eyes and skin, asthma, chronic lung conditions
Potential Health Effects: Corrosive to mucous membranes, risk of blindness, chemical pneumonitis
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as a carcinogen by IARC, NTP, OSHA
Reproductive Toxicity: Current studies show no significant reproductive hazards at occupational exposures
Other Data: LC50 (rat, inhalation): 2000 ppm/4hr; LD50 (oral, rat): 350 mg/kg
Ecological Information
Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic life at low concentrations, can cause fish kills and damage to aquatic plants and invertebrates
Persistence and Degradability: Rapidly volatilizes, biodegrades in soil and water by nitrifying bacteria
Bioaccumulation Potential: Not known to bioaccumulate
Mobility in Soil: Readily migrates to air when released, can convert to nitrates in soil
Other Adverse Effects: Large scale spills may change aquatic pH and disrupt local ecology
Disposal Considerations
Waste Disposal Guidance: Dispose in accordance with local, state, and national regulations; ammonia solutions and contaminated materials require treatment in a regulated hazardous waste facility
Handling Instructions: Neutralize small amounts with dilute acid before disposal, do not release into sewers or waterways, recover and recycle when feasible
Empty Containers: Triple rinse and vent before recycling or disposal; observe all safety precautions as residues may remain
Regulatory References: Refer to RCRA, EPA Title 40 CFR regarding ammonia waste designation and rules
Transport Information
UN Number: UN1005 (anhydrous ammonia), UN2672 (ammonia solution)
UN Proper Shipping Name: Ammonia, anhydrous; Ammonia solution
Transport Hazard Class: 2.3 (toxic gas), 8 (corrosive), or 2.2 (non-flammable gas), depending on form
Packing Group: Not applicable for compressed gas; II or III for solutions
Labels Required: Toxic Gas, Corrosive, or Non-flammable Gas as appropriate
Special Precautions: Transport only in approved containers, do not transport with acids or oxidizers, emergency response information must accompany shipments
Environmental Hazard: Marine pollutant designation may apply for bulk transport
Regulatory Information
OSHA: Regulated hazardous substance, subject to process safety management thresholds
EPA: Listed under CERCLA for reportable quantity (RQ) of 100 lbs; regulated under Clean Air Act (CAA) and as an extremely hazardous substance (EHS) under EPCRA Section 302
DOT: Regulated for shipment by all modes, labeling and placarding requirements mandatory
TSCA: Listed on US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) inventory
SARA Title III: Subject to Section 302, 304 (accidental release), and 313 (toxic chemical release inventory) reporting
Other Regulations: State and local rules may impose stricter limits and practices; international shipments must comply with ADR, IMDG, IATA standards
Worker Training: Required by OSHA HazCom and PSM for those exposed to ammonia above threshold quantity
