Material Safety Data Sheet

acc. to OSHA and ANSI
  Printing date 05/30/2000 Reviewed on 05/05/2000  
  •   1 Identification of substance:

    • Product details:


    • Trade name: Zinc selenide


    • Stock number: 41958


    • Manufacturer/Supplier:

      • Alfa Aesar, A Johnson Matthey Company
      Johnson Matthey Catalog Company, Inc.
      30 Bond Street
      Ward Hill, MA 01835-8099
      Emergency Phone: (978) 521-6300
      CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300
      Web Site: www.alfa.com

    • Information department: Health, Safety and Environmental Department

    • Emergency information:

      • During normal hours the Health, Safety and Environmental Department. After normal hours call Chemtrec at (800) 424-9300.
  •   2 Composition/Data on components:

    • Chemical characterization:

      •            Description: (CAS#)                                        
                  Zinc selenide (CAS# 1315-09-9), 100%
    • Identification number(s):

    • EINECS Number: 215-259-7

    • EU Number: 034-002-00-8
  •   3 Hazards identification

    • Hazard description: T Toxic

    • Information pertaining to particular dangers for man and environment

      • R 23/25 Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed.
      R 33    Danger of cumulative effects.
  •   4 First aid measures

    • General information

      • Immediately remove any clothing soiled by the product.
      Remove breathing apparatus only after contaminated clothing has been completely removed.
      In case of irregular breathing or respiratory arrest provide artificial respiration.
    • After inhalation

      • Supply fresh air. If required, provide artificial respiration. Keep patient warm.
      Seek immediate medical advice.
    • After skin contact

      • Immediately wash with water and soap and rinse thoroughly.
      Seek immediate medical advice.
    • After eye contact

      • Rinse opened eye for several minutes under running water. Then consult a doctor.
    • After swallowing

      • Do not induce vomiting; immediately call for medical help.
      Seek immediate medical advice.
  •   5 Fire fighting measures

    • Suitable extinguishing agents

      • Product is not flammable. Use fire fighting measures that suit the surrounding fire.
    • For safety reasons unsuitable extinguishing agents Water

    • Special hazards caused by the material, its products of combustion or

      •   resulting gases:
      In case of fire, the following can be released:
      Toxic metal oxide fume
      Hydrogen selenide
    • Protective equipment:

      • Wear self-contained respirator.
      Wear fully protective impervious suit.
  •   6 Accidental release measures

    • Person-related safety precautions:

      • Wear protective equipment. Keep unprotected persons away.
      Ensure adequate ventilation
    • Measures for environmental protection:

      • Do not allow material to be released to the environment without proper governmental permits.
    • Measures for cleaning/collecting:

      • Dispose contaminated material as waste according to item 13.
      Ensure adequate ventilation.
    • Additional information:

      • See Section 7 for information on safe handling
      See Section 8 for information on personal protection equipment.
      See Section 13 for disposal information.
  •   7 Handling and storage


    • Handling

    • Information for safe handling:

      • Keep container tightly sealed.
      Store in cool, dry place in tightly closed containers.
      Ensure good ventilation at the workplace.
      Open and handle container with care.
    • Information about protection against explosions and fires:

      • No special measures required.

    • Storage

    • Requirements to be met by storerooms and receptacles:

      • No special requirements.
    • Information about storage in one common storage facility:

      • Do not store together with acids.
      Store away from oxidizing agents.
      Do not store together with alkalies (caustic solutions).
      Store away from water/moisture.
    • Further information about storage conditions:

      • Protect from humidity and water.
      Keep container tightly sealed.
      Store in cool, dry conditions in well sealed containers.
      Store under lock and key and with access restricted to technical experts or their assistants only.
  •   8 Exposure controls and personal protection

    • Additional information about design of technical systems:

      • Properly operating chemical fume hood designed for hazardous chemicals and having an average face velocity of at least 100 feet per minute.

      Components with limit values that require monitoring at the workplace:

      Selenium and selenium compounds (as Se)

                            mg(Se)/m3
      ACGIH TLV             0.2
      Belgium TWA           0.2
      Germany TWA           0.1
      Netherlands TWA       0.2
      Switzerland TWA       0.1
      United Kingdom TWA    0.1
      Denmark               0.1
      Finland               0.1
      Hungary               0.1
      Poland TWA            0.1
      Sweden                0.1
      USA PEL               0.2
    • Additional information: No data


    • Personal protective equipment

    • General protective and hygienic measures

      • The usual precautionary measures for handling chemicals should be followed.
      Keep away from foodstuffs, beverages and feed.
      Remove all soiled and contaminated clothing immediately.
      Wash hands before breaks and at the end of work.
      Store protective clothing separately.
    • Breathing equipment:

      • Use suitable respirator when high concentrations are present.
    • Protection of hands: Impervious gloves

    • Eye protection: Safety glasses

    • Body protection: Protective work clothing.
  •   9 Physical and chemical properties:


    • Form: Powder

    • Color:

      • Red
      Yellow
    • Odor: Odorless

    •                                      Value/Range  Unit    Method      

    • Change in condition

    • Melting point/Melting range:                  1100 ° C

    • Boiling point/Boiling range:       Not determined

    • Sublimation temperature / start:   Not determined


    • Flash point:                       Not applicable


    • Ignition temperature:              Not determined


    • Decomposition temperature:         Not determined


    • Danger of explosion:

      • Product does not present an explosion hazard.

    • Explosion limits:

    • Lower:                             Not determined

    • Upper:                             Not determined


    • Vapor pressure:                    Not determined


    • Density:               at   20 ° C            5.42 g/cm3


    • Solubility in / Miscibility with

    • Water:                             Insoluble
  •  10 Stability and reactivity

    • Thermal decomposition / conditions to be avoided:

      • Decomposition will not occur if used and stored according to specifications.
    • Materials to be avoided:

      • Acids
      Bases
      Oxidizing agents
      Water/moisture
    • Dangerous reactions Contact with acids releases flammable gases

    • Dangerous products of decomposition:

      • Hydrogen selenide
      Toxic metal oxide fume
  •  11 Toxicological information

    • Acute toxicity:

    • Primary irritant effect:

    • on the skin: Irritant to skin and mucous membranes.

    • on the eye: Irritating effect.

    • Sensitization: No sensitizing effects known.

    • Subacute to chronic toxicity:

      • Selenium may cause amyotropic lateral sclerosis, bronchial irritation, gastrointestinal distress, vasopharyngeal irritation, garlic odor on breath and sweat, metallic taste, pallor, irritability, excessive fatigue, loss of fingernails and hair, pulmonary edema, anemia and weight loss.
      Zinc fumes may cause metal fume fever.  Effects include dry throat, metallic taste, chest pain, dyspnea, rales and dry cough.  Several hours later, chills may occur with lassitude, malaise, fatigue, headache, back pain, muscle cramps, blurred vision, nausea, fever, perspiration, vomiting and leukocytosis.
    • Additional toxicological information:

      • To the best of our knowledge the acute and chronic toxicity of this substance is not fully known.
      EPA-D: Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity: inadequate human and animal evidence of carcinogenicity or no data are available.
      IARC-3: Not classifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans.
      NTP-2: Reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen: limited evidence from studies in humans or sufficient evidence from studies in experimental animals.
  •  12 Ecological information:

    • General notes:

      • Do not allow material to be released to the environment without proper governmental permits.
  •  13 Disposal considerations


    • Product:

    • Recommendation

      • Consult state, local or national regulations for proper disposal.

    • Uncleaned packagings:

    • Recommendation:

      • Disposal must be made according to official regulations.
  •  14 Transport information

      • Not a hazardous material for transportation.

    • DOT regulations:

    • Hazard class:             None


    • Land transport ADR/RID  (cross-border)

    • ADR/RID class:                None


    • Maritime transport IMDG:

    • IMDG Class:               None


    • Air transport ICAO-TI and IATA-DGR:

    • ICAO/IATA Class:          None


    • Transport/Additional information:

      • Not dangerous according to the above specifications.
  •  15 Regulations


    • Product related hazard informations:


    • Hazard symbols: T Toxic


    • Risk phrases:

      • 23/25 Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed.
      33    Danger of cumulative effects.

    • Safety phrases:

      • 20/21 When using do not eat, drink or smoke.
      28    After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of water
      45    In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately.

    • National regulations

      • All components of this product are listed in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory.

    • Information about limitation of use:

      • For use only by technically qualified individuals.
      This product contains selenium and is subject to the reporting requirements of section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986 and 40CFR372.
  •  16 Other information:

      • Employers should use this information only as a supplement to other information gathered by them, and should make independent judgement of suitability of this information to ensure proper use and protect the health and safety of employees.  This information is furnished without warranty, and any use of the product not in conformance with this Material Safety Data Sheet, or in combination with any other product or process, is the responsibility of the user.

    • Department issuing MSDS: Health, Safety and Environmental Department.

    • Contact: Darrell R. Sanders