Sodium phosphinate

GHS

General Information

Name:

sodium hypophosphite

Implementation:

EU

Remarks:

The classification reported below is according to the European regulation 1272/2008 (CLP regulation). As no harmonised classification of sodium hypophosphite is available in Annex VI of the CLP regulation (EC) n° 1272/2008, the substance is self classified.
Physical hazards:
- Sodium hypophosphite is an inorganic solid; therefore the physical hazard statements for liquids and gases are not relevant. In these cases, the reason for no classification is equal to "conclusive but not sufficient for classification". This was the case for: “Flammable gases”, “Flammable aerosols”, “Oxidising gases”, “Gases under pressure”, “Flammable liquids”, “Pyrophoric liquids” and “Oxidising liquids”.
- Sodium hypophosphite could not be classified in accordance with the classification criteria of the CLP regulation (EC) n°1272/2008 as a result of the molecular structure of the substance for following physical hazards:
“Explosives”: On the basis of functional groups that may have explosive properties (Bretheriek's handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards, Butterworths, 4th Edition), it is possible to exclude beyond reasonable doubt that monohydrated sodium hypophosphite has explosive properties. Moreover, this substance is not classified according to UN regulation on transport of dangerous goods which supports the statement above made on the basis of functional groups.
“Oxidising solids”: According to the chemical structure it is possible to exclude beyond reasonable doubt that this substance has oxidising properties. Furthermore the test substance is not classified according to the UN classification for the transport of dangerous goods confirming the conclusion based on the chemical structure regarding the absence of oxidising properties.
“Organic peroxides”: based on the molecular structure of the test substance and the classification criteria of the CLP regulation it is clear that sodium hypophosphite cannot be classified as organic peroxide.
- Sodium hypophosphite could not be classified in accordance with the classification criteria of the CLP regulation (EC) n°1272/2008 as a result common knowledge based on current uses and industrial experiences for the following physical hazards:
“Self-reactive substances and mixtures”: according to actual knowledge during use and storage, monohydrate sodium hypophosphite is stable. Moreover a small scale ARC testing (non-guideline) suggests that Self-Accelerating Decomposition Temperature (SADT) for 50kg package will be greatly above 75°C.
“Pyrophoric solids”: The substance does not ignite within 5 minutes after exposure to air and is therefore not pyrophoric. Indeed, Melting Point and ATG were carried out in the presence of air, moreover current practices showed that handled under air is stable with no evidence of instability.
“Self-heating substances and mixtures”: according to ARC and self ignition tests it appears that thermal instability starts at high temperature (238°C). Therefore sodium hypophosphite is considered to be stable at 140°C (i.e. not self heating).
“Substances and mixtures which in contact with water emit flammable gases”: According to hydrolysis study, sodium hypophosphite is soluble and stable in water. In consequence the substance is not considered as a substance which emits flammable gases when in contact with water.
“Substances and mixtures corrosive to metals”: Considereing that sodium hypophosphite is a reducing agent and its pH is 7, these two properties exclude any corrosivity to metal. To actual knowledge, no historical corrosivity of the substance to metal is recorded.
To actual knowledge, no historical corrosivity of the substance to metal is recorded. Moreover, based on the actual main use of sodium hypophosphite as reduction agent in electroless nickel and copper plating of metal, the substance is considered as not corrosive to metal.
Health hazards
- Following,Health hazards were flagged with "data lacking" as there is insufficient data to classify sodium hypophosphite: “Acute toxicity - inhalation”, “Respiratory sensitization”, “Aspiration hazard” and “carcinogenicity”.
- “specific target organ toxicity – single”: no specific test is available however the repeated dose toxicity test shows that no effect is observed, therefore it is considered as conclusive but not sufficient for classification.

Related composition

Related composition:

sodium phosphinate

Classification

Physical hazards

Explosives

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Flammable gases and chemically unstable gases

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Aerosols

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Reason for no classification:

hazard class not assessed

Oxidising gases

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Gases under pressure

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Flammable liquids

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Flammable solids

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Self-reactive substances and mixtures

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Pyrophoric liquids

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Pyrophoric solids

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Self-heating substances and mixtures

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Substances and mixtures which in contact with water emit flammable gases

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Oxidising liquids

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Oxidising solids

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Organic peroxides

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Corrosive to metals

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Desensitized explosives

Reason for no classification:

data lacking

Health hazards

Acute toxicity - oral

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Acute toxicity - dermal

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Acute toxicity - inhalation

Reason for no classification:

data lacking

Skin corrosion / irritation

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Serious eye damage / eye irritation

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Respiratory sensitisation

Reason for no classification:

data lacking

Skin sensitisation

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Aspiration hazard

Reason for no classification:

data lacking

Reproductive toxicity

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Effects on or via lactation

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Germ cell mutagenicity

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Carcinogenicity

Reason for no classification:

data lacking

1. Specific target organ toxicity - single (STOT-SE)

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

1. Specific target organ toxicity - repeated (STOT-RE)

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Environmental hazards

Hazardous to the aquatic environment (acute / short-term)

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Hazardous to the aquatic environment (long-term)

Reason for no classification:

data conclusive but not sufficient for classification

Hazardous to the ozone layer

Reason for no classification:

data lacking

Labelling

Signal word:

No signal word