Chemical Name: Guanidine Hydrochloride
Synonyms: Guanidinium chloride
CAS Number: 50-01-1
Recommended Use: Applications cover protein denaturation in life science labs, protein extraction, RNA isolation, and industrial products.
Manufacturer/Supplier: Contact details of the responsible supplier should remain up-to-date for accurate emergency information.
Emergency Contact: Reliable phone lines must provide swift advice in case of spills, exposure, or health events.
Classification: Guanidine hydrochloride often falls under acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation), eye irritation, and specific target organ toxicity.
Label Elements: GHS pictograms signal acute dangers with exclamation marks and health hazard icons.
Signal Word: Danger reflects risk level to handlers.
Hazard Statements: Harmful if swallowed, causes serious eye irritation, causes skin irritation, toxic if inhaled.
Precautionary Statements: Wash skin thoroughly after handling; avoid breathing dust/fumes; use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
Chemical Identity: Guanidine Hydrochloride
Formula: CH5N3·HCl
Concentration: 98% or higher purity in industrial forms
Impurities: Minor traces of moisture or decomposition products such as ammonia might appear after long storage, impacting product performance.
Inhalation: Shift individual to fresh air; if symptoms persist, medical attention becomes necessary.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing; clean affected skin area immediately with water and mild soap.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with running water for at least fifteen minutes, lifting eyelids as required; seek medical help.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly; avoid inducing vomiting; immediate investigation by medical professionals is vital if symptoms arise.
Suitable Extinguishing Agents: Use water spray or alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical powder, or carbon dioxide.
Hazards from Combustion: Potential production of toxic fumes, including nitrogen oxides, hydrochloric acid vapor, and carbon monoxide.
Special Protective Equipment: Firefighters should rely on self-contained breathing apparatus and chemical-protective clothing, especially around confined spaces.
Further Information: Containers close to fire must be cooled with water to prevent pressure build-up and risk of explosion.
Personal Precautions: Prevent unnecessary contact by using gloves, goggles, and appropriate protective clothing.
Environmental Precautions: Avoid discharge into drains, watercourses, or soil to limit long-term environmental harm.
Cleanup Methods: Sweep up solid material carefully without generating dust; collect and place in approved disposal containers; thorough ventilation helps reduce lingering particulates.
Handling: Always use engineering controls or local exhaust systems to minimize exposure; direct contact with skin and eyes needs to be avoided.
Storage: Maintain dry, cool, and well-ventilated environments; containers should be tightly sealed;
Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizing agents, acids, and moisture increase hazard; separate storage keeps chemical integrity intact and reduces risk.
Engineering Controls: Employ enclosure, ventilation, or process isolation to keep airborne concentrations below recommended limits.
Personal Protection: Protective eyewear, gloves made from nitrile or rubber, full lab coats or chemical suits, and face protection.
Respiratory Protection: NIOSH-approved respirators may be necessary in dusty or poorly ventilated conditions.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands before breaks and after handling; contaminated workwear must not leave the site.
Appearance: White crystalline powder
Odor: Faint, ammonia-like
Melting Point: Approximately 181-183°C
Solubility: Highly soluble in water, generating a clear solution
pH (1% solution): About 4.5-6.0
Vapor Pressure: Not significant at room temperature
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Density: Around 1.354 g/cm³
Molecular Weight: 95.53 g/mol
Flash Point: Product does not flash under standard testing
Chemical Stability: Remains stable in dry, sealed containers under recommended storage conditions.
Reactivity: Reacts with strong oxidizing agents, acids, or bases; contact may yield hazardous by-products such as ammonia or cyanamide.
Decomposition Products: Prolonged heating or mixing with incompatible substances can release toxic gases including nitrogen oxides and HCl gas.
Polymerization: No dangerous polymerization under normal processing.
Routes of Exposure: Absorption can occur via skin, inhalation, and ingestion.
Symptoms: Repeated contact causes skin and eye irritation, nausea, headache, and respiratory distress if inhaled.
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD50 in rats falls between 930 mg/kg and 1300 mg/kg; inhalation exposure above recommended levels impacts respiratory tract.
Chronic Effects: Extended exposure increases risk of kidney and liver effects; genetic risk not fully ruled out.
Carcinogenicity: Not listed as carcinogenic by NTP, IARC, or OSHA.
Aquatic Toxicity: May threaten aquatic life if significant amounts enter waterways.
Persistence and Degradability: Data suggest partial biodegradation in soil or water over time, but not fast enough to prevent damage in spill cases.
Bioaccumulation: Current tests show a low potential for bioaccumulation within food chains.
Mobility: High solubility in water means pollutant can travel rapidly from spill locations.
Environmental Precautions: Use containment to block leaks; any discharge into the environment requires reporting.
Product Disposal: Leftover solids or solutions enter chemical hazardous waste streams; avoid landfill or incineration without pre-treatment.
Container Disposal: Triple rinse, remove all residue, and consign to licensed waste disposal contractors.
Legal Compliance: Every disposal operation must match all federal, state, and local environmental rules, even for seemingly small quantities.
UN Number: 1759
UN Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive solid, n.o.s. (Guanidine hydrochloride mixture)
Transport Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive substances)
Packing Group: III
Labelling Requirements: Transport by road, rail, or sea demands clear hazard labelling and manifests for safety officers.
Additional Data: Keep containers secure and upright throughout transit to limit accidental release risk.
Special Precautions: Emergency response guidance outlines evacuation range, personal protection, and environmental spill protocols.
OSHA Status: Handled as hazardous; workplace controls, labels, and training are required.
TSCA Status: Appears on the US Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Inventory.
SARA Title III: Listed for reporting under Sections 302 (EHS), 311, and 312 as an acute health hazard; not subject to Section 313.
REACH Compliance: European manufacturers or importers must maintain detailed usage documentation and exposure scenarios.
State Regulations: Regulations for safe use, reporting, and accident notification differ so consult state-level guidelines to reduce penalty risk.
