Product Name: Methylsulfonic Acid
Synonyms: Methanesulfonic Acid, MS Acid
Chemical Formula: CH4O3S
CAS Number: 75-75-2
Recommended Use: Laboratory reagent, catalyst in organic synthesis, cleaning agent, electroplating
Supplier Information: Name, address, phone, and emergency contact numbers of manufacturer or distributor should appear here.
Emergency Phone Number: Refer to local regulations or supplier details for your region’s chemical emergencies.
Classification: Corrosive to metals, serious eye damage/eye irritation, skin corrosion.
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage; may be corrosive to metals; irritates respiratory system if inhaled.
Pictograms: Corrosion symbol, exclamation mark for irritant effects.
Precautionary Statements: Do not breathe dust, mist, or vapors. Wash hands and exposed areas thoroughly after handling. Wear protective gloves, clothing, and eye/face protection.
Potential Health Effects: Contact irritates or burns skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Ingestion or inhalation can cause organ damage if untreated. Vapors can irritate eyes, nose, and throat.
Substance: Methylsulfonic Acid
Concentration: Typically over 99% as supplied for industrial use
Chemical Identity: Methanesulfonic acid
CAS Number: 75-75-2
Impurities/Additives: For high-purity grades, trace metals may be present in minor amounts.
Molecular Weight: 96.1 g/mol
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air. Seek medical attention if symptoms of respiratory distress develop.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Medical attention is critical for chemical burns.
Eye Contact: Immediately flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting eyelids often. Remove contact lenses if possible and seek emergency care.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting. Give water if conscious. Immediate medical intervention is required.
Most Important Symptoms: Severe burning pain, redness, blistering, tissue destruction in cases of prolonged contact.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, or CO2. Avoid water jets which may spread corrosive material.
Specific Hazards: May release toxic gases such as sulfur oxides, methanesulfonates if heated to decomposition.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Use self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective gear.
Fire Fighting Instructions: Approach fire from upwind. Use flooding quantities of water to cool containers. Always keep containers cool to avoid rupture.
Explosion Data: Not considered explosive but may react with some metals to produce hydrogen gas; risk increases in confined spaces.
Personal Precautions: Wear chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and protective clothing. Use positive-pressure respiratory protection if concentration in air is high.
Emergency Procedures: Restrict area to personnel trained in chemical spill response. Avoid breathing vapors, mist, or dust.
Methods for Containment: Prevent further leakage or spillage. Contain and absorb spills with inert material such as sodium bicarbonate, sand or vermiculite—avoid contact with metals.
Cleanup Methods: Collect residue in chemical waste container for proper disposal. Wash area thoroughly with water; neutralize acidic residue.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into drains, soil, or watercourses. Notify authorities if chemical entres public waterways or soil.
Safe Handling: Work in well-ventilated area. Avoid inhalation and contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Do not eat, drink, or smoke during use.
Storage Conditions: Store in tightly closed, corrosion-resistant containers. Keep away from incompatible materials like bases, oxidizers, and metals.
Storage Location: Locate away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Separate acids from bases and flammables.
Special Requirements: Use secondary containment. Maintain emergency eyewash and shower stations near points of use.
Incompatibilities: Metals, strong bases, oxidizing agents, reducing agents.
Exposure Limits: No established OSHA or ACGIH exposure limits for methylsulfonic acid; use good industrial hygiene practices.
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation or process enclosures to prevent exposure. Maintain safety showers and eyewash stations.
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, butyl rubber), lab coat, apron, chemical-splash goggles, face shield when splashing risk exists.
Respiratory Protection: Use NIOSH-approved respirator in areas where vapor or mist concentrations are above recommended levels.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands thoroughly after handling and before eating, drinking, or smoking. Change contaminated clothing promptly.
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid
Odor: Slightly sulfurous
Odor Threshold: Not well-documented
pH: Below 1.0 (strong acid)
Melting Point: 20 °C (68 °F)
Boiling Point: 167 °C (333 °F)
Flash Point: 185 °C (365 °F), not highly flammable
Evaporation Rate: Not available
Flammability: Non-flammable
Vapor Pressure: 0.57 mmHg at 20 °C
Vapor Density: 3.32 (air = 1)
Solubility: Soluble in water, ethanol, acetone, and many organic solvents
Partition Coefficient: log Kow = -1.2
Autoignition Temperature: Not applicable
Decomposition Temperature: Above 200 °C
Viscosity: 22.5 mPa·s at 25 °C
Chemical Stability: Stable under standard temperatures and pressures
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, direct sunlight, moisture, incompatible substances
Incompatible Materials: Metals (forms hydrogen gas), strong alkalies, strong oxidizers, reducing agents
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Produces toxic sulfur oxides and methanesulfonates on decomposition
Polymerization: Does not occur under normal conditions
Likely Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin, eye contact, ingestion
Acute Effects: Corrosive to eyes, skin, respiratory tract; inhalation leads to irritation, inflammation, or chemical burns; ingestion may cause burns to mouth, throat, and stomach
Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure may cause dermatitis, sensitization, or irreversible tissue damage
LD50 (oral, rat): Roughly 2000 mg/kg
LD50 (dermal): Data limited
Carcinogenicity: Not listed as carcinogen by IARC, NTP, OSHA
Sensitization and Other Effects: Not classified as a sensitizer, but repeated exposure should be monitored for workplace safety.
Toxicity to Aquatic Life: Harmful in high concentrations to aquatic organisms due to low pH
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable in the environment
Bioaccumulative Potential: Not expected to bioaccumulate (log Kow -1.2)
Mobility in Soil: Highly soluble and mobile, may leach if spilled
Other Adverse Effects: Raise in acidity can disrupt aquatic and soil ecosystems if released untreated.
Product Disposal: Dispose of contents and container according to local, regional, and national regulations.
Contaminated Packaging: Rinse empty containers with water before disposal. Do not reuse.
Neutralization: Acidic wastes may be neutralized with suitable alkaline agents prior to disposal.
Sewage Disposal: Do not discharge to sewer without proper neutralization.
Special Precautions: Handle waste as hazardous material if above threshold concentration levels set by local authorities.
UN Number: UN 3265
Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive liquid, acidic, organic, n.o.s. (contains methylsulfonic acid)
Transport Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive materials)
Packing Group: II
Hazard Label: Corrosive
Marine Pollutant: Not classified as marine pollutant
Special Precautions for Transport: Secure tightly, segregate from incompatible substances, ensure clear corrosive labeling, follow local transport regulations.
International Inventories: Listed on TSCA, EINECS/ELINCS, DSL/NDSL, AICS, ENCS, and other chemical inventories
OSHA Hazard Communication: Meets criteria for hazardous chemical
SARA Title III: Not regulated under Sections 302, 304, 313 for reportable quantities
WHMIS Classification: D2B (Toxic Material), E (Corrosive Material)
RoHS Status: Not restricted
Other Local Laws: Comply with all state, provincial, or national hazardous chemical and environmental reporting rules, including waste treatment and disposal norms.
