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Product Name: Magnesium Oxide
Synonyms: Magnesia, Periclase
Chemical Formula: MgO
CAS Number: 1309-48-4
Recommended Use: Laboratory, industrial, pharmaceutical fields, food additive, construction materials
Supplier Identification: Manufacturer or distributor name, address, telephone, emergency contact number
GHS Classification: Not classified as hazardous under GHS criteria
Signal Word: None required
Hazard Statements: May cause mechanical irritation to eyes or respiratory tract
Pictograms: Not required
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing dust, wash hands after handling, use appropriate PPE
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, eye contact, skin contact, ingestion
Health Effects: Prolonged or repeated inhalation may trigger mild respiratory symptoms, dust can irritate eyes and skin with direct exposure, ingestion of large amounts may cause gastrointestinal upset
Environmental Effects: Not expected to present significant hazard in normal use; particulate spills may impact aquatic environments through pH shift
Chemical Name: Magnesium Oxide
CAS Number: 1309-48-4
Concentration: >97% by weight
Impurities: Trace amounts of calcium oxide, iron oxide, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, subject to specific raw material origins
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air, seek medical attention if symptoms develop or persist, administer oxygen if breathing is difficult
Eyes: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes, remove contact lenses if present, seek medical assistance if irritation persists
Skin: Wash thoroughly with soap and water, remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, drink plenty of water, seek medical attention for discomfort, do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel
Acute Symptoms: Cough, sore throat, redness and irritation to eyes, stomach upset
Delayed Symptoms: Extended inhalation of dust could aggravate existing respiratory conditions
Flammability: Magnesium oxide itself does not burn or support combustion
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use any fire extinguishing media suitable for surrounding materials, such as water spray, dry chemical, CO2, foam
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media: None known for this substance
Protective Equipment: Firefighters should wear full protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus
Fire Hazards: Thermal decomposition may produce magnesium fumes and oxides, which can be irritating
Special Firefighting Procedures: Prevent water runoff from entering sewers and waterways, ventilate area following combustion
Personal Precautions: Use appropriate PPE including dust masks, goggles, gloves; evacuate unnecessary personnel
Environmental Precautions: Avoid spill entering drains or water systems to prevent pH alteration
Containment: Avoid generating airborne dust, employ local ventilation
Cleanup Methods: Sweep or vacuum up material, avoid use of compressed air; place in suitable waste container for disposal in accordance with regulations
Notification Procedures: Report major releases to appropriate local, regional, or national authorities
Handling: Limit dust generation, provide local exhaust or respiratory protection when airborne concentrations could be significant, wash hands before breaks and at end of work, keep away from incompatible substances such as acids
Safe Practices: Use only in well-ventilated areas, do not eat, drink, or smoke during handling
Storage: Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated location, use containers that prevent ingress of moisture, keep closed, segregate from acids, avoid contact with aluminum and other reactive metals
Packaging Materials: Store in steel, polyethylene, or other compatible materials
Incompatibility: Acids (releases heat and magnesium salts), moisture (may cause caking), ammonium salts
Occupational Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 15 mg/m3 (total dust), 5 mg/m3 (respirable fraction); ACGIH TLV: 10 mg/m3 (inhalable fraction)
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust or general ventilation to control airborne dust
Personal Protection:
Eye/Face: Safety glasses or goggles
Skin: Gloves, long-sleeved clothing
Inhalation: NIOSH-approved dust respirator when dust levels could exceed limits
Hygiene Practices: Wash thoroughly after handling, keep work clothing separate from other clothing
Workplace Monitoring: Sample airborne particles to verify exposure limits are not being approached
Appearance: White powder, odorless
Molecular Weight: 40.3 g/mol
Melting Point: 2852°C
Boiling Point: 3600°C
Density: 3.58 g/cm³
Solubility: Insoluble in water (0.0086 g/100 mL at 30°C), soluble in acids with evolution of heat
pH: Alkaline, pH 10.3 (saturated solution at 25°C)
Vapor Pressure: Negligible
Partition Coefficient: Not applicable
Evaporation Rate: Not applicable
Odor Threshold: Not applicable
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal ambient and anticipated storage and handling conditions
Reactive Hazards: Contact with strong acids releases heat and magnesium salts, reacts with ammonium salts to form ammonia gas, absorbs CO2 from air
Possibility of Hazardous Reactions: Unlikely under recommended storage and use
Conditions to Avoid: Prolonged exposure to moisture or atmospheric carbon dioxide
Incompatible Materials: Acids, ammonium salts, phosphorus pentachloride, interhalogens
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Magnesium fumes, magnesium salts when intensely heated or exposed to strong acids
Likely Exposure Routes: Inhalation, skin/eye contact, ingestion
Acute Toxicity: Low toxicity; magnesium oxide dust can cause temporary respiratory irritation and “magnesia fume fever” with flu-like symptoms (rare, reversible, with heavy exposure)
Chronic Effects: Chronic exposure has not demonstrated significant toxicity in humans, occupational guidelines focus on controlling dust levels rather than systemic toxicity
Skin and Eye Contact: May cause mechanical irritation or redness
Sensitization: Not known to cause allergic reactions
Target Organ Effects: Repeated inhalation may affect respiratory system
Carcinogenicity: Not listed as a carcinogen by IARC, NTP, OSHA
Mutagenicity: Not classified as a mutagen
Reproductive Effects: No evidence of adverse reproductive effects noted in available studies
Ecotoxicity: Large spills may raise pH of aquatic environments; not expected to be toxic to aquatic life at typical release rates
Persistence and Degradability: Inorganic compound, not subject to degradation, remains in environment as mineral or is neutralized by acids
Mobility: Low solubility limits movement through soil and water; tends to settle out as sediment
Bioaccumulation: Not expected to bioaccumulate
Other Adverse Effects: No evidence of long-term ecosystem damage under responsible handling conditions
Disposal Methods: Small quantities can be disposed of as non-hazardous landfill waste, consult local regulations for significant amounts, avoid disposal in waterways
Regulatory Status: Not designated as hazardous waste under US RCRA or European regulations
Container Disposal: Empty containers can be handled as non-hazardous materials after thorough cleaning
Precautions: Prevent dust during handling of waste; ensure site-specific disposal requirements are followed
UN Number: Not regulated for transport under international regulations
Proper Shipping Name: Magnesium Oxide
Transport Hazard Class: Not classified
Packing Group: Not assigned
Labeling Requirements: None for standard shipping quantities
Special Precautions: Prevent package damage and exposure to moisture during transit, use caution in transport with acidic substances
U.S. Regulations: Listed on TSCA Inventory, not regulated as a hazardous material under OSHA, not on CERCLA or EPCRA lists
European Regulations: EINECS/ELINCS listed, not classified under CLP as hazardous
Other International: Complies with Australian AICS, Japan ENCS, Canadian DSL, China IECSC, Korea ECL
Workplace Controls: Subject to OHS standards for mineral dusts
Other Standards: Food and pharmaceutical use requires compliance with relevant purity and labeling requirements under FDA and EMA guidelines
