Material Safety Data Sheet: Selenium Tetrabromide

Identification

Product Name: Selenium Tetrabromide
Chemical Formula: SeBr₄
Synonyms: Selenious bromide, Tetrabromoselenium
Recommended Use: Laboratory reagent, chemical synthesis
Supplier Information: Chemical and laboratory suppliers
Emergency Contact: Local Poison Control Center or Emergency Services

Hazard Identification

GHS Classification: Acute Toxicity - Oral (Category 3), Skin Corrosion (Category 1C), Serious Eye Damage (Category 1), Specific Target Organ Toxicity
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed. Causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage. Causes respiratory tract irritation. May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life.
Pictograms: Skull and crossbones, Corrosion
Precautionary Statements: Avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing. Do not breathe dust or vapors. Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Wash thoroughly after handling.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Chemical Name: Selenium Tetrabromide
CAS Number: 7789-59-5
UN Number: UN3283
EINECS Number: 232-194-3
Concentration: 100%

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Move person to fresh air as quickly as possible. Seek medical attention if symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, or irritation occur.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes. Do not delay medical help; chemical burns can develop rapidly.
Eye Contact: Immediately rinse eyes with large amounts of water for a minimum of 20 minutes, keeping eyelids open. Seek immediate medical advice; severe damage expected.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, do not induce vomiting. Seek emergency medical attention. Swallowing may result in toxic systemic effects, chemical burns, and damage to tissues.
Medical Attention: Always consult with poison control center or emergency physician for any exposure.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or alcohol-resistant foam. Water spray for small fires may help cool containers.
Hazards Arising from Combustion: Emission of toxic and corrosive bromine and selenium oxides.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full chemical-protective suit. Keep fire-exposed containers cool to prevent explosions.
Special Procedures: Approach fire upwind and evacuate all unnecessary personnel. Prevent runoff to water sources or sewers.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Evacuate area. Wear chemical-protective gloves, eye protection, and suitable respiratory equipment.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent spillage from reaching drains, watercourses, or soil. Notify authorities if contamination occurs.
Cleanup Procedures: Absorb spills with inert dry material such as sand. Collect material in chemical waste containers. Wash area with copious water. Ensure adequate ventilation during cleanup.

Handling and Storage

Handling: Work in a certified chemical fume hood only. Avoid generating dust or vapors. Do not eat, drink, or smoke in areas where the chemical is handled.
Storage: Keep tightly sealed in corrosion-resistant containers. Store away from moisture, oxidizing agents, and acids. Keep in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Segregate from incompatible materials.

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Engineering Controls: Use mechanical exhaust ventilation and maintain negative pressure in the work area. Install eyewash stations and safety showers close to handling points.
Respiratory Protection: Use full-face respirators with appropriate chemical cartridges if exposure limits exceed recommendations or if ventilation is inadequate.
Hand Protection: Nitrile or PVC gloves, changed regularly to prevent permeation.
Eye Protection: Chemical-resistant goggles with side shields supplemented by face shields for splash protection.
Skin Protection: Laboratory coats, sleeves, and chemical-resistant aprons. Remove and wash contaminated clothing immediately.
Exposure Limits: No specific OSHA or ACGIH exposure limits for Selenium Tetrabromide; use general nuisance dust standards or consult professional industrial hygienists.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: Yellow to red-orange crystalline solid
Odor: Acrid, irritating
Melting Point: 48°C
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility: Reacts with water, soluble in non-aqueous solvents
Vapor Pressure: Low (volatility depends on temperature and surface area)
Relative Density: 3.47 (water = 1)
pH: Strongly acidic upon hydrolysis

Stability and Reactivity

Stability: Stable in sealed containers under inert atmosphere. Reacts rapidly with water, alcohols, or moist air.
Reactive Materials: Moisture, strong oxidizers, acids, bases, metals liable to reduction.
Decomposition Products: Bromine, selenium dioxide, hydrogen bromide.
Other Hazards: Generates highly toxic and corrosive fumes on decomposition.

Toxicological Information

Acute Toxicity: Oral exposure produces symptoms including metallic taste, gastrointestinal upset, difficulty breathing, dizziness. Estimated LD50 (rat, oral): 34 mg/kg.
Skin Corrosion: Causes deep, painful burns. Risk of severe tissue damage on contact.
Eye Damage: Produces blisters, corneal damage, permanent injury possible.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure can lead to accumulation in liver and kidney, selenium poisoning, hair loss, brittle nails, neurological symptoms.
Other Organ System Effects: May result in respiratory damage if inhaled; potential risk to fetal development.

Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic life. Selenium compounds bioaccumulate, causing lasting damage to aquatic food webs.
Persistence and Degradability: Not readily degraded, may persist in the environment as insoluble residues.
Bioaccumulation Potential: High, selenium found to build up in plant and animal tissues, with impacts on fisheries and bird populations near contaminated waters.
Mobility in Soil: Moves from contaminated sites into waterways slowly, risk for contamination increases with repeated spills or disposal.

Disposal Considerations

Waste Treatment Methods: Collect material in sealed, damage-resistant containers. Dispose of only via hazardous chemical waste routes compliant with local, state, and federal regulations.
Do Not Dispose: Never pour into sinks, drains, or public waterways.
Incineration: Permitted at licensed facilities with pollution control measures. Avoid open burning due to toxic emissions.
Container Handling: Decontaminate and dispose of empty containers as hazardous waste, never reuse for food or potable water.

Transport Information

UN Number: UN3283
Proper Shipping Name: Selenium Tetrabromide
Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic Substances)
Packing Group: II (medium danger)
Environmental Hazard: Marine pollutant
Special Precautions: Label shipments with toxic substance and environmental hazard labels. Ensure transport vehicle is secure, ventilated, and personnel have spill response gear.

Regulatory Information

U.S. TSCA: Listed
OSHA Classification: Hazardous according to OSHA regulations
WHMIS (Canada): Class D2A (Very Toxic Material Causing Other Toxic Effects); Class E (Corrosive Material)
EU Risk/Safety Phrases: R25 (Toxic if swallowed), R34 (Causes burns); S26 (In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with water), S36/37/39 (Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves, and eye/face protection)
Other Regulatory Status: Subject to state and international transport, reporting, and disposal regulations due to acute and environmental hazards.