Material Safety Data Sheet: Tungsten Hexacarbonyl

Identification

Product Name: Tungsten Hexacarbonyl
Chemical Formula: W(CO)₆
Synonyms: Tungsten Carbonyl, Hexacarbonyl Tungsten
CAS Number: 14040-11-0
Recommended Uses: Used mostly in the electronics industry, research labs, and as a chemical vapor deposition precursor.
Manufacturer/Supplier: Refer to supplier information on packaging. Distribution often comes through specialty chemical providers.
Contact Details: Usually published on the shipment paperwork or the product packaging by the manufacturer’s safety office.

Hazard Identification

Hazard Classification: Acute Toxicity (Oral/Inhalation), Skin and Eye Irritation, Specific Target Organ Toxicity
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Pictograms: Skull and Crossbones, Exclamation mark
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed; may cause allergic skin reaction; serious eye irritation; hazardous to aquatic environments; can produce dangerous carbon monoxide gas if decomposed.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing dust or vapors; wear protective gloves, clothing, and eye/face protection; wash exposed skin thoroughly after handling; do not eat, drink, or smoke near material.
Other Hazards: Dust or fine particulates can pose an inhalation risk in poorly ventilated areas; can cause delayed health effects.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Chemical Name: Tungsten Hexacarbonyl
Concentration: 100%
Component: Tungsten carbonyl complex
Impurities: Typically negligible due to the purified nature of the compound; consult certificate of analysis for trace byproducts.
Molecular Weight: 365.85 g/mol

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Move individual to fresh air, loosen restrictive clothing, and seek immediate medical attention. Oxygen administration may help if respiratory symptoms occur.
Skin Contact: Wash thoroughly with plenty of water and soap for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing. Immediate professional evaluation needed for irritation or allergic reaction.
Eye Contact: Gently rinse eyes with water for at least 15 minutes while holding eyelids open. Remove contact lenses if possible. Urgent medical attention recommended.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth thoroughly with water and seek immediate medical attention.
Most Important Symptoms: Cough, headache, shortness of breath, skin redness, eye watering, nausea.
Advice for Medical Responders: Provide supportive care; treat symptomatically. Monitor for signs of respiratory distress or sensitization.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or foam. Avoid water as decomposition produces toxic carbon monoxide.
Special Hazards: Thermal decomposition releases fumes of tungsten oxides and carbon monoxide.
Firefighter Protection: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus, chemical-resistant suit, and gloves. Remove containers from fire area if safe.
Advice During Fire: Absence of drafts and adequate ventilation is vital. Contain runoff contaminated with material; avoid draining into environment.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Wear appropriate personal protection: gloves, goggles, and fitted respirator. Restrict unnecessary personnel.
Environmental Precautions: Contain spill to prevent entry into soil, drains, waterways. Minimize dust generation.
Methods for Clean-up: Use absorbent materials for powdered spills. Collect solid product using appropriate tools and store in labelled waste containers for approved disposal. Ventilate area and clean surfaces with damp cloth or water.

Handling and Storage

Handling: Use only inside chemical fume hoods, under strict engineering controls. Avoid forming dust or aerosols. Wash hands thoroughly after use.
Storage: Store in tightly closed containers, in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. Keep separate from acids, strong oxidizing agents, and food or feed storage.
Incompatibilities: Store away from moisture and incompatible chemicals to avoid hazardous decomposition.

Exposure Controls / Personal Protection

Engineering Controls: Exhaust ventilation, glove boxes, fume hoods are necessary in laboratory and handling areas.
Personal Protection: Chemical-resistant gloves, long-sleeved clothing, and safety glasses or face shields.
Respiratory Protection: NIOSH-approved respirators required in insufficiently ventilated areas or during accidental release cleanup.
Workplace Hygiene: No eating, drinking, or smoking near chemical deployment. Procedures in place for contaminant containment and personal decontamination.
Exposure Limits: No established OSHA or ACGIH values for tungsten hexacarbonyl, though general limits for tungsten and carbon monoxide are referenced in occupational guidelines.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: White to pale yellow crystalline powder
Odor: Faint chemical smell
Odor Threshold: Data not available
pH: Not determined (insoluble in water)
Melting Point: 150°C
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at room temperature
Solubility: Soluble in organic solvents such as benzene, ether; insoluble in water
Vapor Density: Not applicable
Partition Coefficient: Not available
Decomposition Temperature: Above 170°C; emits toxic gases

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage and handling; sensitive to moisture and prolonged exposure to air.
Reactivity: Decomposes on exposure to light, heat, moisture, acids, or oxidizers, forming tungsten oxides and carbon monoxide.
Hazardous Reactions: Violent reactions with strong acids or oxidizers. Avoid mixing with incompatible substances.
Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, tungsten oxides, possible other volatile compounds.
Incompatible Materials: Avoid acids, oxidizing agents, moisture.

Toxicological Information

Likely Exposure Routes: Inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion
Acute Effects: Toxic if swallowed or inhaled; can cause skin and eye irritation
Chronic Effects: Repeated or prolonged exposure may result in allergic reactions or respiratory sensitization.
Symptoms: Coughing, shortness of breath, nausea, headache, skin redness, eye irritation
Carcinogenicity: No data suggesting carcinogenic potential
Toxicity Data: Oral LD₅₀ (rat): data not specified but considered toxic; inhalation LC₅₀: not defined
Other Health Hazards: Can aggravate pre-existing conditions like asthma or skin sensitivities.

Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic life based on structural analogues and possible bioaccumulation of tungsten compounds and carbonyl degradation products.
Persistence and Degradability: Not rapidly biodegradable in the environment.
Bioaccumulation Potential: Potential for uptake in aquatic organisms considered moderate to high.
Mobility in Soil: Low solubility in water results in limited mobility.
Other Adverse Effects: Avoid release into natural water bodies or soil, due to persistence and toxicity.

Disposal Considerations

Waste Handling: Collect waste material in labelled, sealed containers. Dispose according to local, state, and national hazardous waste regulations.
Disposal Methods: Managed by certified hazardous waste disposal contractors; incineration or secure landfill in compliance with authorities.
Contaminated Packaging: Triple rinse and treat as hazardous waste.
Precautions: Do not release to soil, drain, or any environment. Avoid vapor formation during disposal.

Transport Information

UN Number: UN3288
Shipping Name: Toxic Solid, Inorganic, N.O.S. (Tungsten Hexacarbonyl)
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substances)
Packing Group: II
Labels: Toxic
Environmental Hazards: Marine pollutant
Special Transport Precautions: Transport tightly sealed in appropriate dangerous goods packaging; apply spill protection during transit; follow regulations for toxic substances.

Regulatory Information

TSCA Status: Listed
REACH Status: Registration, evaluation, and authorization subject to European Union chemical regulations.
Other Regulations: Subject to hazardous substance reporting under SARA Title III, OSHA hazardous chemical mandates, and equivalent local and national authority requirements.
Labeling Requirements: Container must clearly display hazard pictograms, signal word “Danger,” and all GHS safety and hazard statements relevant to toxic inorganic chemicals.
Workplace Classification: Regarded as hazardous chemical; regulatory training for handlers is compulsory.