| Product Name: | Nitrous Oxide |
| Chemical Name: | Nitrous Oxide |
| Formula: | N2O |
| Chemical Family: | Oxidizer |
| Use: | Medical, industrial, food industry |
| Synonyms: | Dinitrogen monoxide, laughing gas, nitrogen monoxide, nitrous oxide USP |
| NFPA Fire: | 0 |
| NFPA Health: | 2 |
| NFPA Reactivity: | 0 |
| NFPA Special Hazard: | OX |
| HMIS Fire: | 0 |
| HMIS Health: | 2 |
| HMIS Reactivity: | 0 |
| Mixture: | No |
| Acute: | Yes |
| Chronic: | Yes |
| Fire: | Yes |
| Reactive: | No |
| Sudden Release Pressure: | Yes |
| Ingredients – Composition Information |
| Component: | Nitrous Oxide |
| CAS No. | 10024-97-2 |
| Percent (by weight) | 99.0% 100.0% |
| ACGIH – STEL | 50ppm |
| Emergency Overview |
| Danger: | High pressure oxidizing liquid and gas. Vigorously accelerates combustion. Can cause rapid suffocation. Can cause anesthetic effects. May cause frostbite. |
| Potential Health Effects Information |
| Inhalation: | Simple asphyxiant. Nitrous oxide is nontoxic, but may cause suffocation by displacing the oxygen in air. Exposure to oxygen-deficient atmosphere (<19.5%) may cause dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, excess salivation, diminished mental alertness, loss of consciousness and death. Exposure to atmospheres containing 8-10% or less oxygen will bring about unconsciousness without warning and so quickly that the individuals cannot help or protect themselves. Lack of sufficient oxygen may cause serious injury or death. Exposure to concentrations of 50% or greater will produce euphoria, loss of coordination, slurred speech, dulling of senses, loss of consciousness, and clinical anesthesia. These symptoms may resemble intoxication, hence the name “laughing gas”. At higher concentrations, approaching 100%, inhalation may cause deep breathing, dizziness, nausea, and central nervous system depression. WARNING: The misuse of nitrous oxide can cause death by reducing the amount of oxygen necessary to support life. Nitrous oxide abuse can impair an individual’s ability to make and implement life sustaining decisions. |
| Eye: | Contact with liquid or cold vapor can cause freezing of tissue. |
| Skin: | Contact with liquid or cold vapor can cause frostbite. |
| Chronic Effects: | Nitrous oxide has been associated with several effects from long term exposure. The most strongly substantiated effect is neuropathy (degenerative changes to the nervous system). Complaints include numbness, tingling of hands and legs, loss of feeling in fingers, poor balance, and muscular weakness. Epidemiological studies also suggest feto-toxic effects and higher incidents of spontaneous abortion in exposed personnel. Although no cause and effect relationship has been firmly established, exposure to the gas should be minimized. |
| Medical Conditions Aggravated By Overexposure | Pregnant women should avoid exposure to nitrous oxide. See Section 11 |
| Carcinogenicity: | Not listed in NTP, OSHA or IARC |
| First Aid Measures |
| Inhalation: | Persons suffering from lack of oxygen should be removed to fresh air. If victim is not breathing, administer artificial respiration. Vomiting may occur as the person awakes. In order to prevent aspiration, exposed individuals should be placed on their side with their head at the level or slightly lower than their body. If breathing is difficult, or dulling of senses is present, administer oxygen. Obtain prompt medical attention. Rescue personnel should be aware of the extreme fire hazards associated with oxidizer-enriched atmospheres. |
| Eye: | Contact with liquid or cold vapor can cause freezing of tissue. Gently flush eyes with lukewarm water. Obtain medical attention immediately. |
| Skin: | Contact with liquid or cold vapor can cause frostbite. Immediately warm affected area with lukewarm water not to exceed 105°F (40°C). |
| Fire Fighting Measures |
| Flash Point: | Not applicable; Gas. |
| Auto ignition: | None |
| Flammable Limits – Lower: | None |
| Flammable Limits – Upper: | None |
| Extinguishing Media: | Nitrous oxide is nonflammable and will support combustion. Use extinguishing media appropriate for the surrounding fire. |
| Fire And Explosion Hazards | Oxidizing agent, vigorously accelerates combustion. Some materials which are noncombustible in air will burn in the presence of an oxidizing agent. Nitrous oxide may form explosive compounds when exposed to combustible materials or oil, grease, and other hydrocarbon materials. Upon exposure to intense heat or flame, cylinder will vent rapidly and/or rupture violently. Most cylinders are designed to vent contents when exposed to elevated temperatures. Pressure in a container can build up due to heat and it may rupture if pressure relief devices should fail to function. |
| Hazardous Combustion Products: | None |
| Sensitivity To Static Discharge: None |
| Sensitivity To Mechanical Impact: | None |
| Accidental Release Measures |
| Evacuate: | nitrous oxide, if possible. Remove sources of heat, ignition and, if possible, separate combustibles from the leak. Ventilate enclosed area or move leaking container to a well-ventilated area. If leaking from cylinder or its valve, contact your supplier. |
| Handling and Storage |
| Storage: | Store and use with adequate ventilation. Cylinders should be separated from flammables by a minimum distance of 20 ft. or by a barrier of non-combustible material at least 5 ft high having a fire resistance rating of a least 1/2 hour. Cylinders should be stored upright with valve protection cap in place and firmly secured to prevent falling or being knocked over. Post “No Smoking or Open Flames” signs in the storage area. Protect cylinders from physical damage; do not drag, roll, slide or drop. Do not allow storage area temperature to exceed 125°F (52°C). Full and empty cylinders should be segregated. Use a first-in, first-out inventory system to prevent full containers from being stored for long periods of time. |
| Handling: | Use a suitable hand truck for cylinder movement. Never attempt to lift a cylinder by its valve protection cap. Keep cylinders and their valves free from oil and grease. Open valve slowly. If user experiences difficulty operating cylinder valve, discontinue use and contact supplier. Never insert an object (e.g., wrench, screwdriver, pry bar, etc.) into valve cap openings. Doing so may damage valve, causing a leak to occur. Never strike an arc on a compressed gas cylinder or make a cylinder a part of an electrical circuit. Use an adjustable strap wrench to remove over-tight or rusted caps. For additional precautions in using nitrous oxide |
| Exposure Control – Personal Protection |
| Engineering Controls: |
| Ventilation: | Natural or mechanical to prevent accumulation in worker’s breathing zone above exposure limits. |
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): |
| Skin Protection: |
| Clothing: | Cotton clothing is recommended for use to prevent static buildup. |
| Glasses: | Safety glasses are recommended when handling cylinders. |
| Shoes: | Safety shoes are recommended when handling cylinders. |
| Gloves: | Work gloves are recommended when handling cylinders. |
| Physical and Chemical Properties |
| Physical State: | Gas |
| Color: | Colorless gas. |
| Odor: | Slightly Sweet |
| Molecular Weight: | 44.013 |
| Boiling Point: | -127.4°F ( -88.5°C) @ 1 atm |
| Specific Gravity: | 1.53 At 70°F (21.1°C) @ 1 atm, Air = 1 |
| Freezing/Melting Point: | -131.5°F (-90.8°C) at 1 atm |
| Vapor Pressure: | 745 psig at 70°F |
| Vapor Density: | .1146 lb./cu ft (1.947kg/CuM), At 70°F (21.1°C) @ 1 atm |
| Water Solubility: | 1.3 Vol./Vol. At 32° F (0°C) |
| Expansion Ratio: | Not Applicable – Gas |
| pH: | Not Applicable – Gas |
| Odor Threshold: | Not Known |
| Evaporation Rate: | Not Applicable – Gas |
| Coefficient Of Water/Oil Distribution: | Information not available |
| Stability and Reactivity |
| Chemical Stability: | Stable |
| Hazardous Decomposition Products: | Nitrogen and oxygen |
| Hazardous Polymerization: | Will not occur |
| Ecological Information |
| Ecotoxicity: | No adverse ecological effects are expected. Nitrous oxide does not contain any Class I or Class II Ozone depleting chemicals (40 CFR Part 82). Nitrous oxide is not listed as a marine pollutant by DOT (49 CFR Part 171). |
| Disposal Considerations |
| Waste Disposal Method: | Do not attempt to dispose of residual or unused quantities. Return cylinder to supplier. Unserviceable cylinders should be returned to the supplier for safe and proper disposal. |
| Transport Information |
| DOT/IMO Shipping Name: | Nitrous oxide |
| Hazard Class: | 2.2 (Non Flammable gas.) |
| Identification Number: | UN 1070 |
| PIN: | 1070 |
| Product RQ: | None. |
| Shipping Label: | NonFlammable Gas. |
| Special Shipping Information: | Cylinders should be transported in a secure position, in a well ventilated vehicle. The transportation of compressed gas cylinders in automobiles or in closed-body vehicles can present serious hazards and should be discouraged. |
| Placard (When Required): | NonFlammable gas. |