Reading and Interpreting Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Student Study Guide for Chemical Safety
MSDS stands for “Material Safety Data Sheet” and describes the physical and
chemical properties of a substance. These sheets can also warn you of specific
haxards you should be aware of when using a chemical. For example,
substances have a “hazard rating” of 0-4 in three areas: Health, Flammability,
and Reactivity. (0 is low, 4 is high)
Answer the following questions about the five MSDS sheets in the MSDS packet.
Page A – MSDS on Carbon Dioxide
1. What is solid carbon dioxide commonly called? ________________________
2. What type of personal protection should be used when handling solid CO 2?
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3. What is a cryogenic burn? _________________________________________
4. What type of first aid would be used for an external exposure to CO 2?
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5. How is solid carbon dioxide disposed of? _____________________________
Page B – MSDS on Carbon Tetrachloride
1. What is the formula for this substance? ______________________________
2. List the health hazard rating for this chemical, and describe some of the health
hazards associated with this chemical. _________________________________
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3. What is the boiling point for carbon tetrachloride? _______________________
4. Can this be disposed of down the sink? ______________________________
5. Do you think we should do a lab using this chemical? Justify your answer
using evidence from the MSDS. ______________________________________
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Page C – MSDS on Hydrochloric Acid
1. What are all the hazard ratings for hydrochloric acid? ___________________
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2. What are the physical properties of HCl? _____________________________
3. How would you clean up a spill or leak? ______________________________
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4. What is the solubility of HCl? _______________________________________
5. What are the acute toxicological effects of HCl? ________________________
Page D – MSDS on Mercury
1. Is mercury a health risk? __________________________________________
2. What first aid measures should be used if someone bites into and breaks a
mercury thermometer? ______________________________________________
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3. What is the boiling point of mercury? _________________________________
4. What are the target organs for toxicological damage from mercury?
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5. What is the formula for mercury? ________ What does it mean that mercury is
found in an “elemental” form? ________________________________________
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Page E - MSDS on Sucrose
1. What is another name for sucrose? __________________________________
2. Is this substance a health risk? _____________________________________
3. Do you think the first aid measures are appropriate for internal ingestion of
sucrose? Use the MSDS and your background knowledge about sucrose to
justify your answer. ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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4. What is the shelf-life of sucrose? ____________________________________
5. Is sucrose a chemical to be extremely cautious with? ____________________