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HYDROQUINONE
FIRE
REACTIVE
OTHER
DEGREE OF HAZARD
0 = Minimum Hazard
1 = Slight Hazard
2 = Moderate Hazard
3 = Serious Hazard
4 = Severe Hazard
COLOR CODING
OTHER CODES
HEALTH = BLUE
FIRE = RED
REACTIVITY = YELLOW
OTHER = WHITE
OX = Oxidizer
ACID = Acid
ALK = Alkali
COR = Corrosive
W = Use No Water
RCRA Number
EPA Class
Hydrocarbon
None
Not Applicable
123-31-9
53
Chemical Formula
UN 2662
C6H4(OH)2
Synonyms
PEL (8-hour):
2 mg/m3
Immediately Dangerous to
Life and Health (IDLH)
TLV:
2 mg/m3
REL (ceiling):
2 mg/m3
(15 minute)
50 mg/m3
STEL:
Not
Applicable
STEL:
Not
Established
STEL:
Not
Established
546F (286C)
Vapor Pressure (gas)
1.33
Molecular Weight
1 x 10 at 69F (20C)
-5
98.2
Melting Point
338F (170C)
3.81
Solubility
Soluble in water (7%), alcohol, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, and ether. Slightly soluble in benzene.
Appearance and Odor
Colorless, light gray, or light tan hexagonal crystals. Color change depends on degree of oxidation.
NFPA Classification
Autoignition Temperature
Combustible Solid
960F (515C)
Extinguishing Media
Wear full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Poisonous gases are produced in fire. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Containers may explode in fire.
Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards
Combustible solid. Its dusts can form a cloud that may explode if ignited in a closed area. Move containers from fire area if it can be done without risk. Violent reactions can occur with oxidizers. Do not release
runoff from fire methods to sewers or waterways.
1996 by CRC Press, Inc.
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Hydroquinone turns brown on exposure to light and air due to oxidation, which becomes more rapid in
the presence of alkali. Avoid contact with incompatible materials. Do not generate dusty conditions.
Stability
Stable
Unstable
Strong oxidizers (permanganates, peroxides, nitrates, chlorates, and perchlorates), and alkalis. Reacts
violently with sodium hydroxide, forms p-benzoquinone with chlorine, and is explosive with heated oxygen.
Conditions to Avoid
Hazardous
Polymerization
May Occur
Under normal conditions of temperature and pressure, hazardous polymerization of hydroquinone is not
expected to occur.
When heated to decomposition, hydroquinone can emit highly toxic/poisonous and acrid fumes and
gases including toxic quinone and carbon dioxide fumes.
Absorption (skin)?
Ingestion?
Health Hazards
INHALATION: Symptoms include irritation of the nose, throat, and respiratory tract. There may also be
central nervous system depression causing excitement, dizziness, and collapse.
SKIN & EYES: Irritating to the skin; may cause irritation and dermatitis. An eye irritant with possibility of
corneal damage, conjunctivitis, and keratitis. May cause brownish staining of eye tissue.
INGESTION:
Serious human poison causing ringing in the ears, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, pallor,
a feeling of suffocation, increased respiration, muscular twitching, headache, dypsnea,
cyanosis, delirium, collapse, urine color change (green or brownish green), convulsions,
blurred speech, tremors, and severe gastrointestinal disturbances.
Carcinogenicity
NTP Listed?
Unknown Human
Questioned Animal
No
OSHA Regulated?
Target Organs?
Group 3
29 CFR 1910.1000
Table Z-1
Eye contact: Flush immediately with water for 15 minutes (minimum); seek medical attention. Skin contact: Remove all contaminated clothing. Immediately wash area with large amounts of soap and water.
Seek medical assistance. For inhalation: Remove the person from exposure. Provide respiratory assistance and CPR, if required. Transfer to medical facility. Keep victim warm and at rest. If swallowed: Seek
medical attention immediately. Give conscious person 1 to 2 glasses of water to dilute. Do NOT induce
vomiting. DOCTOR: Consider gastric lavage and a urine screen test.
Collect powders using HEPA vacuum. Do NOT dry sweep. Absorb solution spills in vermiculite and place
in sealed drum. Ventilate area of spill or leak. Remove all sources of ignition.
Preferred Waste Disposal Method
No Citation.
Precautions to be Taken in Handling and Storage
Store to avoid contact with incompatible materials in tightly closed containers in cool, dry, well-ventilated
area away from heat, flame, and direct sunlight. Use only non-sparking tools.
Other Precautions and Warnings
For exposures above the PEL, use a MSHA/NIOSH-approved supplied-air respirator with full facepiece,
hood, or helmet in continuous flow mode, or use a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) operated in
pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
Ventilation
Eye Protection
Protective Apron
Work/Hygiene Practices
Always wash hands thoroughly after using chemical; never bring food, drink, or smoking materials into
vicinity of chemicals.
1996 by CRC Press, Inc.
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HYDROQUINONE
C6H4(OH)2
CAS: 123-31-9
OH
1
2
OH
Skin:
Eye:
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General Assessment
The environment is at risk of exposure during transportation, storage, disposal, or destruction of hydroquinone. In almost every scenario, the threat of environmental exposure is contingent upon the proper
handling of the chemical substance. Accidental spills,
large or small, can result in fire, explosion, and possible contamination of the surrounding environmental
mediums (water, soil, and air).
Hydroquinone is considered a combustible solid.
A cloud of hydroquinone dusts may explode if ignited
in an enclosed area. It also presents a moderate fire
and explosion hazard risk, especially in contact with
incompatible materials. These characteristics require
extreme caution in handling, storage, transportation,
and disposal. It is incompatible with strong oxidizers
and alkalis and contact can cause fire or explosion. It
reacts violently with sodium hydroxide and forms pbenzoquinone with chlorine. Therefore, special consideration is required during any emergency situation
involving a leak or spill of hydroquinone. Should hydroquinone ever come into contact with these incompatible substances during use, transportation, storage,
or disposal, the formation of highly toxic and/or
highly explosive commodities is extremely possible.
Hydroquinone may enter the environment through
industrial discharges or spills.
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Hydroquinone is highly soluble in water. Concentrations of 1000 milligrams and more will mix with a
liter of water.
6 Water Solubility
1996 by CRC Press, Inc.
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REFERENCES
New York:
CRC