What does the Timstar data sheet tell you?

Section 1: Identification

• Product identifier – this is the order code (will change from supplier to supplier)

• Product name – the actual name of the chemical

• CAS number – a number unique to the chemical, supplied by the Chemical Abstracts service. If you google this number (preceded by CAS) you will find a wealth of information about the chemical

• REACH reg. number - an 18-digit number assigned by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). It is the most straightforward proof that one company has fulfilled their registration obligation for a substance under the EU REACH regulation

• Molecular formula – the formula and molecular mass of the chemical

• Relevant identified uses of the substance or mixture & uses advised against – this tells you what the product is intended for/not intended for. There is also the supplier’s details and emergency contact

Section 2: Hazards identification

• What hazard classification the chemical is classified as.

• What specific (hazard) labelling the chemical should have, with images. These hazard pictograms are known as CLP pictograms (classification labelling and packaging of substances EU regulations) and they came into effect in 2015 and superseded the CHiP hazard symbols (chemical hazard information and packaging (for supply)) which were UK specific. Although the symbols are similar the CHP ones should be used now as these are uniform throughout the EU. The CHP regulations are being retained since Brexit, being known as GB CLP

• Precautionary statements: general advice on what steps should be taken when handling the substance e.g., do not breathe vapour/store in a well-ventilated place etc.

Section 3: Composition

• A summary of the previous information, with relevant regulatory numbers and classifications

Section 4: First Aid

• This section details the first aid measures that need to be taken should an accident happen with the chemical, it also details symptoms to look for and whether any immediate medical attention would be indicated

Section 5: Firefighting

• This section details what firefighting measures are appropriate and what the hazards associated with the chemical being on fire are (e.g., toxic fumes). It also gives details of the advice for firefighters (e.g., keep up wind/ wear breathing apparatus)

Section 6: Accident Release Measures

• This covers personal and environmental protections and precautions in the event of a spill, and methods required for clean-up and containment

Section 7: Storage and Handling

• General advice for safe storage, and precautions to take when handling the chemical

Section 8: Workplace Exposure & Personal Protection

• This section deals with exposure limits, in parts per million of the chemical (ppm), for both short (15 minutes) and long term (8 hours) exposure

• E.g. for hydrochloric acid, the data sheet states that exposure limits for 35% HCl for a 15min period shouldn’t exceed 5ppm (or 8mg/m3)

• Section 8 then details the precautions to take to limit exposure (whether that is respiratory/eye or skin exposure) e.g. gloves/respirator etc.

Section 9: Physical & Chemical Properties

• This details the physical and chemical properties of the chemical – what it should look like when you receive it and properties such as boiling point/melting point, its pH , flammability etc.

Section 10: Stability & Reactivity

• How stable/reactive the chemical is and anything to avoid e.g., incompatible with alkalis/potassium permanganate/ reacts with most metals

• What happens when the chemical decomposes (toxic products etc)

Section 11: Toxicological Information

• What kind of poisonous effects (if any) the compound will have if exposed to it in various ways (inhalation/ingestion/in the eye or on the skin)

• LD50 information relates to lethal dose: it is the amount of the compound that when given (all at once) kills 50% of the test group e.g., the LD50 for copper (II) sulfate-5-water for ingestion (oral LD50) is 690 mg/kg for a rat test group

• Other toxic information found here can include the effects of exposure in various ways, and often the threshold at which irritation has been found to occur (in parts per million) e.g., for Hydrochloric acid 5-10ppm will irritate the skin, with severe irritation if exposed to 50-100ppm

Section 12: Ecological

• This section describes any detrimental ecological effects of the substance: toxicity to plants and animals, including aquatic animals. E.g., for copper (II) sulfate-5-water: very toxic to aquatic organisms

• There will be LD50 for aquatic organisms here if data is available

• Also here: o 12.2 Persistence & degradability: how long the chemical will remain in the environment after release without degrading (so still potentially harmful) o 12.3 Bioaccumulative potential whether the chemical will accumulate in the environment and show cumulative effects (e.g.: years ago the pesticide DDT was used, the toxic effects of it accumulated such that the chemicals became more concentrated as the pesticide moved up through the food chain (as it was part of the organism that was eaten), eventually poisoning the top predator (possibly human). Hence the ban on DDT as a pesticide (in most countries) o 12.4 Mobility in soil – does the chemical travel through the soil (e.g. in solution) – this will be indicated by a keep out of sewer/storm drain/ soil/water note because of the chance of it getting into the soil and causing uncontained issues o 12.5 Results of PBT vPvB assessment: this is an assessment of the persistence/ bioaccumulation/toxicity (or very persistent, very bioaccumulative) effects of the chemical in an ecological setting. It is required under EU rules for all chemicals which a chemical safety assessment is carried out o 12.6 Other adverse effects – anything relevant but not already covered in detail above

Section 13: Disposal Considerations

• 13.1 Waste treatment methods detail the ways to dispose (or how NOT to dispose) of the represented chemical: e.g., do not dispose of as domestic waste/dispose of in a licensed incinerator/do not dispose into water courses / neutralise before disposal

• For more detailed disposal of your chemical, especially that applicable to schools refer to CLEAPPS (England, Wales, and NI) or SSERC (Scotland) as there is more flexibility around disposal in educational establishments compared to suppliers/carriers

Section 14: Transport Information

• This section refers to industry classifications and categories for the carrier. Technicians should never be transporting chemicals in their cars without obtaining specialist insurance and permissions

• Also in this section are any considerations the end user should be aware of (allow to settle before opening for example)

Section 15: Regulatory Information

• This section covers the regulations/classifications and hazard information for the chemical. This is where you will find CLP (hazard) pictograms

Section 16: Other Information

• Any disclaimers, dates of revisions and reviews will be here

WF Education Group’s ethos is to provide a hassle-free turnkey service for every Timstar customer - from support and procurement through to aftercare and maintenance - all under one roof.

We have a European Headquarters and distribution centre in the heart of Shropshire, with offices in both the UK and France.

We operate from our large Shropshirebased distribution centre that is dedicated to fulfilling customer orders in the most sustainable and environmentally friendly ways possible. With our ISO 14001 accreditation, we are committed to a sustainable future; working with our customers to identify all opportunities to reduce waste, reuse and recycle.

Timstar offers a comprehensive product range, excellent service, technical support, advice on how to set up and run practicals along with supportive resources to save time and ideas to enthuse your students.