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BROMINE TRIFLUORIDE

5.1 - Oxidizer 6.1 - Poison Inhalation Hazard 8 - Corrosive
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The Chemical Identifier fields include common identification numbers, the NFPA diamond U.S. Department of Transportation hazard labels, and a general description of the chemical. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
CAS Number UN/NA Number
  • 7787-71-5   (BROMINE TRIFLUORIDE)
DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • Oxidizer
  • Poison Inhalation Hazard
  • Corrosive
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
none none
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
0
4 3
W ox
Blue Health 4 Can be lethal.
Red Flammability 0 Will not burn under typical fire conditions.
Yellow Instability 3 Capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or explosive reaction but requires a strong initiating source or must be heated under confinement before initiation.
White Special W
OX
Reacts violently or explosively with water.
Possesses oxidizing properties.
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
A colorless to yellow, fuming liquid with a pungent odor. Solidifies at 48°F. Very toxic by inhalation and corrosive to metals and tissue. Containers exposed to prolonged heat may violently rupture and rocket.

The Hazard fields include special hazard alerts air and water reactions, fire hazards, health hazards, a reactivity profile, and details about reactive groups assignments and potentially incompatible absorbents. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Reactivity Alerts
  • Strong Oxidizing Agent
  • Water-Reactive
  • Air-Reactive
Air & Water Reactions
Fumes in air. Reacts with water with explosive force, oxygen being evolved [Handbook of Chemistry and Physics]. HBr gas might also be produced upon reaction with water.

Based on a scenario where the chemical is spilled into an excess of water (at least 5 fold excess of water), half of the maximum theoretical yield of Hydrogen Fluoride (hydrofluoric acid) gas will be created in 1.2 minutes. Experimental details are in the following: "Development of the Table of Initial Isolation and Protective Distances for the 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook", ANL/DIS-09-2, D.F. Brown, H.M. Hartmann, W.A. Freeman, and W.D. Haney, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, June 2009.
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Forms very toxic and irritating fumes. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
Inhalation causes severe irritation of upper respiratory system. Contact with liquid or vapor causes severe burns of eyes and can cause ulcers and blindness. Contact with skin causes severe burns. Ingestion causes severe burns of mucous membranes. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
BROMINE TRIFLUORIDE is a very reactive oxidizing agent. Reacts violently on contact with water to evolve oxygen. Accelerates the burning of combustible material. Mixing with the following hydrogen-containing substances is likely to cause a fire or explosion: acetic acid, ammonia, benzene, ethanol, 2-pentanone, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, methane, cork, grease paper , wax. Mixing with acids, halogens, ammonium halides, metal halides, metals, nonmetals, or metal oxides at ambient or slightly above ambient temperatures has resulted in violent reactions. Specifically, reacts dangerously with nitric acid, sulfuric acid, chlorine, iodine, ammonium chloride, potassium iodide, boron powder, selenium, tellurium, aluminum powder, bismuth, cobalt powder, iron powder, arsenic, nickel powder, chromium trioxide, charcoal, red phosphorus, sulfur dioxide, magnesium oxide.
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

Use caution: Liquids with this reactive group classification have been known to react with the absorbents listed below. More info about absorbents, including situations to watch out for...

  • Cellulose-Based Absorbents
  • Mineral-Based & Clay-Based Absorbents
  • Expanded Polymeric Absorbents
  • Dirt/Earth

The Response Recommendation fields include isolation and evacuation distances, as well as recommendations for firefighting, non-fire response, protective clothing, and first aid. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from ERG Guide 144 [Oxidizers (Water-Reactive)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

SPILL: See ERG Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances on the UN/NA 1746 datasheet.

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)
Firefighting
Excerpt from ERG Guide 144 [Oxidizers (Water-Reactive)]:

DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM.

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, soda ash or lime.

LARGE FIRE: DRY sand, dry chemical, soda ash or lime or withdraw from area and let fire burn. Do not move cargo or vehicle if cargo has been exposed to heat. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS OR CAR/TRAILER LOADS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. (ERG, 2020)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from ERG Guide 144 [Oxidizers (Water-Reactive)]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. DO NOT GET WATER on spilled substance or inside containers.

SMALL SPILL: Cover with DRY earth, DRY sand or other non-combustible material followed with plastic sheet to minimize spreading or contact with rain.

LARGE SPILL: DO NOT CLEAN-UP OR DISPOSE OF, EXCEPT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A SPECIALIST. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
Self-contained breathing apparatus; complete protective clothing; safety glasses; face shield. (USCG, 1999)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
Get immediate medical attention for all exposures.

INHALATION: remove from exposure; support respiration.

EYES: irrigate with copious amounts of water for at least 15 min.

SKIN: wash with large amounts of water for at least 15 min., then rinse with sodium bicarbonate or lime solution. (USCG, 1999)

The Physical Property fields include properties such as vapor pressure and boiling point, as well as explosive limits and toxic exposure thresholds The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.

Note: For Vapor Density and Specific Gravity, comparing the value to 1.0 can tell you if the chemical will likely sink/rise in air or sink/float in fresh water (respectively). Short phrases have been added to those values below as an aid. However, make sure to also consider the circumstances of a release. The Vapor Density comparisons are only valid when the gas escaping is at the same temperature as the surrounding air itself. If the chemical is escaping from a container where it was pressurized or refrigerated, it may first escape and behave as a heavy gas and sink in the air (even if it has a Vapor Density value less than 1). Also, the Specific Gravity comparisons are for fresh water (density 1.0 g/mL). If your spill is in salt water (density about 1.027 g/mL), you need to adjust the point of comparison. There are some chemicals that will sink in fresh water and float in salt water.
Chemical Formula:
  • BrF3
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: data unavailable
Melting Point: 47.8°F (USCG, 1999)
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: 2.81 at 68°F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point: 258.4°F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)
Molecular Weight: 136.9 (USCG, 1999)
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: 12 ppm [From IDLH Table: Bromine trifluoride] (NIOSH, 2023)

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

Final AEGLs for Bromine trifluoride (7787-71-5)
Exposure Period AEGL-1 AEGL-2 AEGL-3
10 minutes 0.12 ppm 8.1 ppm 84 ppm
30 minutes 0.12 ppm 3.5 ppm 36 ppm
60 minutes 0.12 ppm 2 ppm 21 ppm
4 hours 0.12 ppm 0.7 ppm 7.3 ppm
8 hours 0.12 ppm 0.41 ppm 7.3 ppm
(NAC/NRC, 2023)

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

No ERPG information available.

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Bromine trifluoride (7787-71-5) 0.12 ppm 2 ppm 21 ppm
(DOE, 2018)

The Regulatory Information fields include information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Title III Consolidated List of Lists, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Standard List (see more about these data sources).

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

No regulatory information available.

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

RELEASE THEFT SABOTAGE
Chemical of Interest CAS Number Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Bromine trifluoride 7787-71-5 6.00 % 45 pounds WME ACG APA sabotage/ contamination

(CISA, 2007)

OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List

Chemical Name CAS Number Threshold Quantity (TQ)
Bromine Trifluoride 7787-71-5 15000 pounds

(OSHA, 2019)

This section provides a listing of alternate names for this chemical, including trade names and synonyms.
  • BROMINE TRIFLUORIDE

Version 3.0.0