Lab Safety
Water-reactive Materials
What are water reactive materials?
Water reactive substances are dangerous when wet because they undergo a chemical reaction with water. This reaction may release a gas that is either flammableor presents a toxichealth hazard. In addition, the heat generated when water contacts such materials is often enough for the item to spontaneously combustor explode.
How should I handle water reactive materials?
- Always wear safety goggles, gloves, lab coat and closed toe shoes
- Use a fume hood if there is a possibility of gases forming in the reaction
- Store in a cool dry area away from other chemicals
- Wash hands and work station after use
Here are some examples of water-reactive materials:
| Name/Description | CAS Number |
| Aluminum alkyl halides | |
| Aluminum alkyl hydrides | |
| Aluminum alkyls | |
| Aluminum borohydride or Aluminum borohydride in devices | 16962-07-5 |
| Aluminum Carbide | 1299-86-1 |
| Aluminum ferrosilicon powder | |
| Aluminum hydride | 7784-21-6 |
| Aluminum phosphide | 20859-73-8 |
| Aluminum powder, uncoated | 7429-90-5 |
| Aluminum silicon powder, uncoated | |
| Barium | 7440-39-3 |
| Boron trifluoride dimethyl etherate | 353-42-4 |
| Calcium | 7440-70-2 |
| Calcium carbide | 75-20-7 |
| Calcium cyanamide with more than 0.1 percent of calcium carbide | 156-62-7 |
| Calcium hydride | 7789-78-8 |
| Calcium manganese silicon | |
| Calcium phosphide | 1305-99-3 |
| Calcium silicide | 12737-18-7 |
| Cells, containing sodium | |
| Cerium, turnings or gritty powder | 7440-45-1 |
| Cesium or Caesium | 7440-46-2 |
| Diethylzinc | |
| Dimethylzinc | 544-97-8 |
| Ethyldichlorosilane | 1789-58-8 |
| Ferrosilicon, with 30 percent or more but less than 90 percent silicon | 8049-17-0 |
| Lithium | 7439-93-2 |
| Lithium alkyls | |
| Lithium aluminum hydride | 16853-85-3 |
| Lithium aluminum hydride, ethereal | 16853-85-3 |
| Lithium borohydride | 16949-15-8 |
| Lithium ferrosilicon | 70399-13-2 |
| Lithium hydride | 7580-67-8 |
| Lithium hydride, fused solid | 7580-67-8 |
| Lithium nitride | 26134-62-3 |
| Lithium silicon | 68848-64-6 |
| Magnesium alkyls | |
| Magnesium aluminum phosphide | |
| Magnesium granules, coated, particle size not less than 149 microns | 7439-95-4 |
| Magnesium hydride | 7693-27-8 |
| Magnesium phosphide | 12057-74-8 |
| Magnesium silicide | 22831-39-6 |
| Magnesium, powder or Magnesium alloys, powder | 7439-95-4 |
| Maneb or Maneb preparations with not less than 60 percent maneb | 12427-38-2 |
| Methyl magnesium bromide, in ethyl ether | |
| Methyldichlorosilane | 75-54-7 |
| Phosphorus pentasulfide, free from yellow or white phosphorus | 7723-14-0 |
| Potassium | 7440097 |
| Potassium borohydride | 13762-51-1 |
| Potassium phosphide | 20770-41-6 |
| Potassium sodium alloys | 1113581-2 |
| Potassium, metal alloys | 7440097 |
| Rubidium | 7440-17-7 |
| Sodium | 7440-23-5 |
| Sodium aluminum hydride | 13770-96-2 |
| Sodium borohydride | 16940-66-2 |
| Sodium hydride | 7646-69-7 |
| Sodium phosphide | 24167-76-8 |
| Stannic phosphide | 25324-56-5 |
| Strontium phosphide | 12504-13-1 |
| Trichlorosilane | 10025-78-2 |
| Zinc ashes | |
| Zinc phosphide | 1314-84-7 |
| Zinc powder or Zinc dust |
Page last modified December 1, 2010
