Sodium selenite Property

Melting point:

>350 °C (lit.)

Density 

3.1[at 20℃]

vapor pressure 

0.133Pa at 20℃

storage temp. 

Store at RT.

solubility 

Water (Slightly)

form 

powder

color 

white

Odor

Odorless

Water Solubility 

950 g/L (20 ºC)

Sensitive 

Hygroscopic

Merck 

14,8673

Exposure limits

ACGIH: TWA 0.2 mg/m3
NIOSH: IDLH 1 mg/m3; TWA 0.2 mg/m3

InChIKey

BVTBRVFYZUCAKH-UHFFFAOYSA-L

CAS DataBase Reference

10102-18-8(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Disodium selenite (10102-18-8)

Safety

Hazard Codes 

T+,N,Xi

Risk Statements 

23-28-31-43-51/53-36/37/38

Safety Statements 

28-36/37-45-61-28A-36-26

RIDADR 

UN 2630 6.1/PG 1

WGK Germany 

2

RTECS 

VS7350000

TSCA 

Yes

HazardClass 

6.1

PackingGroup 

I

HS Code 

28429010

Hazardous Substances Data

10102-18-8(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 orally in rats: 7 mg/kg (Cummins, Kimura)

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

Symbol(GHS)

Signal word

Danger

Hazard statements

H315Causes skin irritation

H317May cause an allergic skin reaction

H319Causes serious eye irritation

H411Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Precautionary statements

P260Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.

P273Avoid release to the environment.

P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.

P302+P352IF ON SKIN: wash with plenty of soap and water.

P305+P351+P338IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continuerinsing.

Sodium selenite Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Chemical Properties

White colored crystalline solid. It could form pentahydrate. It is stable in air and could lose water in dry air. It is soluble in water, insoluble in ethanol. The theoretical selenium content is 45.7%.

Application

• Nutrition enhancer.
• Determination of alkaloids and preparation of red colored glass and glaze.
• Feed additive.
• Selenium is a component of glutathione peroxidase, maintains the function of the cell membrane through oxidation, and increase the production of protein lipid based endogenous antioxidants. It involves in the energy conversion, effects the metabolism, plays an important role in the fat emulsification and absorption, and in the absorption of a variety of vitamins. At the same time, it involves in the synthesis of coenzyme A and coenzyme Q, effects the function of other enzyme systems. It influences the metabolism of amino acids, protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and biological oxidation. The lack of selenium in livestock and poultry seriously affect the growth and reproduction.

Preparation

(1) Selenite reacts with sodium hydroxide to produce sodium selenite. Further refinement and addition of dilution agent to obtain the final product.
(2) Selenium reacts with nitric acid to produce selenium oxide, which reacts with sodium hydroxide to produce sodium selenite. Followed drying and grinding to obtain the final product.

Category

Toxic substance

Toxicity grading

Highly toxic

Acute toxicity

Oral-rat LD50: 7 mg/kg; oral-mouse LD50: 7.08 mg/kg.

Flammability Hazardous Characteristics

Non-combustible; gives off toxic fume of selenium oxide in a fire.

Storage and Transport

Stored in a well-ventilated area, at low temperature, and dry condition; food should be stored and transported separately.

Extinguishing agent

Sand, water.

Occupational standards

TLV-TWA 0.2 mg (Selenium)/m3; STEL 0.3 mg (Selenium)/m3.

Chemical Properties

White to light beige crystals

Chemical Properties

Sodium selenite is a white crystalline substance.

Uses

Sodium selenite Na2O3Se is used in the production of red enamels and in the manufacture of clear red glass.

Uses

Used in reducing carcinogenesis with potency greater than selenomethionene

Uses

Removing green color from glass during its manufacture; alkaloidal reagent.

Definition

ChEBI: An inorganic sodium salt composed of sodium and selenite ions in a 2:1 ratio.

General Description

A white colored crystalline solid. Soluble in water and more dense than water. Contact may irritate skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption.

Air & Water Reactions

Soluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Sodium selenite is incompatible with strong acids.

Hazard

Toxic by ingestion.

Health Hazard

Toxic by ingestion. In humans, a concentration of 5 ppm in food or 0.5 ppm in milk or water has been estimated to be dangerous. Elemental selenium has low acute systemic toxicity, but dust or fumes can cause serious irritation of the respiratory tract.

Fire Hazard

May burn but will not ignite readily. When heated to decomposition, may emit toxic fumes of selenium and sodium oxide. Stable in air.

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, intracervical, parenteral, and intramuscular routes. Experimental teratogenic and reproductive effects. Questionable carcinogen. Human mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Se and Na2O. See also SELENIUM COMPOUNDS.

Potential Exposure

Sodium selenite is used in glass manufacturing and as an alkaloidal reagent; for removing green color from glass during its manufacture; alkaloidal reagent; reagent in bacteriology; testing germination of seeds; decorating porcelain; as a livestock feed additive.

Shipping

UN2630 Selenates or Selenites, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.

Purification Methods

Crystallise sodium selenite from a saturated aqueous solution where its solubility is 68% at 20o to give the pentahydrate salt. This yields the anhydrous salt on heating at 40o. [Fehér in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 431 1963].

Incompatibilities

The aqueous solution is a medium strong base. Reacts with water, strong acids; hot surfaces; causing decomposition and a toxic hazard.

Waste Disposal

Liquid or solid: make a strongly acidic solution using hydrochloric acid. Slowly add sodium sulfite to the cold solution. Stir mixture producing sulfur dioxide. Heat, forming dark-gray selenium and black tellurium. Let stand overnight. Filter and dry. Ship to supplier.