Boron tribromide

Toxic Gases & Vapors -> Other Toxic Gases & Vapors

Corrosives

Sharp, irritating odor

Pungent

2.645 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink

2.6 g/cu cm

Relative density (water = 1): 2.7

2.64 at 68 °F

2.650 @ 0°C

(65 °F): 2.64

Decomposes (NIOSH, 2024)

Soluble in carbon tetrachloride, sulfur dioxide (liquid), sulfur dichloride; moderately soluble in methylcyclohexane

Solubility in water: reaction

Decomposes

Strongly attacks metals and wood

Corrosive to rubber and bakelite

Corrosive to tissue

196 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)

91.3 °C

91 °C

194 °F

91.3 °C @760 [mm Hg]

194 °F

On decomposition, /one mole of/ boron tribromide would be expected to produce three moles of hydrogen bromide.

When heated to decomposition, emits toxic fumes of /bromides/.

The toxic action of the halogenated borons is considerably influenced by their decomposition products (hydrofluoric acid-, fluoboric acid-, hydrochloric acid-). /Halogenated borons/

-51 °F (USCG, 1999)

-46 °C

-46 °C

-51 °F

-46 °C

-51 °F

Danger

H300: Fatal if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]

P260, P264, P270, P271, P280, P284, P301+P316, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P320, P321, P330, P363, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Danger

H300 (100%): Fatal if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]

P260, P264, P270, P271, P280, P284, P301+P316, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P320, P321, P330, P363, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Chemical: Borane, tribromo-

Status: Active Update: 18-09-2020 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/31639

Boron tribromide: HSNO Approval: HSR002916 Approved with controls

The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic fumes of the chemical or hydrogen bromide may form in fires. (USCG, 1999)

· Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes.

Not combustible. Heating will cause rise in pressure with risk of bursting. Risk of fire and explosion on contact with water. Risk of fire and explosion as a result of decomposition when heated.

Inhalation causes severe irritation of mucous membranes. Ingestion causes burns of mouth and stomach. Contact with eyes or skin causes severe burns. (USCG, 1999)

· TOXIC and/or CORROSIVE; inhalation, ingestion or contact (skin, eyes) with vapors, dusts or substance may cause severe injury, burns or death.

2692 157

2692 157

Excerpt from ERG Guide 157 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Non-Combustible / Water-Sensitive)]:

In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media. NO water. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water. NO direct contact with water.

Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.

First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again. Refer for medical attention .

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer for medical attention .

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Boron tribromide:

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

TIH (Toxic Inhalation Hazard) - Term used to describe gases and volatile liquids that are toxic when inhaled. Some are TIH materials themselves, e.g., chlorine, and some release TIH gases when spilled in water, e.g., chlorosilanes. [ERG 2016].

Extinguish fire using agent suitable for surrounding fire. Use dry chemical, or carbon dioxide. DO NOT use water. Violent reaction may result.

If material involved in fire: Use dry chemical, dry sand, or carbon dioxide. Do not use water on material itself. If large quantities of combustibles are involved, use water in flooding quantities as spray and fog. Use water spray to knock-down vapors. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible.

Separate from alkalies, oxidizing materials, alcohols, ethers, alkali metals, phosphorus, wood. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location.

Separated from incompatible materials. ...Cool. Dry. Ventilation along the floor.

Keep container in a well ventilated place.

Usual shipping containers: Glass bottle or metal can inside wooden box; steel or nickel cylinders, tanks. Packaged under nitrogen gas.

Store under dry inert aatmosphere. Reacts violently with water, alcohols.

Releases may require isolation or evacuation. Keep water away from release. Stop or control the leak, if this can be done without undue risk. Approach release from upwind. Absorb in noncombustible material for proper disposal.

If material not involed in fire: Neutralize spilled material with crushed limestone, soda ash, or lime.

Small quantities of boron tribromide may be destroyed by cautious addition to a large volume of ... water containing ice.

It is ... highly dangerous to wash glass ampoules of boron tribromide with water under any circumstances.

For more Cleanup Methods (Complete) data for BORON TRIBROMIDE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

SRP: Wastewater from contaminant suppression, cleaning of protective clothing/equipment, or contaminated sites should be contained and evaluated for subject chemical or decomposition product concentrations. Concentrations shall be lower than applicable environmental discharge or disposal criteria. Alternatively, pretreatment and/or discharge to a permitted wastewater treatment facility is acceptable only after review by the governing authority and assurance that "pass through" violations will not occur. Due consideration shall be given to remediation worker exposure (inhalation, dermal and ingestion) as well as fate during treatment, transfer and disposal. If it is not practicable to manage the chemical in this fashion, it must be evaluated in accordance with EPA 40 CFR Part 261, specifically Subpart B, in order to determine the appropriate local, state and federal requirements for disposal.

Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Personal protection: chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus. Ventilation. NEVER direct water jet on liquid. Collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

EYES: irrigate opened eyes for several minutes under running water. INGESTION: do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth with water (never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person). Seek immediate medical advice. SKIN: should be treated immediately by rinsing the affected parts in cold running water for at least 15 minutes, followed by thorough washing with soap and water. If necessary, the person should shower and change contaminated clothing and shoes, and then must seek medical attention. INHALATION: supply fresh air. If required provide artificial respiration.

Bromine vapour causes irritation and direct damage to the mucous membranes. Elemental bromine also burns the skin. The bromide ion is a central nervous system depressant and chronic exposure produces neuronal effects. This is called bromism and can result in central reactions reaching from somnolence to coma, cachexia, exicosis, loss of reflexes or pathologic reflexes, clonic seizures, tremor, ataxia, loss of neural sensitivity, paresis, papillar edema of the eyes, abnormal speech, cerebral edema, delirium, aggressiveness, and psychoses. (L625, L626, L627)

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.

inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Oral (L626) ; inhalation (L626) ; dermal (L626)

Bromine is a powerful oxidizing agent and is able to release oxygen free radicals from the water in mucous membranes. These free radicals are also potent oxidizers and produce tissue damage. In additon, the formation of hydrobromic and bromic acids will result in secondary irritation. The bromide ion is also known to affect the central nervous system, causing bromism. This is believed to be a result of bromide ions substituting for chloride ions in the in actions of neurotransmitters and transport systems, thus affecting numerous synaptic processes. (L626, L627, A543)

Cough. Shortness of breath. Sore throat. Burning sensation. Laboured breathing. Symptoms may be delayed.

Redness. Skin burns. Pain. Blisters.

Redness. Pain. Severe deep burns.

Abdominal cramps. Burning sensation. Weakness. Diarrhoea. Vomiting. Abdominal pain. Shock or collapse.

irritation eyes, skin, respiratory system; eye, skin burns; dyspnea (breathing difficulty), pulmonary edema

Bromine vapour causes irritation and direct damage to the mucous membranes. Symptoms include lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, eye irritation with mucous secretions from the oropharyngeal and upper airways, coughing, dyspnoea, choking, wheezing, epistaxis, and headache. The bromide ion is a central nervous system depressant producing ataxia, slurred speech, tremor, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, dizziness, visual disturbances, unsteadiness, headaches, impaired memory and concentration, disorientation and hallucinations. This is called bromism. (L626, L627)

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Boron tribromide ... is severely corrosive to the eye. In one instance it has caused severe localized scarring of cornea and conjunctiva.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Very toxic by inhalation and if swallowed. Causes severe burns.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Potential symptoms of overexposure are ... dyspnea, pulmonary edema.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE: The substance is corrosive to the eyes, the skin and the respiratory tract. Corrosive on ingestion. Inhalation may cause lung edema.

For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for BORON TRIBROMIDE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 1,554 workers (878 of these are female) are potentially exposed to boron tribromide(1). Occupational exposure to boron tribromide may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where boron tribromide is produced or used(SRC).

Industrial exposures ... occur from release ... into the worker atmosphere as well as from production & handling ... /Boron halides/

The chemistry of boron is dominated by its tendency to form stable bonds with electronegative atoms, especially oxygen. Reduced boron compounds (halides, hydrides, alkyls and aryls) tend to oxidize and hydrolyze readily, and would be expected to be converted into various boron-oxide compounds in the environment. Inorganic boron compounds are nonvolatile and would not be expected to volatilize from moist or dry soil surfaces. (SRC)

Boron tribromide

12.67

45

A Commercial Grade

A Placarded Amount

Weapons of Mass Effect chemical material that, if stolen or diverted, can be converted into weapons using simple chemistry, equipment, or techniques.

(CA) CALIFORNIA 1000 ug/L /Boron/

(NH) NEW HAMPSHIRE 630 ug/L /Boron/

(ME) MAINE 1,400 ug/L /Boron/

(MN) MINNESOTA 1,000 ug/L /Boron/

(WI) WISCONSIN 960 ug/L /Boron/

Bromine is mainly absorbed via inhalation, but may also enter the body through dermal contact. Bromine salts can be ingested. Due to its reactivity, bromine quickly forms bromide and may be deposited in the tissues, displacing other halogens. (L626)

Used as a catalyst, e.g., polymerization of olefins and production of diborane; Also used in semiconductors (bromine source and plasma etching); [ACGIH]

Semiconductor Manufacturing [Category: Industry]

Boron tribromide is used as a catalyst in the manufacture of diborane, ultra high purity boron, and semiconductors.

Manufacture of diborane; ultra high purity boron. Reagent for cleavage of ethers, amines, thiols; addition of allenes and alkynes.

Used as a catalyst in polymerization, alkylation, and acylation. Ultra pure boron tribromide is used to supply boron to dope semiconductors.

The primary use of boron tribromide is as an initiator for the polymerization of olefins and as a catalyst in other organic reactions. It is also used in the electronics industry as a source of bromine for ion implantation in semiconductors, and for plasma etching in semiconductor device manufacturing.

This compound can be prepared by the reaction of boric oxide, carbon, and bromine, or from boron carbide and bromine analogous to the chlorine reactions.

(High purity.) Direct bromination of boron followed by rectification in quartz columns.

Prepared by high temperature bromination of boron, mixtures of carbon and boron oxide, or boron carbide by the action of hydrogen bromide on carbon-boron oxide mixtures.

Prepared by the reaction of sodium tetrafluoroborate with magnesium bromide and by the halogen exchange reaction of boron trifluoride and aluminum tribromide.

Grades: Technical; high purity

Boron tribromide is offered in grades up to 99.9999% for electronic applications.