Safety data sheet
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IV. FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA (CONTINUED)
resistant clothing, gloves, face and eye protection. If batteries are on charge, shut off power to the charging equipment, but, note
that strings of series connected batteries may still pose risk of electric shock even when charging equipment is shut down.
Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards:
In operation, batteries generate and release flammable hydrogen gas. They must always be assumed to contain this gas which, if
ignited by burning cigarette, naked flame or spark, may cause battery explosion with dispersion of casing fragments and
corrosive liquid electrolyte. Carefully follow manufacturer's instructions for installation and service. Keep away all sources of
gas ignition and do not allow metallic articles to simultaneously contact the negative and positive terminals of a battery.
V. REACTIVITY DATA
Stability: Stable X
Unstable
Conditions to Avoid: Prolonged overcharge at high current; sources of ignition.
Incompatibility: (materials to avoid)
Electrolyte (Water and Sulfuric Acid Solution): Contact with combustibles and organic materials may cause fire and explosion.
Also reacts violently with strong reducing agents, metals, sulfur trioxide gas, strong oxidizers, and water. Contact with metals
may produce toxic sulfur dioxide fumes and may release flammable hydrogen gas.
Lead compounds: Avoid contact with strong acids, bases, halides, halogenates, potassium nitrate, permanganate, peroxides,
nascent hydrogen, and reducing agents.
Hazardous Decomposition Products:
Electrolyte: Sulfur trioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfuric acid mist, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide.
Lead compounds: Temperatures above the melting point are likely to produce toxic metal fume, vapor, or dust; contact with
strong acid or base or presence of nascent hydrogen may generate highly toxic arsine gas.
VI. HEALTH HAZARD DATA
Routes of Entry:
Electrolyte: Harmful by all routes of entry.
Lead compounds: Hazardous exposure can occur only when product is heated above the melting point, oxidized or otherwise
processed or damaged to create dust, vapor, or fume.
Inhalation:
Electrolyte: Breathing of sulfuric acid vapors or mists may cause severe respiratory irritation.
Lead compounds: Inhalation of lead dust or fumes may cause irritation of upper respiratory tract and lungs.
Ingestion:
Electrolyte: May cause severe irritation of mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach.
Lead compounds: Acute ingestion may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe cramping. This may lead
rapidly to systemic toxicity.
Skin Contact:
Electrolyte: Severe irritation, burns, and ulceration.
Lead compounds: Not absorbed through the skin.
Eye Contact:
Electrolyte: Severe irritation, burns, cornea damage, blindness.
Lead compounds: May cause eye irritation.
Effects of Overexposure - Acute:
Electrolyte: Severe skin irritation, damage to cornea may cause blindness, upper respiratory irritation.
Lead compounds: Symptoms of toxicity include headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, muscular aches and
weakness, sleep disturbances, and irritability.