Gallic acid SDS/MSDS (Safety Data Sheet)

3.1 Substances
Product name: Gallic acid
CAS Number: 149-91-7
PubChem CID: 370
Molecular formula: C7H6O5
Molecular weight: 170.12 g/mol
IUPAC name: 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid

3.2 Mixtures
Not applicable (pure substance).

4.1 Description of first aid measures
Inhalation: Fresh air, rest.
Skin contact: Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.
Eye contact: First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth.

4.2 Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed
See Section 11 (Toxicological Information).

4.3 Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed
Treat symptomatically. Contact a poison control center or physician for severe exposure.

5.1 Extinguishing media
Suitable: Water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide (CO2), alcohol-resistant foam.
Unsuitable: None known.

5.2 Specific hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Fire Extinguishing Agents: Water, foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide (USCG, 1999)
Use water spray, powder, alcohol-resistant foam, carbon dioxide.
Combustible. Extinguish with water, dry chemicals, foam, or carbon dioxide.

5.3 Advice for firefighters
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and full protective clothing.
Fight fire from upwind. Cool containers with water spray until fire is extinguished.

6.1 Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (see Section 8).
Avoid breathing dust/vapor. Ensure adequate ventilation.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Keep people away from and upwind of spill.

6.2 Environmental precautions
Prevent product from entering drains, waterways, or soil.
Contain spill with inert absorbent material.

6.3 Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up
Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into sealable containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.
Liquid acid may be injected at base of incinerator or after mixing with a flammable solvent.
SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

7.1 Precautions for safe handling
SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: Should a spill occur while you are handling this chemical, FIRST REMOVE ALL SOURCES OF IGNITION, then you should dampen the solid spill material with ethanol and transfer the dampened material to a suitable container. Use absorbent paper dampened with ethanol to pick up any remaining material. Seal the absorbent paper, and any of your clothes, which may be contaminated, in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with ethanol followed by washing with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.
STORAGE PRECAUTIONS: You should protect this material from exposure to light, and store it in a refrigerator. (NTP, 1992)
Separated from strong reducing agents. Dry. Keep in the dark.
PROTECT FROM LIGHT.

7.2 Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities
Separated from strong reducing agents. Dry. Keep in the dark.
PROTECT FROM LIGHT.
Store away from incompatible materials (see Section 10).
[Note: Specific storage temperature not available in public databases. Refer to supplier Certificate of Analysis (COA) for exact storage conditions.]

9.1 Information on basic physical and chemical properties
a) Appearance: Gallic acid is an odorless white solid. Sinks in water. (USCG, 1999)
b) Odor: No data available
c) Odor threshold: No data available
d) pH: No data available
e) Melting point/freezing point: 432 to 464 °F (decomposes) (NTP, 1992)
f) Initial boiling point and boiling range: SUBLIMES (NTP, 1992)
g) Flash point: No data available
h) Evaporation rate: No data available
i) Flammability (solid, gas): No data available
j) Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: No data available
k) Vapor pressure: 0.00000012 [mmHg]
l) Vapor density: No data available
m) Relative density: 1.7 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
n) Water solubility: Sparingly soluble (NTP, 1992)
o) Partition coefficient: n-octanol/water: Log P (n-octanol/water): 0.7
p) Auto-ignition temperature: No data available
q) Decomposition temperature: No data available
r) Viscosity: No data available
s) Explosive properties: No data available
t) Oxidizing properties: No data available

9.2 Other information
Topological Polar Surface Area (TPSA): 98 Ų
Complexity: 169

11.1 Information on toxicological effects
Acute toxicity:
No acute toxicity data available.
Skin corrosion/irritation:
Causes skin irritation (H315).
Serious eye damage/eye irritation:
Causes serious eye damage (H318).
Respiratory or skin sensitization:
No data available.
Germ cell mutagenicity:
No data available.
Carcinogenicity:
No data available.
Reproductive toxicity:
No data available.
Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure):
No data available.
Specific target organ toxicity (repeated exposure):
No data available.
Aspiration hazard:
No data available.

11.2 Additional information
Exposure routes:
The substance can be absorbed into the body by ingestion.
Data source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) via PubChem.

12.1 Toxicity
Gallic acid's production and use in photography, writing ink, dyeing, manufacture of pyrogallol, paper manufacture, pharmaceuticals, engraving of lithography, and as an analytical reagent may result in its release to the environment from its use. If released into the atmosphere, gallic acid will exist both in the vapor phase and particulate phase in the ambient atmosphere, based on an estimated vapor pressure of 1.2X10-7 mm Hg at 25 °C. Vapor phase gallic acid is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals with a half-life of about 3.6 hours. An estimated Koc value of 57 suggests that gallic acid will have high mobility in soil. Volatilization from moist soil is not expected based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 8.5x10-20 atm-cu m/mole. Volatilization from dry soil surfaces should not be important given the vapor pressure of this compound. Under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, gallic acid is mineralized to methane and carbon dioxide in the presence of certain Rhodospirillaceae. Using an activated sludge inoculum, 90.5 percent gallic acid was biodegraded as measured by by COD removal. In water, gallic acid is expected to adsorb to sediment or particulate matter based on its Koc value. This compound is not expected to volatilize from water surfaces given its estimated Henry's Law constant. Bioconcentration in aquatic organisms should be low based upon an estimated BCF value of 2. Given the commercial uses of gallic aci

12.2 Persistence and degradability
No data available.

12.3 Bioaccumulative potential
Log P (n-octanol/water): 0.7
Low potential for bioaccumulation (Log P < 3).

12.4 Mobility in soil
No data available.

12.5 Results of PBT and vPvB assessment
PBT/vPvB assessment not available.

12.6 Other adverse effects
No other adverse ecological effects identified.

13.1 Waste treatment methods
Waste Treatment Methods: Waste material must be disposed of in accordance with national and local regulations. Leave chemicals in original containers and do not mix with other waste. Handle uncleaned containers in the same manner as the product itself.

14.1 UN number
Not regulated as dangerous goods (research quantities typically exempt).

14.2 UN proper shipping name
Not subject to transport regulations (small quantities for research use).

14.3 Transport hazard class(es)
Not classified as dangerous goods for transport (research quantities).

14.4 Packing group
Not applicable (not regulated as dangerous goods in typical research quantities).

14.5 Environmental hazards
Marine pollutant: No (not classified as environmentally hazardous per GHS).

14.6 Special precautions for user
Transport in original packaging. Ensure containers are tightly sealed.
For bulk or commercial quantities, consult applicable transport regulations (DOT, IATA, IMDG).

14.7 Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 and the IBC Code
Not applicable.

15.1 Safety, health and environmental regulations/legislation specific for the substance or mixture
US EPA / TSCA: Subject to EPA TSCA regulations
EU ECHA / REACH: Registered (REACH Active)

SARA 302 Components:
No chemicals in this material are subject to the reporting requirements of SARA Title III, Section 302.
SARA 313 Components:
This material does not contain any chemical components with known CAS numbers that exceed the threshold (De Minimis) reporting levels established by SARA Title III, Section 313.
SARA 311/312 Hazards:
Acute (short-term) health hazard

Massachusetts Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the Massachusetts Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.
Pennsylvania Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.
New Jersey Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the New Jersey Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.

California Prop. 65 Components:
This product does not contain any chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or any other reproductive harm.

Other regulatory listings:
- The Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals: Chemical: Benzoic acid, 3,4,5-trihydroxy-
- EFSA Legal Basis: Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 (Repealed by Com. Implementing Reg. (EU) No 872/2012)

15.2 Chemical safety assessment
A chemical safety assessment has not been carried out for this substance.
For research-use-only compounds, no CSA is required under REACH Annex I.

Revision Date: 2026/09/09
Further Information: The information provided is believed to be correct but is not exhaustive and should be used only as a guideline based on current knowledge. It does not represent a guarantee of the properties of the product. Selleck Chemicals Corporation and its Affiliates shall not be held liable for any damage resulting from handling or contact with the product.