Palmitic acid SDS/MSDS (Safety Data Sheet)

3.1 Substances
Product name: Palmitic acid
CAS Number: 57-10-3
PubChem CID: 985
Molecular formula: C16H32O2
Molecular weight: 256.42 g/mol
IUPAC name: hexadecanoic acid

3.2 Mixtures
Not applicable (pure substance).

4.1 Description of first aid measures
Inhalation: Fresh air, rest.
Skin contact: Wash with plenty of soap and water. Remove contaminated clothing. Seek medical attention if irritation develops.
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. Do NOT induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel. Seek medical attention.

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
Use water spray, powder, foam, carbon dioxide.
Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Advice for firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture: Carbon oxides

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
Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting.
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES; Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Environmental precautions: No special environmental precautions required. Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Sweep up and shovel. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
SRP: 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 air, soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations. If it is possible or reasonable use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination.
Product: Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contaminated packaging: Dispose of as unused product
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES; Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use. Use proper glove removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. Wash and dry hands.
Further processing of solid materials may result in the formation of combustible dusts. The potential for combustible dust formation should be taken into consideration before additional processing occurs. Provide appropriate exhaust ventilation at places where dust is formed.
SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants. Ensure that the local ventilation moves the contaminant away from the worker.
SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses by industrial workers is inconsistent. The benefits or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

7.1 Precautions for safe handling
Separated from bases, oxidants and reducing agents. Well closed.
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Storage class (TRGS 510): Non Combustible Solids

7.2 Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities
Separated from bases, oxidants and reducing agents. Well closed.
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Storage class (TRGS 510): Non Combustible Solids
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.]
Store in original container. Keep upright to prevent leakage.

9.1 Information on basic physical and chemical properties
a) Appearance: Large Crystals; CBI; Dry Powder; Other Solid; Liquid; Liquid; Other Solid
b) Odor: Virtually odorless; slight characteristic odor
c) Odor threshold: No data available
d) pH: No data available
e) Melting point/freezing point: 62.49 °C
f) Initial boiling point and boiling range: 351.5 °C
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: 0.00000038 [mmHg]
l) Vapor density: No data available
m) Relative density: Density: 0.8527 g/cu cm at 62 °C
n) Water solubility: In water, 0.04 mg/L at 25 °C
o) Partition coefficient: n-octanol/water: Log P (n-octanol/water): 6.4
p) Auto-ignition temperature: No data available
q) Decomposition temperature: No data available
r) Viscosity: 7.80 mPa.sec (cP) at 70 °C
s) Explosive properties: No data available
t) Oxidizing properties: No data available

9.2 Other information
Topological Polar Surface Area (TPSA): 37.3 Ų
Complexity: 178

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 irritation (H319).
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
Carcinogen classification:
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Exposure routes:
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.
Data source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) via PubChem.

12.1 Toxicity
/BIRDS and MAMMALS/ Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) belongs to a group of chemicals called perfluoroalkyl acids that have been extensively used in various applications such as stain and oil resistant treatments for fabrics, fire-fighting foams, and insecticides. These chemicals present an environmental and health risk being present in many samples both in wildlife and humans. In this study, we investigate the effect of PFOS on fatty acid beta-oxidation in developing chicken embryos. Fertilized chicken eggs were exposed in ovo to PFOS at day 4 of incubation. On day 10, the eggs were dissected and livers were incubated in vitro with (3)H-palmitic acid for 2 hr. The media were collected, and after clean up, the amount of tritiated water was measured with liquid scintillation counting to determine the rate of palmitic acid beta-oxidation. PFOS was found to induce fatty acid beta-oxidation at doses starting from a lowest observed effect level (LOEL) of 0.1 ug/g egg weight. Maximum induction of 77% compared to control was seen at 0.3 ug/g. The administered doses in which effects are seen are around and even lower than the levels that can be found in wild populations of birds. General population human levels are a factor of two to three times lower than the LOEL value of this study. The environmental contamination of PFOS therefore presents a possibility of effects in wild populations of birds.
Palmitic acid's production and use in the manufacture of soaps, lubricating oils, and wa

12.2 Persistence and degradability
No data available.

12.3 Bioaccumulative potential
Log P (n-octanol/water): 6.4
Potential for bioaccumulation exists (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: Hexadecanoic acid
- FIFRA Requirements: Residues of palmitic acid are exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used in accordance with good agricultural practice as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops or to raw agricultural commodities after harvest. Use: Diluent. Limit: N
- FDA Requirements: Palmitic acid is a food additive permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption, as long as 1) the quantity of the substance added to food does not exceed the amount reasonably required to accomplish its intended physical, nutritive, or other technical effect in food, and 2) any substan

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.