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.
Reactivity Profile
SODIUM SELENITE(10102-18-8) is incompatible with strong acids.
Air & Water Reactions
Soluble in water.
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.
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.
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.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. Wear protective gloves when inducing vomiting. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor or authorized paramedic may consider administering a drug or other inhalation therapy
Shipping
UN2630 Selenates or Selenites, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.
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.
Uses
Removing green color from glass during its manufacture; alkaloidal reagent.
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
Definition
ChEBI: An inorganic sodium salt composed of sodium and selenite ions in a 2:1 ratio.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
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].
