Safety data sheet reference · CAS 471-34-1
Calcium carbonate SDS
also: calcium carbonate MSDS · safety data sheet · CaCO3 · CAS 471-34-1 · limestone · chalk
Official PDF from supplier
This page is a reference, not the legal document.
CAS number
471-34-1
Molecular formula
CaCO3
No harmonised EU classification
Calcium carbonate has no entry in CLP Annex VI — there is no harmonised EU-wide classification for it. That is not evidence of safety. Suppliers remain obliged to self-classify it under CLP, and workplace hazards (dust, asphyxiation, thermal) can exist without a harmonised entry. Always obtain the supplier's SDS for the product you actually use.
Published emergency-response data does exist for calcium carbonate and is reproduced below — first aid, fire fighting and spill response come from US federal sources, not from a harmonised classification.
§ 03 · Composition and identifiers
Calcium carbonate structure
Calcium carbonate is an ionic compound — there is no discrete CaCO3 molecule. The diagram shows the ions the crystal lattice is built from.
Ions of calcium carbonate · CaCO3
Identifiers from PubChem (NIH, public domain). Structure diagram drawn with RDKit from the SMILES string.
§ 04 · First-aid measures
Calcium carbonate first aid measures
Call your national emergency number first. These are published first-aid measures, not medical advice, and they do not replace emergency services, a poison control centre or the supplier's safety data sheet.
§4–§6 below reproduce the CAMEO Chemicals entry CALCIUM CARBONATE. CAMEO publishes response data per product entry, so the entry can describe a solution, a refrigerated liquid or a molten form rather than the pure substance in §9 — check it matches what you are handling.
Eye: IRRIGATE IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately.
Skin: SOAP WASH - If this chemical contacts the skin, wash the contaminated skin with soap and water.
Breathing: FRESH AIR - If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. Other measures are usually unnecessary.
Source: NIOSH, 2024 — via CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA), public domain.
§ 08 · Exposure controls
Calcium carbonate exposure limits (IDLH)
IDLH
NIOSH lists calcium carbonate in the Pocket Guide but has not established an IDLH value for it.
NIOSH Pocket Guide — Calcium carbonate →
IDLH from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (CDC, U.S. public domain), via CAMEO Chemicals. Occupational exposure limits — OSHA PEL, NIOSH REL and EU IOELV — are not published on this page yet.
MSDS vs SDS
Calcium carbonate MSDS vs SDS: is there a difference?
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is the older name for the same document. In the US, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (2012) adopted the GHS-standardised 16-section Safety Data Sheet; in the EU the format is set by REACH Annex II. So a "calcium carbonate MSDS" and a "calcium carbonate SDS" refer to the same document — today it is issued as an SDS. Full breakdown of the differences →
Compliance hub
From classification to SDS
The classification above corresponds to Section 2 of a Safety Data Sheet. Learn how a compliant 16-section SDS is structured and authored →
GHS label maker
Build the label for calcium carbonate
Pictograms, signal word and H-statements combined into a compliant label layout →
§ 16 · Sources
- Classification: Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex VI
- Transport: UN ADR 2025 (UNECE), Table A
- Reactivity: NOAA CAMEO Chemicals reactive-group matrix (public domain)
- Physical properties: CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA, public domain) — per-value source references stored in the database
- Emergency response (§4–§6): ERG 2024 (PHMSA) · NIOSH Pocket Guide (CDC) · CHRIS (USCG) · NTP · EPA — via CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA), all US federal public domain, reproduced verbatim
- Substance data: PubChem · ECHA
Reference aid only. This page summarises the harmonised EU classification and computed storage guidance — it is not a Safety Data Sheet and does not replace one. Always verify hazards, handling and storage against the supplier's SDS (sections 7 and 10) and local regulations before use. Page updated 2026-08-11.
Frequently asked questions about calcium carbonate
Is an MSDS the same as an SDS?
In practice, yes. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is the older name for the same document. In the US, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (2012) adopted the GHS-standardised 16-section Safety Data Sheet; in the EU the SDS format is set by REACH Annex II. A document you find labelled "calcium carbonate MSDS" is today issued as an SDS.
Where can I download an official calcium carbonate SDS PDF?
From your own supplier — an SDS is issued per product and supplier, so the correct PDF for an inspection is the one matching the product you actually purchased. The supplier links on this page lead to the official SDS libraries of major distributors.