Substance profile
Beryllium Oxide
Beryllium Oxide is white hexagonal crystals and is odorless.
01 · Identification
What Beryllium Oxide is
Beryllium Oxide is white hexagonal crystals and is odorless. It boils at 3787 °C, melts at 2578 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
02 · Identifiers
Beryllium Oxide identifiers and molecular data
Beryllium Oxide CAS number and EC number
Beryllium Oxide molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Beryllium Oxide hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Beryllium Oxide pictograms and signal word
Beryllium Oxide hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H301 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H330 | GHS06 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 2 | H315 | GHS07 |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation GHS chapter 3.3 | Category 2A | H319 | GHS07 |
| Skin sensitisation GHS chapter 3.4 | Category 1 or 1A or 1B | H317 | GHS07 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure GHS chapter 3.9 | Category 1 | H372 | GHS08 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
Beryllium Oxide hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H350i | May cause cancer by inhalation. |
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled. |
| H301 | Toxic if swallowed. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H372 | Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
| H317 | May cause an allergic skin reaction. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Beryllium Oxide. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Beryllium Oxide
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of Beryllium Oxide issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
Beryllium Oxide precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 20 precautionary statements to Beryllium Oxide. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Beryllium Oxide name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | берилиев оксид |
| Spanish español | Óxido de berilio |
| Czech čeština | oxid beryllnatý |
| Danish dansk | berylliumoxid |
| German Deutsch | Berylliumoxid |
| Estonian eesti | berülliumoksiid |
| Greek ελληνικά | οξείδιο του βηρυλλίου |
| English English | beryllium oxide |
| French français | oxyde de béryllium |
| Croatian hrvatski | berilijev oksid |
| Italian italiano | ossido di berillio |
| Latvian latviešu | berilija oksīds |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | berilio oksidas |
| Hungarian magyar | berillium-oxid |
| Maltese Malti | ossidu tal-berillju |
| Dutch Nederlands | berylliumoxide |
| Polish polski | tlenek berylu |
| Portuguese português | óxido de berílio |
| Romanian română | oxid de beriliu |
| Slovak slovenčina | oxid berylnatý |
| Slovenian slovenščina | berilijev oksid |
| Finnish suomi | berylliumoksidi |
| Swedish svenska | berylliumoxid |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Beryllium Oxide GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Beryllium Oxide, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Beryllium Oxide
- May cause cancer by inhalation.
- Fatal if inhaled.
- Toxic if swallowed.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Causes skin irritation.
- Causes serious eye irritation.
- May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Wash … thoroughly after handling.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF INHALED:
- IF IN EYES:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell.
- Rinse mouth.
- If skin irritation occurs:
- If skin irritation or rash occurs:
- If eye irritation persists:
- Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- Wash with plenty of water/…
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Beryllium Oxide in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Beryllium Oxide health hazards and exposure limits
Beryllium Oxide hazard summary
May cause burns to skin and eyes; [HSDB] A severe skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; May cause beryllium sensitization after prolonged contact; Dust or fume inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis; Repeated or prolonged exposure may cause chronic beryllium disease; [ICSC] See Beryllium for one additional linked occupational disease.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Beryllium Oxide carcinogenicity classification
There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of beryllium and beryllium compounds. Beryllium and beryllium compounds cause cancer of the lung. There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of beryllium and beryllium compounds. Beryllium and beryllium compounds are carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). /Beryllium and beryllium compounds/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Beryllium and beryllium compounds are known to be human carcinogens based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans. /Beryllium and compounds/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
Beryllium Oxide occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 0.002 [mg/m3], as Be, Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.005 mg/m3, as Be(0.025 mg/m3,as Be,for 30 min.peak per 8-hr shift) | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 4 mg Be/m3 ; A potential occupational carcinogen. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 4.0 [mg/m3], as Be | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | NIOSH considers beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be) to be a potential occupational carcinogen. | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Beryllium Oxide properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Beryllium Oxide boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 3787 °C (6848.6 °F) | HSDB |
Beryllium Oxide melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 2578 °C (4672.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| 2530 °C (4586 °F) | ICSC |
Beryllium Oxide density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 3.01 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 3 g/cm³ | ICSC | ||
| 3 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
Beryllium Oxide solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Insoluble in water; slightly soluble in acid and alkali solutions | HSDB | |
| Slowly soluble in concentrated acids or fixed alkali hydroxides | HSDB | ||
| Solubility in water: insoluble | ICSC |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Beryllium Oxide fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Beryllium Oxide fire potential
NOT FLAMMABLE
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Beryllium Oxide storage and handling
Beryllium Oxide safe storage
Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Separated from food and feedstuffs. Well closed. Store only in original container. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Beryllium Oxide storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Keep in a dry place.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Beryllium Oxide incompatible materials
... Can react explosively with magnesium when heated.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Beryllium Oxide in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Beryllium Oxide — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Beryllium Oxide?
The CAS number of Beryllium Oxide is 1304-56-9. Its EC number is 215-133-1.
What does a Beryllium Oxide label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Beryllium Oxide carries the pictograms Skull and crossbones and Health hazard and the signal word is Danger.
Is Beryllium Oxide flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Beryllium Oxide no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it.
Is Beryllium Oxide a carcinogen?
Yes. CLP Annex VI classifies Beryllium Oxide as a category 1A or 1B carcinogen and assigns it H350i: may cause cancer by inhalation.
What is the exposure limit for Beryllium Oxide?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Beryllium Oxide is 0.002 [mg/m3], as Be, Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.005 mg/m3, as Be(0.025 mg/m3,as Be,for 30 min.peak per 8-hr shift) (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of Beryllium Oxide?
The boiling point reported for Beryllium Oxide is 3787 °C (6848.6 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Beryllium Oxide?
The melting point reported for Beryllium Oxide is 2578 °C (4672.4 °F) (HSDB).
How should Beryllium Oxide be stored?
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Keep in a dry place. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Beryllium Oxide
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