Substance profile
Calcium Cyanamide
Calcium Cyanamide is a pure calcium cyanamide occurs as glistening.
01 · Identification
What Calcium Cyanamide is
Calcium Cyanamide is a pure calcium cyanamide occurs as glistening. Its molecular formula is CCaN2 and its molecular weight is 80.1 g/mol. It boils at 1150 °C, melts at 1340 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
Calcium Cyanamide identifiers and molecular data
Calcium Cyanamide CAS number and EC number
Calcium Cyanamide molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Calcium Cyanamide hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Calcium Cyanamide pictograms and signal word
Calcium Cyanamide hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation GHS chapter 3.3 | Category 1 | H318 | GHS05 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
Calcium Cyanamide hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H318 | Causes serious eye damage. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Calcium Cyanamide. 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 Calcium Cyanamide
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 Calcium Cyanamide 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
Calcium Cyanamide precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 8 precautionary statements to Calcium Cyanamide. 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
Calcium Cyanamide 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 | калциев цианамид |
| Spanish español | Cianamida de calcio |
| Czech čeština | kyanamid vápenatý |
| Danish dansk | calciumcyanamid |
| German Deutsch | Calciumcyanamid |
| Estonian eesti | kaltsiumtsüaanamiid |
| Greek ελληνικά | κυαναμίδιο του ασβεστίου |
| English English | calcium cyanamide |
| French français | cyanamidure de calcium |
| Croatian hrvatski | kalcijev cijanamid |
| Italian italiano | calciocianammide calcio cianammide |
| Latvian latviešu | kalcija cianamīds |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | kalcio cianamidas |
| Hungarian magyar | kálcium-ciánamid |
| Maltese Malti | ċjanammid tal-kalċju |
| Dutch Nederlands | calciumcyaanamide |
| Polish polski | cyjanamid wapnia cyjanoamid wapnia |
| Portuguese português | sal de cálcio de cianamida |
| Romanian română | cianamidă de calciu |
| Slovak slovenčina | kyánamid vápenatý |
| Slovenian slovenščina | kalcijev cianamid |
| Finnish suomi | kalsiumsyanamidi |
| Swedish svenska | kalciumcyanamid |
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
Calcium Cyanamide GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Calcium Cyanamide, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Calcium Cyanamide
- Harmful if swallowed.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes serious eye damage.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF IN EYES:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Rinse mouth.
- Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Calcium Cyanamide in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Calcium Cyanamide health hazards and exposure limits
Calcium Cyanamide hazard summary
Calcium cyanamide is used as a fertilizer, pesticide, and in the manufacture of other chemicals. It is irritating to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract in humans. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure may cause gastritis,rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and tracheobronchitis. Acute oral exposure may cause a vasomotor reaction, resulting in intense flushing of the face, upper body, and arms. Tachycardia and hypotension have also been observed in humans following acute oral exposure. Chronic (long-term) occupational exposure has been reported to cause chronic rhinitis with perforation of the nasal septum in workers. EPA has not classified calcium cyanamide with respect to potential carcinogenicity.
Source: EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants
Calcium Cyanamide carcinogenicity classification
Studied by the US National Toxicology Program: TR-163: Bioassay of Calcium Cyanamide for Possible Carcinogenicity (CASRN 156-62-7) (1979 )
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.
Calcium Cyanamide occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | none See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 0.5 mg/m³ | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 0.5 mg/m3 | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | N.D. | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
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
Calcium Cyanamide 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.
Calcium Cyanamide boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 1150 °C (2102 °F) | above this value | CAMEO |
| Sublimes | sublimes | NIOSH | |
| sublimes | sublimes | OSHA |
Calcium Cyanamide melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 1340 °C (2444 °F) | NIOSH | |
| 1300 °C (2372 °F) | CAMEO |
Calcium Cyanamide density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.29 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 2.29 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Calcium Cyanamide solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Insoluble in organic solvents | HSDB | |
| Essentially insoluble in water (decomposes) | decomposes | HSDB | |
| Decomposes (NTP, 1992) | decomposes | CAMEO |
Calcium Cyanamide vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0 mmHg | approx | NIOSH |
Calcium Cyanamide lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | Noncombustible Solid, but a fire risk if it contains calcium carbide. | NIOSH |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Calcium Cyanamide 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.
Calcium Cyanamide fire potential
WHILE PURE CALCIUM CYANAMIDE IS NONVOLATILE AND NONCOMBUSTIBLE, COMMERCIAL GRADES MAY CONTAIN SMALL AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CARBIDE WHICH WILL PRODUCE ACETYLENE IN CONTAINERS AND PROCESSING VESSELS.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Calcium Cyanamide storage and handling
Calcium Cyanamide safe storage
Keep in a well-ventilated room. Dry. Well closed. Separated from food and feedstuffs.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Calcium Cyanamide storage conditions
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away form moisture.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Calcium Cyanamide incompatible materials
Water [Note: May polymerize in water or alkaline solutions to dicyanamide. Decomposes in water to form acetylene & ammonia].
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Calcium Cyanamide reactivity
When hydrated CALCIUM CARBIDE generates salts of calcium that are basic and are generally soluble in water. The resulting solutions contain moderate concentrations of hydroxide ions and have pH's greater than 7.0. They react as bases to neutralize acids. These neutralizations generate heat, but less or far less than is generated by neutralization of strong bases and the neutralization of amines. They usually do not react as either oxidizing agents or reducing agents but such behavior is not impossible.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Calcium Cyanamide in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Calcium Cyanamide UN number and transport classification
Transport classification is a separate system from the GHS classification above. It decides how a package is marked and how a load may be carried; it does not follow from the workplace label, and the workplace label does not follow from it. The entries below are linked by CAS number, never by name.
Calcium Cyanamide under UN 1403 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALCIUM CYANAMIDE with more than 0.1 % calcium carbide | 4.3 | W2 | III | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 4.3 is “Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases” (ADR 2.1.1.1).
United States · 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
| Proper shipping name (column 2) | Class or division | PG | Labels (column 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium cyanamide with more than 0.1 percent of calcium carbide | 4.3 | III | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 4.3 is “Dangerous when wet material” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Calcium Cyanamide — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Calcium Cyanamide?
The CAS number of Calcium Cyanamide is 156-62-7. Its EC number is 205-861-8.
What is the chemical formula of Calcium Cyanamide?
The molecular formula of Calcium Cyanamide is CCaN2 and its molecular weight is 80.1 g/mol.
What does a Calcium Cyanamide label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Calcium Cyanamide carries the pictograms Corrosion and Exclamation mark and the signal word is Danger.
Is Calcium Cyanamide flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Calcium Cyanamide 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 Calcium Cyanamide a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Calcium Cyanamide. Annex VI is a list of agreed classifications, not a list of substances found safe, so this is an absence of a classification rather than a clean bill of health.
What is the exposure limit for Calcium Cyanamide?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Calcium Cyanamide is none See Appendix G (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)). 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 Calcium Cyanamide?
The boiling point reported for Calcium Cyanamide is 1150 °C (2102 °F), above this value (CAMEO).
What is the melting point of Calcium Cyanamide?
The melting point reported for Calcium Cyanamide is 1340 °C (2444 °F) (NIOSH).
How should Calcium Cyanamide be stored?
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away form moisture. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Calcium Cyanamide
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