Substance profile
Potassium Chromate
Potassium Chromate is yellow orthorhombic crystals and is odorless.
01 · Identification
What Potassium Chromate is
Potassium Chromate is yellow orthorhombic crystals and is odorless. Its molecular formula is CrK2O4 and its molecular weight is 194.19 g/mol. It boils at 1000 °C, melts at 975 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
02 · Identifiers
Potassium Chromate identifiers and molecular data
Potassium Chromate CAS number and EC number
Potassium Chromate molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Potassium Chromate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Potassium Chromate pictograms and signal word
Potassium Chromate hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Germ cell mutagenicity GHS chapter 3.5 | Category 1A or 1B | H340 | GHS08 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | GHS09 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H410 | GHS09 |
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.
Potassium Chromate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H350i | May cause cancer by inhalation. |
| H340 | May cause genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
| H317 | May cause an allergic skin reaction. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Potassium Chromate. 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 Potassium Chromate
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 Potassium Chromate 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
Potassium Chromate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 17 precautionary statements to Potassium Chromate. 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.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
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
Potassium Chromate 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 | калиев хромат |
| Spanish español | Cromato de potasio |
| Czech čeština | chroman draselný |
| Danish dansk | kaliumchromat |
| German Deutsch | Kaliumchromat |
| Estonian eesti | kaaliumkromaat |
| Greek ελληνικά | χρωμικό κάλιο |
| English English | potassium chromate |
| French français | chromate de potassium |
| Croatian hrvatski | kalijev kromat |
| Italian italiano | cromato di potassio |
| Latvian latviešu | kālija hromāts |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | kalio chromatas |
| Hungarian magyar | kálium-kromát |
| Maltese Malti | kromat tal-potassju |
| Dutch Nederlands | kaliumchromaat |
| Polish polski | chromian(VI) potasu |
| Portuguese português | cromato de potássio |
| Romanian română | cromat de potasiu |
| Slovak slovenčina | chróman draselný |
| Slovenian slovenščina | kalijev kromat |
| Finnish suomi | kaliumkromaatti |
| Swedish svenska | kaliumkromat |
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
Potassium Chromate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Potassium Chromate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Potassium Chromate
- May cause cancer by inhalation.
- May cause genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes skin irritation.
- Causes serious eye irritation.
- May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Obtain special instructions before use.
- Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Wash … thoroughly after handling.
- Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF IN EYES:
- IF exposed or concerned:
- Get medical advice/attention.
- 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/…
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Potassium Chromate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Potassium Chromate health hazards and exposure limits
Potassium Chromate hazard summary
Strong oxidizing agent; A mucous membrane irritant; Prolonged nasal irritation can lead to perforated septum; A strong eye irritant; [CAMEO] Corrosive to skin and eyes; May cause skin and respiratory sensitization after prolonged contact; [CHEMINFO] See Chromium and linked occupational diseases.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Potassium Chromate carcinogenicity classification
Evaluation: There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of chromium(VI) compounds. Chromium(VI) compounds cause cancer of the lung. Also positive associations have been observed between exposure to Chromium(IV) compounds and cancer of the nose and nasal sinuses. There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of chromium(VI) compounds. Chromium(VI) compounds are carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). /Chromium(VI) compounds/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Chromium Hexavalent Compounds: known to be human carcinogens. /Chromium hexavalent compound/
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.
Potassium Chromate occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 0.005 [mg/m3], as Cr(VI) | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 15 mg Cr(VI)/m3 ; A potential occupational carcinogen. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 250 mg/cu m (as Cr(II)). /Chromium(II) compounds (as Cr)/ | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
| IDLH | 25 mg/cu m (as Cr(III)). /Chromium(III) compounds (as Cr)/ | 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
Potassium Chromate 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.
Potassium Chromate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 1000 °C (1832 °F) | ICSC |
Potassium Chromate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 975 °C (1787 °F) | HSDB | |
| 968 °C (1774.4 °F) | ICSC | ||
| 974 °C (1785.2 °F) | DOE PAC |
Potassium Chromate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.73 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 2.73 g/cm³ | at 18 °C | CAMEO |
Potassium Chromate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | In water, 39.96 wt% at 20 °C; 45.0 wt% at 100 °C | at 20 °C | HSDB |
| 62.9 g/100 cc water at 20 °C; 79.2 g/100 cc water at 100 °C | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| In water, 65.0 g/100 g water at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Potassium Chromate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | Zero | HSDB | |
| Vapor pressure at 20 °C: negligible | at 20 °C | ICSC |
Potassium Chromate corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Corrosive | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Potassium Chromate 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.
Potassium Chromate fire potential
Non-combustible
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Potassium Chromate storage and handling
Potassium Chromate safe storage
Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Dry. Well closed. Separated from combustible substances, reducing agents and food and feedstuffs. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Potassium Chromate storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Storage class (TRGS 510): Non-combustible, acute toxic Cat.3 / toxic hazardous materials or hazardous materials causing chronic effects
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Potassium Chromate incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Organic materials, powdered metals, strong oxidizing agents
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Potassium Chromate in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Potassium Chromate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Potassium Chromate?
The CAS number of Potassium Chromate is 7789-00-6. Its EC number is 232-140-5.
What is the chemical formula of Potassium Chromate?
The molecular formula of Potassium Chromate is CrK2O4 and its molecular weight is 194.19 g/mol.
What does a Potassium Chromate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Potassium Chromate carries the pictograms Health hazard, Exclamation mark and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Potassium Chromate flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Potassium Chromate 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 Potassium Chromate a carcinogen?
Yes. CLP Annex VI classifies Potassium Chromate as a category 1A or 1B carcinogen and assigns it H350i: may cause cancer by inhalation.
What is the exposure limit for Potassium Chromate?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Potassium Chromate is 0.005 [mg/m3], as Cr(VI) (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 Potassium Chromate?
The boiling point reported for Potassium Chromate is 1000 °C (1832 °F) (ICSC).
What is the melting point of Potassium Chromate?
The melting point reported for Potassium Chromate is 975 °C (1787 °F) (HSDB).
How should Potassium Chromate be stored?
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Storage class (TRGS 510): Non-combustible, acute toxic Cat.3 / toxic hazardous materials or hazardous materials causing chronic effects (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Potassium Chromate
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