Section 9

Physical and chemical properties

Information Elements

  • Appearance, such as physical state and colour
  • Odour
  • Odour threshold
  • pH
  • Melting point and freezing point
  • Initial boiling point and boiling range
  • Flash point
  • Evaporation rate
  • Flammability, in the case of solids and gases
  • Upper and lower flammability or explosive limits
  • Vapour pressure
  • Vapour density
  • Relative density
  • Solubility
  • Partition coefficient — n-octanol/water
  • Auto-ignition temperature
  • Decomposition temperature
  • Viscosity

Most common non-compliances

  • Incorrect disclosure of “not available” vs “not applicable” for individual physical and chemical properties.
  • Odour descriptors do not provide sufficient information on the quality and intensity of the odour, such as disclosing only “mild” or “strong”.
  • Units for the physical and chemical properties are disclosed incorrectly, such as disclosing the melting point and freezing point in units other than degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.
  • pH is disclosed using qualitative descriptors (such as “slightly basic”).
  • The physical state or form disclosed is not acceptable for the product type, such as a powder to be mixed with water cannot be disclosed as a liquid for its physical state.

Tips

  • Physical and Chemical Properties

    The appropriate unit of measure must be disclosed.
  • The reference conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure) to which a property is measured against must be disclosed, where appropriate.
  • pH must be disclosed as a numerical value.
  • General

    The table below provides guidelines on the applicability of the information elements to hazardous products in various states. This should be applied only as general guidance. The applicability may differ based on specific properties of the hazardous product. Information elements identified as “Applicable” must be disclosed with the appropriate information or if the information is not available, an indication to the effect must be disclosed.

    Specific Information ElementGasesLiquidsSolids
    9(a)appearance, such as physical state and colourApplicableApplicableApplicable
    9(b)odourApplicableApplicableApplicable
    9(c)odour thresholdApplicableApplicableApplicable
    9(d)pHNot applicableApplicableNot applicable
    9(e)melting point and freezing pointNot applicableApplicableApplicable
    9(f)initial boiling point and boiling rangeNot applicableApplicableApplicable
    9(g)flash pointApplicableApplicableApplicable
    9(h)evaporation rateNot applicableApplicableNot applicable / Applicable*
    9(i)flammability, in the case of solids and gasesApplicableNot applicableApplicable
    9(j)upper and lower flammability or explosive limitsApplicableApplicableApplicable
    9(k)vapour pressureNot applicableApplicableApplicable
    9(l)vapour densityApplicableApplicableNot applicable
    9(m)relative densityApplicableApplicableApplicable
    9(n)solubilityApplicableApplicableApplicable
    9(o)partition coefficient – n-octanol/waterNot applicableApplicableApplicable
    9(p)auto-ignition temperatureApplicableApplicableNot applicable / Applicable*
    9(q)decomposition temperature ApplicableApplicableApplicable
    9(r)viscosity Not applicableApplicableNot applicable / Applicable*
    * The information element may be applicable or not applicable based on the properties of the specific hazardous product.