Potassium borohydride

Synonyms

Borohydrure de potassium [French]; Potassium tetrahydroborate(1-); Borate(1-), tetrahydro-, potassium; Potassium borohydrate; Potassium tetrahydroborate; [ChemIDplus] UN1870

Category

Metals, Inorganic Compounds

Description

Solid; Not hygroscopic and stable in air; [Merck Index] White solid; [CAMEO] White odorless powder; [Kodak MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Used as a reducing agent; [Merck Index] Used to make other chemicals; [CAMEO] Used to make plastics (foaming agent); [Hawley] Used as industrial photographic processing chemical; [Kodak MSDS]

Comments

Reacts with water and moisture evolving flammable gases (may be violent and ignite on contact); Highly flammable and a strong reducing agent; [CAMEO] Causes spastic paralysis and dyspnea in lethal-dose studies of rabbits, rats, and mice (dermal, inhalation, and oral routes); [RTECS] Reacts violently with water (may form flammable or combustible mixture); A flammable reducing agent; May form explosive mixtures with air; Causes burns to skin and eyes; Dust is irritating to eyes and respiratory tract; Harmful by ingestion and inhalation; [Kodak MSDS]

Biomedical References

LC50 (rat) = 46 mg/m3

Other CNS neurotoxin

Skin burns

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Photographic Processing