Pictogram 5: Corrosion - Corrosive to Metals

Pictogram 5, Corrosion, identifies chemicals that are corrosive to metals.

In addition to harming the human body, corrosive chemicals can harm they metals they come into contact with. These corrosive chemicals can cause damage to containers, equipment, building components, and other materials.

Hydrogen gas is often given off when acids attack metals; additionally, bases like sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide may also attack metals, such as aluminum, zinc, galvanized metal, and tin, to create hydrogen gas. Because hydrogen gas is flammable, these reactions could cause either fires or explosions if the corrosion occurs near an ignition source.

Due to this corrosion, an SDS should detail the metals (or other materials, like plastics or wood) a chemical could attack upon exposure.

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