Question

Are there any dangers while handling cobalt dichloride?

Answer 1

I use a desiccant named Drierite to remove water from air in experiments. It is composed of 98% CaSO498% CaSOX4 and 2% CoCl22% CoClX2. Every once in a while the Drierite gets saturated with water vapor and it must be dried out so it can be used again.

According to the manufacturer you put the chemical in a lab oven, set to 230 ∘C230 ∘C until it turns blue. The cobalt dichloride CoCl2CoClX2 is an indicator that turns blue when dry and pink/purple when saturated. One of my coworkers noted that cobalt dichloride is a carcinogen, and now he wants me to stop heating it in the lab oven because of the vapor it is giving off that we are breathing.

Could cobalt dichloride give off anything that would cause a person harm espcially when heated to 230 ∘C230 ∘C?

I have looked at the safety data sheet but it is not very helpful. It does say that cobalt dicloride is a carcinogen but not how or when it is transferred