A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) follows the 16-section layout defined by the GHS standard, so you can find the same information in the same place for any chemical.

The 16 sections

  1. Identification (product name, supplier, CAS number is often listed here or in section 3)
  2. Hazard(s) identification (GHS classification, pictograms, H and P statements)
  3. Composition / information on ingredients (substances, concentrations, CAS and EC numbers)
  4. First-aid measures
  5. Fire-fighting measures
  6. Accidental release measures
  7. Handling and storage
  8. Exposure controls / personal protection
  9. Physical and chemical properties
  10. Stability and reactivity
  11. Toxicological information
  12. Ecological information
  13. Disposal considerations
  14. Transport information
  15. Regulatory information
  16. Other information (revision date, abbreviations)

Why the CAS number matters

A CAS Registry Number is an unambiguous identifier for a substance. Product names vary between suppliers and languages, while the CAS number stays the same, so it is the safest key for matching an SDS to a substance in a database or an inventory.

A minimal lookup key in code:

sds_index = { "58-08-2": {"name": "Caffeine", "ghs": "GHS07"}, } print(sds_index["58-08-2"]["name"])

Practical checklist

  • Match the SDS to the substance by CAS number, not by trade name.
  • Check the revision date in section 16.
  • Read sections 2, 7 and 8 first for handling decisions.

For identifiers such as CAS, SMILES and InChI for individual molecules, see the MolGod molecule encyclopedia.