Editing Dysprosium (section)

==Precautions==
Like many powders, dysprosium powder may present an explosion hazard when mixed with air and when an ignition source is present. Thin foils of the substance can also be ignited by sparks or by [[static electricity]]. Dysprosium fires cannot be extinguished with water. It can react with water to produce flammable [[hydrogen]] gas.<ref name="ESPI">{{cite web|title = Dysprosium|work = Material Safety Data Sheets|url = http://www.espi-metals.com/msds's/Dysprosium.htm|author = Dierks, Steve|date = January 2003|publisher = Electronic Space Products International|access-date = 2008-10-20|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150922145520/http://www.espi-metals.com/msds%27s/Dysprosium.htm|archive-date = 2015-09-22}}</ref> Dysprosium chloride fires can be extinguished with water.<ref>{{cite web|title = Dysprosium Chloride|work = Material Safety Data Sheets|url = http://www.espi-metals.com/msds%27s/Dysprosium%20Chloride.htm|author = Dierks, Steve|date = January 1995|publisher = Electronic Space Products International|access-date = 2008-11-07|url-status = bot: unknown|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150922145520/http://www.espi-metals.com/msds%27s/Dysprosium%20Chloride.htm|archive-date = 2015-09-22}}</ref> Dysprosium fluoride and dysprosium oxide are non-flammable.<ref>{{cite web|title = Dysprosium Fluoride|work = Material Safety Data Sheets|url = http://www.espi-metals.com/msds%27s/Dysprosium%20Fluoride.htm|author = Dierks, Steve|date = December 1995|publisher = Electronic Space Products International|access-date = 2008-11-07|url-status = bot: unknown|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150922145520/http://www.espi-metals.com/msds%27s/Dysprosium%20Fluoride.htm|archive-date = 2015-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Dysprosium Oxide|work = Material Safety Data Sheets|url = http://www.espi-metals.com/msds%27s/Dysprosium%20Oxide.htm|author = Dierks, Steve|date = November 1988|publisher = Electronic Space Products International|access-date = 2008-11-07|url-status = bot: unknown|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150922145520/http://www.espi-metals.com/msds%27s/Dysprosium%20Oxide.htm|archive-date = 2015-09-22}}</ref> Dysprosium nitrate, Dy(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>, is a strong [[oxidizing agent]] and readily ignites on contact with organic substances.<ref name="krebs">{{cite book|title = The History and Use of our Earth's Chemical Elements|author = Krebs, Robert E.|chapter = Dysprosium|pages = [https://archive.org/details/historyuseofoure00kreb/page/234 234–235]|publisher = Greenwood Press|year = 1998|isbn = 978-0-313-30123-0|chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/historyuseofoure00kreb|url = https://archive.org/details/historyuseofoure00kreb/page/234}}</ref>

Soluble dysprosium salts, such as dysprosium chloride and dysprosium nitrate are mildly toxic when ingested. Based on the toxicity of dysprosium chloride to [[mice]], it is estimated that the ingestion of 500&nbsp;grams or more could be fatal to a human (cf. [[salt poisoning|lethal dose of 300 grams of common table salt]] for a 100 kilogram human). The insoluble salts are non-toxic.<ref name="nbb" />