Chapter 4 Flashcards
The materials physical and chemical properties affect how it behaves, determine the harm it can cause, and influence the effect it may have on all it contacts.
physical, chemical
First responders need to know how to collect hazard and response data that provide information about the substance’s physical and chemical properties.
hazard, response data
At a hazmat incident, try to identify the materials physical state as early as possible.
physical state
The material’s state of matter will indicate how mobile that material may become and can help determine if there will be far reaching hazardous properties.
state of matter
Awareness of hazardous material mobility helps rescuers determine control zones and evacuation distances.
material mobility
Compressible substance, with no specific volume, that tends to assume the shape of a container.
Gas
Incompressible substance with constant volume that assumes the shape of its container.
Liquid
Substance that has a definite shape and size.
Solid
Gases, liquids, and solids behave very differently. Knowing the state of matter will provide clues on how the incident may progress.
state of matter
Understanding a material’s behavior enables responders to identify potential hazards as well as protective actions that should be taken.
behavior
In general, solids are the least mobile and gases have the greatest mobility.
gases
Solid particle that is formed or generated from solid organic or inorganic materials by reducing its size through mechanical process.
dust
Suspension of particles that form when material from a volatilized solid condenses in cool air.
fume
Finely divided liquid suspended in the atmosphere.
Mist
Form of pressurized mist characterized by highly respirable, minute liquid or solid particles.
aerosol
Solid particle whose length is several times greater than its diameter is formed by a disruption of the natural state.
Fiber
Gaseous form of a material that is normally in a solid or liquid state at room temp and pressure.
vapor
Visible aerosol of a liquid formed by condensation.
fog
Gases have an undefined shape and volume and keep expanding if uncontained
undefined shape
Research has shown that 1 and 2 ton quantities of chlorine and anhydrous ammonia released in an open area both initially spread in a 360 radius before being dispersed downwind in some situations.
360
Gases may travel in unexpected ways, depending on many factors including air movement, topography, and barriers such as walls or buildings.
topography
The conversion of a liquid to a vapor increases both the hazardous materials mobility and the challenges responders face when dealing with the material.
liquid, vapor
Micron is the unit of measure typically used to express particle size.
Micron
Physical properties are the characteristics of a material that do not involve the chemistry or chemical nature of the material.
Physical properties
Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by a saturated vapor above its own liquid in a closed container.
Vapor pressure
A liquids vapor pressure increases as the temp rises.
rises
The lower the boiling point of a material, the higher its vapor pressure will be.
vapor pressure
If you know the vapor pressure of a material, you can use it as a general gauge to tell how fast a product will evaporate under normal circumstances.
evaporate
Boiling point is the temp at which a liquid changes to a gas at a given pressure.
Boiling point
Flammable materials with low boiling points generally present special fire hazards.
low boiling points
melting point is the temp at which a solid substance changes to a liquid state at normal atmospheric pressure.
melting point
Some substances will actually sublimate or change directly from a solid into a gas without going into a liquid state in between.
sublimate
Vapor density is the weight of a given volume of pure vapor or gas compared to the weight of an equal volume of dry air at the same temperature and pressure.
Vapor density
Solubility in water expresses the percentage of a material that will dissolve in water at ambient temp.
Solubility
A material in which the positive and negative charges are permanently separated, resulting in their ability to ionize in solution and create electrical conductivity.
Polar solvent
Irritant agents that are water soluble usually cause early upper respiratory tract irritation, resulting in coughing and throat irritation.
water soluble
Partially water soluble chemicals will penetrate into the lower respiratory system and cause delayed symptoms that include breathing difficulties, pulmonary edema, and coughing up blood.
Partially water soluble
Materials with higher degrees of solubility are easier to control with water.
solubility
Miscibility describes the ability of two or more gases or liquids to mix with or dissolve into each other.
Miscibility
Incapable of being mixed or blended with another substance.
Immiscible
Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a material to the density of a standard material, usually an equal volume of water, standard conditions of pressure and temp.
Specific gravity
Solubility plays an important role in specific gravity.
Solubility
The persistence of a chemical is its ability to remain in the environment.
persistence
Persistent nerve agents will remain effective at their point of dispersion for a much longer time than nonpersistent nerve agents.
dispersion
Viscosity is the measure of the thickness or flowability of a liquid at a given temp.
Viscosity
Odor threshold is the concentration at which the average person can smell a particular compound.
Odor threshold
Chemical properties describe the chemical nature of a material and the behaviors and interactions that occur at a molecular level.
Chemical properties
Flash point is the minimum temp at which a liquid or volatile solid gives off sufficient vapors at its lower explosive limit.
Flash point
Fire point is the temp at which a liquid or volatile substance gives off enough vapors to support continuous burning.
Fire point
Liquids that have low flash points and burn easily are designated as flammable liquids, whereas liquids with higher flash points that do not burn as easily are called combustible liquids.
flammable liquids, combustible liquids
The autoignition temperature of a substance is the minimum temp to which the fuel in air must be heated to initiate self sustained combustion without initiation from an independent ignition source.
autoignition temperature
Any liquid having a flash point below 100*F and a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 psi
flammable liquid
Liquid having a flash point at or above 100F and below 200F.
combustible liquid
The lowest temp at which a combustible material ignites in air without a spark or flame.
Autoignition temp
Minimum temp to which a fuel in air must be heated in order to start self sustained combustion independent of the heating source.
ignition temperature
The corrosivity of acids and bases is often measured or expressed in terms of pH.
pH
Any chemical that ionizes to yield hydrogen ions in water.
Acid
A water soluble compound that chemically dissociates in water to form a negatively charged hydroxide ion.
Base
Bases react with an acid to form a salt by releasing an unshared pair of electrons to the acid or by receiving a proton.
electrons
Bases often cause more eye damage than acids due to the longer duration of exposure.
eye damage
A common sign of exposure to a base is a greasy or slick feeling of the skin, which is caused by saponification the breakdown of fatty tissues.
saponification
Compound containing hydrogen that reacts with water to produce hydrogen ions; a proton donor, a liquid compound with a pH less than 7.
Acid
Atom that has lost or gained an electron, giving it a positive or negative charge.
Ion
Any alkaline or caustic substance, corrosive water soluble compound or substance containing group forming hydroxide ions in water solution that reacts with an acid to form a salt.
Base
Process of splitting a molecule or iconic compounds into smaller particles, especially if the process is reversible.
Dissociation
Reaction between an alkaline and a fatty acid that produces soap.
Saponification
Solution that has a pH between 7 and 14.
Basic solution
Ability of a substance to chemically react with other materials, and the speed with which that reaction takes place.
Reactivity
Substance capable of chemically reacting with other substances, for example, material that reacts violently when combined with air or water.
Reactive material
The chemical reactivity of a substance describes its relative ability to undergo a chemical reaction with itself or other materials.
relative ability
Minimum energy that starts a chemical reaction when added to an atomic or molecular system.
Activation energy
Many reactions need an oxidizing agent, a reducing agent, and some kind of activation energy to get them started.
oxidizing agent
Activation energy is the energy needed to start the reaction, much like a blasting cap activating dynamite.
dynamite
First responders may see terms as light sensitive, heat sensitive, or shock sensitive on SDSs and/or manufacturers/labels, indicating that those products have an increased susceptibility to those sources of activation energy.
activation energy
Stability and reactivity are important factors in chemical interactions.
Stability, reactivity
An asphalt roadway could explode if liquid oxygen spills on it and is accompanied by sufficient activation energy.
liquid oxygen
Oxidation reduction reactions can be extremely violent and dangerous because they release a tremendous amount of energy.
Oxidation reduction reactions
Polymerization is a chemical reaction in which simple molecules combine to form long chain molecules.
Polymerization
catalysts will increase the rate of polymerization and decrease the activation energy necessary for further polymerization.
catalysts
Materials that may undergo violent polymerization if subjected to heat or contamination are designated with a P in the blue and yellow sections of the ERG.
P
Inhibitors are materials that are added to products that easily polymerize in order to control or prevent an undesired reaction.
Inhibitors
Liquid oxygen is a powerful oxidizer. If spilled on asphalt, very little activation energy is needed to cause an explosion.
oxidizer
Fuel that is being oxidized or burned during combustion.
Reducing agent
Substance that readily gives off large quantities of oxygen.
Strong oxidizer
Time sensitive inhibitors are added to Liquid styrene before it is shipped.
Liquid styrene
The least energetic form of radiation is nonionizing radiation such as visible light and radio waves.
nonionizing radiation
The most energetic form of radiation is ionizing radiation.
ionizing radiation
Series of energy waves composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields traveling at the speed of light.
nonionizing radiation
Radiation that causes a chemical change in atoms by removing their electrons.
ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation can be divided into four types: alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron
alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron
Energetic, positively charged alpha particles emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay that rapidly lose energy when passing through matter. Alpha- blocked by dead layer of skin
Alpha- blocked by dead layer of skin
Alpha particles lose energy rapidly when traveling through matter and do not penetrate deeply. Can be stopped by a sheet of paper
Alpha particles- can be stopped by a sheet of paper
During radioactive decay , alpha particles are emitted from the nucleus of an atom, forming a new element
radioactive decay
Neutron radiation is the hardest to protect against because it is highly penetrating.
Neutron radiation
Electron - Subatomic particle with physical mass and a negative electric charge
Electron
Beta - Fast moving, positively charged protons or negatively charged electrons emitted from the atom’s nucleus during radioactive decay. Humans are exposed to beta particles from manufactured and natural sources such as tritium, carbon-14, and strontium - 90.
Beta
Beta particles penetrate further than alpha particles but cause less damage over equally traveled distances. Stopped by layer of clothing, a thin sheet of metal, or thick plexiglass
Beta - stopped by layer of clothing, a thin sheet of metal, or thick plexiglass
Shielding beta emitters with dense metals can result in the release of x-rays.
x-rays
Photon - Weightless packet of electromagnetic energy, such as x-rays or visible light
Photon
Gamma - High energy photons. Often accompany the emission of alpha or beta particles from a nucleus. Can easily pass completely through the human body or be absorbed by tissue. Standard firefighting clothing does not protect against
Gamma - standard firefighting clothing does not protect against
Gamma radiation levels vary depending on the Isotope and activity.
Isotope, activity
Activity refers to the number of atoms in a radioactive material that will decay and emit radiation in a second.
Activity
Neutron - Particles that have a physical mass but have no electrical charge. Fission reactions produce neutrons along with gamma radiation. Soil moisture density gauges = neutron radiation
Neutron - soil moisture density gauges = neutron radiation
Shielding from neutron radiation requires materials with high amounts of hydrogen, such as oil, water, and concrete.
hydrogen
X-rays and gamma rays are high energy electromagnetic radiation commonly referred to as photons.
photons
Radioactive materials (RAM) emit ionizing radiation.
Radioactive materials (RAM)
Material with an atomic nucleus that spontaneously decays or disintegrates, emitting radiation as particles or electromagnetic waves at a rate of greater than 0.002 microcuries per gram. Radioactive materials (RAM)
Radioactive materials (RAM)
Radiation exposure occurs when a person is near a radiation source and is exposed to the energy from that source.
Radiation exposure
A person may receive a dose of radiation based upon the length of exposure energy, and type of source.
dose
Dose - Quantity of a chemical material ingested or absorbed through skin contact for purposes of measuring toxicity.
Dose
Radioactive Contamination occurs when radioactive material is deposited on surfaces, skin, clothing, or any place where it is not desired.
Contamination
Contamination only occurs when the radioactive material remains on a person or the person’s clothing after coming into contact with a Contaminant.
Contaminant
Contamination - Impurity resulting from mixture or contact with a foreign substance.
Contamination
Contaminant - Foreign substance that compromises the purity of a given substance.
Contaminant
The effects of ionizing radiation occur at the cellular level.
cellular level
Ionizing radiation can negatively affect the normal operation of the cells that compose human organs.
negatively
Radiation may cause damage to any material by ionizing the atoms in that material.
ionizing
When atoms are ionized, the chemical properties of those atoms are altered.
altered
The biological effects of ionizing radiation depend on how much and how fast a radiation dose is recieved.
biological effects
The body is better equipped to handle a Chronic dose of radiation than an acute radiation dose.
Chronic dose
Radioactivity - Quantifiable measurement of activity in a sample of material over time.
Radioactivity
Exposure - Amount of radiation in the ambient air of a specific place.
Exposure
Absorbed dose - Amount of radiation energy deposited in a material.
Absorbed dose
Dose equivalent - Absorbed dose plus medical effects.
Dose equivalent
Radioactive materials are placarded/labeled Class 7 in transport.
7
Doubling the distance from a point source divides the dose by a factor of four.
four
When the radius doubles, the radiation spreads over 4 times as much area, so the dose is only 1/4 as much.
1/4
Inverse Square Law - Physical law that states that the amount of radiation present is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of radiation.
Inverse Square Law
Exposure from fallout is reduced by about 50 percent inside a one story building and by about 90 at a level below ground.
50, 90
Using time, distance, shielding to limit exposure to radiation is sometimes referred to as ALARA.
ALARA
The degree to which a substance causes harm within the body is called its Toxicity.
Toxicity
A chemical injury at the site of contact is termed a local toxic effect.
local toxic effect
Systemic effect - Damage spread through an entire system, opposite of local effect, which is limited in a single location.
Systemic effect
Nitrogen is a simple asphyxiant because it can dilute and displace oxygen.
Nitrogen
simple asphyxiants are gases that displace oxygen.
simple asphyxiants
Asphyxiant - Any substance that prevents oxygen from combining in sufficient quantities with the blood or from being used by body tissues.
Asphyxiant
Chemical asphyxiant are materials that prohibit the body’s cells from using oxygen.
Chemical asphyxiant
Statistics reveal 1 in 3 ffs will be diagnosed with cancer during their career. Another 45 percent of ffs will have cancer diagnosed within 7 years of retirement.
cancer, 45*
Sensitizers are chemicals that cause a substantial proportion of exposed people or animals to develop an allergic reaction after one or more exposures to the chemical.
Sensitizers
Smoke is an aerosol comprised of gases, vapor, and solid particulates.
Smoke
Carbon monoxide Is a chemical asphyxiant that is a byproduct of the incomplete combustion of organic materials.
Carbon monoxide
Hydrogen cyanide - Produced in the combustion of materials containing nitrogen, is also commonly encountered in smoke, although at lower concentrations than CO.
Hydrogen cyanide.
HCN is a significant byproduct of the combustion of polyurethane foam, which is commonly used in furniture and bedding.
polyurethane foam
Carbon dioxide Is a byproduct of complete combustion of organic materials. It acts as a simple asphyxiant by displacing oxygen, also increases respiratory rate.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide - Colorless, odorless, dangerous gas formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon. It combines with hemoglobin more than 200 times faster than oxygen does, decreasing the bloods ability to carry oxygen.
Carbon monoxide
Hydrogen cyanide - Colorless, toxic, and flammable liquid until it reaches 79*F. Above that temp it becomes a gas that smells like bitter almonds.
Hydrogen cyanide
Carbon dioxide - Colorless, odorless, heavier than air gas that neither supports combustion nor burns, used on Class b or c fires. Waste product of aerobic metabolism.
Carbon dioxide.
Biological hazards are microorganisms, such as viruses or bacteria that may cause severe, disabling disease or illness.
Biological hazards
Viruses - Are the simplest types of microorganisms that can only replicate themselves in the living cells of their hosts. Do not respond to antibiotics.
Viruses
Bacteria - Are microscopic, single celled organisms. May cause disease in people either by invading the tissues or by producing toxins.
Bacteria
Biological toxins are produced by living organisms, however the biological organism itself is usually not harmful to people.
Biological toxins
Infectious diseases are caused by the reproduction and spread of microorganisms in the body.
Infectious
Transmittable, able to infect
Infectious
Pathogen - Biological agent that causes disease or illness.
Pathogen
Contagious - Capable of transmission from one person to another through contact or close proximity.
Contagious
Anthrax is a type of bacteria. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.
Anthrax
Ricin, a biological toxin, is made from castor beans.
Ricin
Biological attacks use weaponized forms of disease causing organisms and/or their toxins.
Biological attacks
In general, a product’s hazard class is assigned based on its most dangerous chemical and Physical properties.
Physical
An Explosion is any substance or article with a great deal of potential energy that may rapidly expand and release upon activation.
Explosion
Explosives may release energy in the form of light, gas, or heat.
light, gas, or heat.
Explosive placards list both a Division number and a compatibility group letter on them.
Division number, compatibility group letter
First responders should pay particular attention to the division number, which assigns the level of explosion hazard to the product.
division number
Compatibility group letters categorize different types of explosive substances and articles for purposes of stowage and segregation.
Compatibility group letters
Explosives will typically be packaged as solids in individual packages or boxes. However, some explosives are liquids such as certain binary explosives.
binary explosives
Infectious substance - Substance that is known or reasonably expected to contain pathogens.
Infectious substance
Explosive - Any material or mixture that will undergo an extremely fast self propagation reaction when subjected to some form of energy.
Explosive
Division number - Subset of a class within an explosives placard that assigns the product’s level of explosion hazard.
Division number
Binary Explosive - A type of explosive device or material with two components that are explosive when combined but not seperately.
Binary Explosive
The primary hazards of explosives are Thermal and mechanical.
Thermal and mechanical
Blast pressure wave - Rapidly released gases can create a shock wave that travels outward from the center.
Blast pressure wave
The blast pressure wave has a positive and negative phase, both of which can cause damage.
positive, negative
An explosion’s blast pressure will compress the surrounding atmosphere into a rapidly expanding shock front.
expanding shock front.
Depending on its force, this positive pressure wave can be extremely destructive.
force
Effects of an explosion include the blast pressure effect, incendiary/thermal effects, the shock front, and the fragmentation effect.
fragmentation effect
When a blast occurs at or near ground level, the air blast creates a ground shock or crater.
ground shock
As the shock waves move across or underground, they form a Seismic disturbance.
Seismic disturbance
The distance the shock wave travels depends on the type and size of the explosion and type of soil.
soil
Incendiary thermal effect - Occurs during an explosion when thermal heat energy forms a fireball.
Incendiary thermal effect
Explosives may self contaminate as they age, which increases their sensitivity and instability.
sensitivity, instability
Explosives that have a mass explosion hazard.
Division 1.1
Explosives that have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.
Division 1.2
Explosives that have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both.
Division 1.3
Explosives that present a minor explosion hazard. Largely confined to the package.
Division 1.4
Substances that have a mass explosion hazard but are so insensitive that there is little probability of initiation or transition from burning to detonation under normal transportation conditions.
Division 1.5
Extremely insensitive articles that do not have a mass explosive hazard. Negligible probability of accidental initiation.
Division 1.6
Class 2 materials are gases at normal temps and pressures.
2
In addition to burning, all flammable and combustible liquids exhibit varying degrees of Toxicity.
Toxicity
Gases can harm via energy release, toxicity, and corrosivity.
energy release
Vapor explosion - Occurrence when a hot liquid fuel transfers heat energy to a colder, more volatile liquid fuel.
Vapor explosion
As the colder fuel vaporizes, pressure builds in a container and can create shockwaves of kinetic energy.
kinetic energy
Consists of any material that is a gas at 68F or less at normal atmospheric pressure or a material that has a boiling point of 68F. Ignitable at 13%, flammable range at 12%.
Flammable gas (div. 2.1)
Any material which exerts in the packaging an absolute pressure of 40.6 psi or greater at 68*F.
Non-flammable gas (div. 2.2)
Material that is a gas at 68*F or less and a pressure of 14.7 psi, known to be so toxic to humans.
Gas poisonous by inhalation (Div. 2.3)
Class 3 materials ignite and burn easily.
3
Although liquids, in most conditions, Class 3 materials will give off flammable vapors that behave much like gases.
flammable vapors
A flammable liquid is generally a liquid having a flash point of not more than 140F, or any material in a liquid state with a flash point at or above 100F.
flammable liquid
Gasoline placard - May be used in the place of a flammable placard on a cargo tank or a portable tank being used to transport gasoline by highway.
Gasoline placard
A combustible liquid is any liquid that does not meet the definition of any other hazard class and has a flash point above 140F and below 200F.
combustible liquid
An elevated temperature material that meets the definition of a Class 3 material because it is intentionally heated and offered for transportation or transported at or above its flash point may not be reclassified as a combustible liquid.
elevated temperature material
Class 4 materials are divided into three categories based on type of reactivity.
4
The primary hazards of Class 4 materials are: chemical energy, mechanical energy, corrosivity, and toxicity.
chemical energy
Includes wetted explosives, self reactive materials that can undergo a strongly exothermal decomposition.
Flammable solid material (Div. 4.1)
Wetted explosives - Explosives with their explosive properties suppressed by wetting with sufficient alcohol
Wetted explosives
Self reactive explosives - Materials liable to undergo a strong exothermic decomposition at normal or elevated temps.
Self reactive explosives
Readily combustible solids - Solids that may ignite through friction or any metal powders that can be ignited.
Readily combustible solids
Includes a pyrophoric material that, without an external ignition source, can ignite within 5 minutes after coming in contact with air.
Spontaneously combustible material (Div. 4.2)
Material that, by contact with water, is liable to become spontaneously flammable or to release flammable or toxic gas at a rate greater than 1 liter per kilogram.
Dangerous when wet material (DIV. 4.3)
Oxidizers vigorously support combustion, may be explosive, and when combined with fuel, may burn continuously.
oxidizers
Organic peroxides are oxidizers with a specific chemical composition that make them prone to reactivity.
Organic peroxide’s
Organic peroxides are both fuel and an oxidizer.
fuel, oxidizer
Store organic peroxides below the Maximum safe storage temperature.
Maximum safe storage temperature
Organic peroxide - Any of several organic derivatives of the inorganic compound hydrogen peroxide.
Organic peroxide
Class 5 materials are oxidizers and organic peroxides.
5
If organic peroxides reach the self accelerating decomposition temp, they undergo a chemical change and may violently release from their packaging.
self accelerating decomposition temp
Poison - Any material excluding gases, that when taken into the body is injurious to health.
Poison
Inhalation hazard - Any material that may cause harm via inhalation.
Inhalation hazard
Class 6 materials and substances include poisons, poison inhalation hazards, and infectious substances.
6
infectious materials are typically shipped in small containers, so there is no placard for them, only a label
infectious materials
A biohazard label is used for large and small quantities of regulated medical waste.
biohazard label
Material known to contain or suspected of containing a pathogen.
Infectious substance (DIV. 6.2)
A pathogen is a virus or microorganism or a proteinaceous infectious particle that has the potential to cause disease in humans.
pathogen
Small packages of radioactive materials must be labeled on two opposite sides, with a distinctive warning label.
warning
Class 7 radioactive I, II, III labels must always contain the following additional info. Isotope name, radiation activity
Isotope name, radiation activity
Isotope - Atoms of a chemical element with the usual number of protons in the nucleus, but unusual number of neutrons.
Isotope
Items placarded as radioactive II and III have a maximum allowed TI rating of 50 mrem/hr.
50 mrem/hr
Class 7 materials are radioactive and cannot be detected with the senses.
7
Class 7 labels will always provide the isotope name, activity level, transport index, and radioactive level.
transport index
The energy of radiation gives it the ability to penetrate matter.
matter
The strength of a radioactive source is called its activity.
activity
The activity of a radioactive source can be defined as the rate at which a number of atoms will decay and emit radiation in one second.
one second
The international system unit for activity is the Becquerel, which is the quantity of radioactive material in which one atom transforms per second.
Becquerel
The curie is a quantity of radioactive material in which 1 Ci = 3.7 x 10 tenth atoms disintegrate per second.
curie
Corrosives are either a liquid or solid that cause full thickness destruction of human skin at the site of contact within a specific period of time, or a liquid that has a severe corrosion rate on steel or aluminum.
period of time
Class 9 materials mostly present thermal and chemical hazards.
thermal, chemical
ORM-Ds are consumer commodities that present a limited hazard during transportation due to their form, quantity, and packaging.
ORM-Ds
Topography makes a significant difference in the consideration needed to determine the appropriate isolation distances.
topography
