Pesticide Formulations

Question 1

The component of a pesticide that controls the target pest is called the _______, while the nonpesticidal mix contains the ________.

Answer 1

Active ingredients and Inert Ingredients.

Question 2

Liquid products contain at least one of the following:

Answer 2

A solution, suspension, or emulsion.

Question 3

How is a solution made?

Answer 3

by dissolving a substance into a liquid. True solutions will not settle out, nor will it need agitation.

Question 4

Solid products do not dissolve and must be agitated to maintain even distribution in what?

Answer 4

A suspension.

Question 5

True or False: Pesticide products formulated as suspensions are water-soluble.

Answer 5

False. They are not water-soluble. They form with more dilute suspensions when mixed with water to make a finished spray. Shake well and use the best equipment for agitation.

Question 6

What is a mixture made by suspending droplets of one liquid in another?

Answer 6

An emulsion.

Question 7

How do you make an emulsion?

Answer 7

by dissolving an active ingredient into an oil-based solvent and then further diluting it with water.

Question 8

By rule, what appearance do emulsions have?

Answer 8

Milky, with additives that prevent it from settling.

Question 9

What are emulsifiable concentrates?

Answer 9

Liquid formulations with the active ingredient dissolved in one or more petroleum solvents.

Question 10

How many pounds of active ingredients per gallon of the formulated product does an emulsifiable concentrate contain?

Answer 10

2 to 8 pounds.

Question 11

Name two advantages and two disadvantages of emulsifiable concentrates.

Answer 11

Advantages: Easier to handle, transport, and store (one), little agitation, nonabrasive, and won’t clog screens or nozzles.

Disadvantages: increases hazard, higher phototoxicity, easily absorbed to skin and animals, deteriorate equipment, corrode, pit, or discolor painting surfaces (one), flammable.

Question 12

______ are formulations with a water-soluble active ingredient dissolved in one or more liquids.

Answer 12

Solutions. Advantages and disadvantages vary on the solvents used, concentration of active ingredients, and type of equipment.

Question 13

What are soluble powders?

Answer 13

Dry, powdered formulations containing 25 to 80 percent active ingredient that dissolves readily in water, forming a true solution.

Question 14

True or False: A disadvantage of soluble powders and that they may be hazardous if handled during mixture due to the dust like consistency.

Answer 14

True. Though they do contain lower phytotoxicity than some liquid formulations and absorb slower in the skin and eyes,

Question 15

True or False: Wettable powders dissolve in water. (Name the type of liquid pesticide product category)

Answer 15

False. Wettable powders are suspensions.

Question 16

Given _____ usually contain 4 or more pounds od active ingredients per gallon of formulation, they should be handled with the same care as ECs and solutions.

Answer 16

Flowables. The advantages are that they seldom clog the nozzle and usually do not present an inhalation hazard when mixing.

Question 17

What are Invert emulsions and what is a large advantage of using them?

Answer 17

Invert emulsions contain water-soluble pesticide dispersed in oil and requires a special emulsifier. Their drift and runoff are minimal compared to others.

Question 18

Which formulations requires constant agitation to keep it suspended in water? (Name one extra feature)

Answer 18

Water-Dispersible Granules, which are dustless.

Question 19

Which formulations include a finely ground inert substance such as talc, clay, nut hulls, or volcanic ash?

Answer 19

Dust formulations, which contain a low percentage of active ingredient (0.5 to 10 percent).

Question 20

Which formulations are ready to use and contain 2 to 15 percent of active ingredient?

Answer 20

Granules and Pellets.

Question 21

True or False: Dust formulations are mostly used to apply chemicals to the soil, where they control weeds, nematodes, and insects or absorbed by plant roots.

Answer 21

False. Granular pesticides would be used for this, which are mostly used to deliver a systemic pesticide.

Question 22

What are Bait formulations and how much active ingredient to they contain?

Answer 22

Baits are active ingredients mixed with an edible substance or some attractant and contain less than 5%.

Question 23

What are some disadvantages of baits?

Answer 23

Might be attractive to children and pets, wildlife and domestic animals may be affected, target pests might find other food more attractive, application costs, and dead pests might pose a smell or sanitation issue.

Question 24

Which insecticides are now the primary formulation for cockroach control?

Answer 24

Pastes and gels usually applied with a syringe or gun.

Question 25

What are some advantages and disadvantages of Gels and Pasts?

Answer 25

Advantages: Odorless and vapor-less, low toxicity for humans, lasts long, low exposure risk, hidden placement, and easily placed.

Disadvantage: pesticides can become contaminated, run and drip, stain, and cause unsightly buildup.

Question 26

What is an advantage of pesticide-fertilizer combination?

Answer 26

They apply nutrients and control pests at the same time.

Question 27

Which formulations are the most hazardous and what are they restricted to?

Answer 27

Fumigants, which are restricted to soli and closed structures.

Question 28

What should you base your decision on when choosing from one from several available formulations?

Answer 28

Legal and label use, signal word, applicator safety, environmental safety, pest biology, site characteristics, target (surface area), and equipment.

Question 29

True or False: Pesticide and pest management are always considerations, but cost concerns should come first.

Answer 29

False. Pesticide and pest management should come first.

Question 30

True or False: Pesticides can be tank-mixed unless a label prohibits is.

Answer 30

True.

Question 31

Two or more pesticides that can be mixed together are said to be ________ while those that cannot be effectively mixed are said to be __________.

Answer 31

Compatible and incompatible.

Question 32

How can one tell products are incompatible?

Answer 32

Chemical or physical separation into layers, globules, clumps, precipitates, or gels.

Question 33

Incompatibility can cause what major problems?

Answer 33

Loss of effectiveness, phytotoxicity, increased hazard, clogging.

Question 34

When is the blame shouldered by the manufacturer?

Answer 34

When mixture is promoted on the label.

Question 35

What is a spray adjuvant?

Answer 35

Any product intended to be used with a pesticide as an aid to the application or to the effect of the pesticide, contained within a separate package or container.

Question 36

True or False: Washington legally classifies spray adjuvants used in tank-mixing as pesticides even though the EPA does not.

Answer 36

True.

Question 37

_________ are spray adjuvants that alter the dispersing, spreading, and/or wetting properties of spray adjuvants.

Answer 37

Surfactants. Stickers, penetrants, and safeners are additional adjuvants that influence the adherence, absorption, or safety of a pesticide mixture on a treated surface.

Question 38

Unless specified on the label, what order should you mix?

Answer 38

Water, buffer, wettable powders, flowables, soluble powders, surfactants, end ECs. Agitate after each addition.

Question 39

Which formulations dissolve in water?

Answer 39

Solutions and solubles.

Question 40

Adjuvants are often required when making applications to leaves that are _____ or ______.

Answer 40

Waxy or hairy.