CHEMICAL AND REAGENT

HAZARDS
Hazards associated with the transport, storage
and handling of chemicals include fire, explosion
and the effect from toxic, harmful, irritating, and
corrosive chemicals.
In laboratories.The risk associated with the use
of chemicals can be minimized by
laboratories staff.
In tropical countries it is particularly important
to keep chemicals and reagents out of direct
sunlight.
Accurate record of chemical and proper labeling
can minimize the hazards associated with
chemicals.
FLAMABLE CHEMICALS

• A flammable substance is one that

readily catches alight and burs.
Some flammable chemicals are more
serious fire risk than others because
they ignite easily. Such chemical
have a low flash point temperature.
FLASH POINT OF CHEMICALS
• This is the lowest temperature at which the
vapors above a liquid can be ignited in air. The
lower the chemical’s flash point, the higher is the
risk of an ignition source igniting it.
• The most hazardous flammable chemicals are
those with flash points below ambient
temperature because they evaporate rapidly from
open container.
CLASSIFICATION OF FLAMABLE
CHEMICALS
• EXTREMELY FLAMABLE CHEMICALS
Flash point below 0° C
Boiling point 35 ° C or below

EXAMPLE:

acetone, Diethyl ether

HIGHLY FLAMABLE CHEMICALS

• Flash point below 21 ° C

• Substances which are spontaneously
combustible in air at ambient temperature
• Solid that readily ignites after brief contact with
flame
• EXAMPLE:

isopropanol, ethanol, methanol

FLAMABLE CHEMICALS

• Liquids with the flash point of 21 ° C or more

and below or equal to 55 ° C
• EXAMPLE:
• Glacial acetic acid
• Acetic anhydride
• Xylene
SAVE STORAGE AND USE OF
FLAMABLE CHEMICALS
CONTROL OF FIRE INVOLVING
FLAMABLE CHEMICALS
OXIDIZING CHEMICALS
• An oxidizing chemical is one that produces heat
or evolves oxygen in contact with other
substances causing them to burn strongly or
become explosive or spontaneously
combustible. Once a fire is started the oxidizing
substance promotes it and impedes fire
fighting.
• EXAMPLE:
• Hydrogen peroxide, strong peroxide, sodium
nitrite, perchloric acid, nitric acid.
SAVE STORAGE AND USE OF
OXIDIZING CHEMICALS
TOXIC CHEMICALS

• A toxic substance is one that can

cause serious acute or chronic
effects even death when inhaled,
swallowed or absorb through skin
• EXAMPLE:
• Potassium cyanide, mercury, sodium
azide, barium chloride
HARMFUL CHEMICALS

• A harmful substance is one that can

cause limited effects on health, if
inhaled, swallowed or absorb through
skin.
• Benzoic acid, potassium oxalate,
xylene, iodine and sulphanalic acid
IRRITATING CHEMICALS
• An irritating chemical is one that can cause
inflammation and irritation of the skin,
mucous membranes and respiratory track
following immediate, prolonged or frequent
contact.
• Ammonium solution
• Acetic acid
• Potassium chromate
• Formaldehyde vapors.
• ALLERGEN

• CARRCINOGEN

• MUTAGEN

• TERATOGEN
CORROSIVE CHEMICALS:
• A corrosive chemical is one that when
ingested, inhaled, or allow to come in
contact with skin can destroy living tissue
and is also capable of damaging inanimate
substances.
• EXAMPLE:
• Phenol, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, glacial
acetic acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium
hydroxide, concentrated disinfectant
SAFE STORAGE AND USE
EXPLOSIVE CHEMICALS

• Heat, flame, knocks o friction can cause

explosive chemicals to explode.
• EXAMPLE:
• Sodium azide
• Perchloric acid
• Picric acid and pricrates
• Diethyl-ether
ENVIRONMENTLY DANGEROUS
CHEMICALS