Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Textbook Hazardous Materials Chemistry For Emergency Responders Third Edition Robert Burke Ebook All Chapter PDF
Textbook Hazardous Materials Chemistry For Emergency Responders Third Edition Robert Burke Ebook All Chapter PDF
https://textbookfull.com/product/chronicles-of-incidents-and-
response-hazmatology-the-science-of-hazardous-materials-1st-
edition-burke/
https://textbookfull.com/product/hazardous-materials-
chemistry-3rd-edition-armando-toby-bevelacqua-laurie-a-norman/
https://textbookfull.com/product/nfpa-1072-standard-for-
hazardous-materials-weapons-of-mass-destruction-2017-2017th-
edition-nfpa/
https://textbookfull.com/product/hazardous-materials-compliance-
for-public-research-organizations-a-case-study-second-edition-
nicolas-a-valcik/
Pocket Atlas Of Emergency Ultrasound Robert F. Reardon
https://textbookfull.com/product/pocket-atlas-of-emergency-
ultrasound-robert-f-reardon/
https://textbookfull.com/product/carbohydrate-chemistry-for-food-
scientists-third-edtion-edition-bemiller/
https://textbookfull.com/product/carbohydrate-chemistry-for-food-
scientists-third-edtion-edition-bemiller-2/
https://textbookfull.com/product/hazmat-guide-for-first-
responders-1st-edition-michael-l-madigan/
https://textbookfull.com/product/hydrocarbon-chemistry-third-
edition-molnar/
THIRD EDITION
H AZAR D OUS
M AT E RI AL S
CHEM I STRY FOR
EM ER GENCY
R ES P O N D ERS
R O B E R T A. B U R K E
HA ZA R DOUS
MA TE R IA LS
CHE MIS TRY F OR
E ME R GEN C Y
RE S P ON DERS
HA ZA R DOUS
MA TE R IA LS
CHE MIS TRY F OR
E ME R GEN C Y
RE S P ON DERS
R O B E R T A. B U R K E
This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reasonable efforts have been
made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher cannot assume responsibility for the valid-
ity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The authors and publishers have attempted to trace the copyright
holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this
form has not been obtained. If any copyright material has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so we may
rectify in any future reprint.
Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or uti-
lized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopy-
ing, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the
publishers.
For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, please access www.copyright.com (http://
www.copyright.com/) or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923,
978-750-8400. CCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides licenses and registration for a variety of users. For
organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged.
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for
identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
http://www.taylorandfrancis.com
and the CRC Press Web site at
http://www.crcpress.com
This book is affectionately dedicated to my newest granddaughter, Abigale Marie
(#21) December 7, 2010. She has brought joy, happiness, and love to my life and has
captured my heart. She wrapped me around her little finger from the moment she
was born as she held my finger in the incubator in the delivery room. She has lived
with my wife and I since birth and we continue to raise her through our retirement.
It isn’t the way we had planned our retirement and certainly has been a challenge,
but I wouldn’t change a thing even if I could. While it will be many years before
she will be able to read this, in the mean time, I will be kept busy with my grandfa-
therly duty of loving and spoiling her beyond imagination!
Chapter 1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 1
Hazardous materials statistics.......................................................................................................5
DOT/UN hazard classes of hazardous materials....................................................................... 7
NFPA 704 marking system.............................................................................................................8
Health.......................................................................................................................................... 12
Flammability.............................................................................................................................. 13
Reactivity (stability).................................................................................................................. 13
Chemical characteristic listings and incidents.......................................................................... 14
Chemical and physical characteristics: Training competencies.............................................. 15
OSHA 1910.120........................................................................................................................... 15
Operations level............................................................................................................... 16
Technician......................................................................................................................... 16
Specialist........................................................................................................................... 16
Awareness.................................................................................................................................. 17
Operations.................................................................................................................................. 17
Technician.................................................................................................................................. 19
Incident commander................................................................................................................. 22
Review questions........................................................................................................................... 23
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 35
Hazards to responders (Photo 2.2)................................................................................35
Lithium....................................................................................................................................... 36
History............................................................................................................................... 37
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 37
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 37
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 38
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 38
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 38
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 38
Sodium........................................................................................................................................ 39
History............................................................................................................................... 39
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 39
Important compounds....................................................................................................40
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 40
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 40
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 40
Potassium................................................................................................................................... 41
History............................................................................................................................... 41
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 41
Important compounds....................................................................................................42
Uses....................................................................................................................................42
Isotopes.............................................................................................................................42
Important reactions.........................................................................................................42
Hazards to responders....................................................................................................42
Beryllium....................................................................................................................................43
History...............................................................................................................................43
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 43
Important compounds....................................................................................................43
Uses....................................................................................................................................44
Isotopes.............................................................................................................................44
Important reactions.........................................................................................................44
Hazards to responders....................................................................................................44
Magnesium.................................................................................................................................44
History...............................................................................................................................45
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 45
Important compounds....................................................................................................45
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 45
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 46
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 46
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 46
Calcium....................................................................................................................................... 46
History............................................................................................................................... 47
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 47
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 47
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 47
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 47
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 47
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 48
Barium........................................................................................................................................48
History............................................................................................................................... 49
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 49
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 49
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 49
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 49
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 49
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 49
Titanium.....................................................................................................................................50
History...............................................................................................................................50
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 50
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 51
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 51
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 51
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 51
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 51
Chromium.................................................................................................................................. 52
History............................................................................................................................... 52
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 52
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 52
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 53
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 53
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 53
Manganese.................................................................................................................................54
History...............................................................................................................................54
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 54
Important compounds....................................................................................................54
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 55
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 55
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 55
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 55
Iron.............................................................................................................................................. 56
History............................................................................................................................... 56
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 56
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 56
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 57
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 57
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 57
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 57
Cobalt.......................................................................................................................................... 58
History............................................................................................................................... 58
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 58
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 58
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 59
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 59
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 59
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 59
Copper........................................................................................................................................ 59
History...............................................................................................................................60
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 60
Important compounds....................................................................................................60
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 60
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 61
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 61
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 61
Silver............................................................................................................................................ 61
History............................................................................................................................... 62
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 62
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 62
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 62
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 63
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 63
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 63
Gold.............................................................................................................................................63
History...............................................................................................................................64
Sources..............................................................................................................................64
Important compounds....................................................................................................64
Uses....................................................................................................................................64
Isotope...............................................................................................................................64
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 65
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 65
Zinc..............................................................................................................................................65
History...............................................................................................................................65
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 66
Important compounds....................................................................................................66
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 66
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 66
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 66
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 67
Mercury...................................................................................................................................... 67
History............................................................................................................................... 67
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 67
Important compounds....................................................................................................68
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 68
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 68
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 68
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 68
Boron........................................................................................................................................... 69
History............................................................................................................................... 69
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 69
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 70
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 70
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 70
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 70
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 71
Aluminum.................................................................................................................................. 71
History............................................................................................................................... 71
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 72
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 72
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 72
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 72
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 72
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 73
Carbon......................................................................................................................................... 73
History............................................................................................................................... 74
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 74
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 74
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 75
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 75
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 75
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 75
Silicon.......................................................................................................................................... 75
History............................................................................................................................... 76
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 76
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 76
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 76
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 77
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 77
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 77
Nitrogen...................................................................................................................................... 77
History............................................................................................................................... 78
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 78
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 78
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 79
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 79
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 79
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 79
Phosphorus................................................................................................................................80
History............................................................................................................................... 81
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 81
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 81
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 81
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 81
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 82
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 82
Arsenic........................................................................................................................................ 82
History...............................................................................................................................83
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 83
Important compounds....................................................................................................83
Uses....................................................................................................................................84
Isotopes.............................................................................................................................84
Important reactions.........................................................................................................84
Hazards to responders....................................................................................................84
Plutonium...................................................................................................................................84
History...............................................................................................................................85
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 85
Important compounds....................................................................................................85
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 85
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 86
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 86
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 86
Oxygen........................................................................................................................................ 86
History............................................................................................................................... 87
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 87
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 87
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 88
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 88
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 88
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 88
Sulfur..........................................................................................................................................88
History............................................................................................................................... 89
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 89
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 89
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 90
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 90
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 90
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 90
Fluorine....................................................................................................................................... 91
History............................................................................................................................... 91
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 91
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 91
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 92
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 92
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 92
Chlorine...................................................................................................................................... 93
History............................................................................................................................... 94
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 94
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 94
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 94
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 94
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 94
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 95
Bromine...................................................................................................................................... 95
History............................................................................................................................... 95
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 96
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 96
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 96
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 96
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 96
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 96
Iodine.......................................................................................................................................... 97
History............................................................................................................................... 97
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 97
Important compounds.................................................................................................... 97
Uses.................................................................................................................................... 98
Isotopes............................................................................................................................. 98
Important reactions......................................................................................................... 98
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................... 98
Uranium......................................................................................................................................99
History...............................................................................................................................99
Sources.............................................................................................................................. 99
Important compounds.................................................................................................. 100
Uses.................................................................................................................................. 100
Isotopes........................................................................................................................... 101
Important reactions....................................................................................................... 101
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................. 101
Helium...................................................................................................................................... 102
History............................................................................................................................. 102
Sources............................................................................................................................ 102
Important compounds.................................................................................................. 102
Uses.................................................................................................................................. 102
Isotopes........................................................................................................................... 103
Important reactions....................................................................................................... 103
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................. 103
Neon.......................................................................................................................................... 103
History............................................................................................................................. 104
Sources............................................................................................................................ 104
Important compounds.................................................................................................. 104
Uses.................................................................................................................................. 104
Isotopes........................................................................................................................... 104
Important reactions....................................................................................................... 104
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................. 104
Argon........................................................................................................................................ 104
History............................................................................................................................. 105
Sources............................................................................................................................ 105
Important compounds.................................................................................................. 105
Uses.................................................................................................................................. 105
Isotopes........................................................................................................................... 105
Important reactions....................................................................................................... 105
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................. 105
Krypton..................................................................................................................................... 106
History............................................................................................................................. 106
Sources............................................................................................................................ 106
Important compounds.................................................................................................. 106
Uses.................................................................................................................................. 106
Isotopes........................................................................................................................... 107
Important reactions....................................................................................................... 107
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................. 107
Xenon........................................................................................................................................ 107
History............................................................................................................................. 107
Sources............................................................................................................................ 108
Important compounds.................................................................................................. 108
Uses.................................................................................................................................. 108
Isotopes........................................................................................................................... 108
Important reactions....................................................................................................... 108
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................. 108
Lead........................................................................................................................................... 108
History............................................................................................................................. 109
Sources............................................................................................................................ 109
Important compounds.................................................................................................. 109
Uses.................................................................................................................................. 109
Isotopes........................................................................................................................... 109
Important reactions....................................................................................................... 110
Hazards to responders.................................................................................................. 110
Compounds and mixtures.......................................................................................................... 110
Solubility................................................................................................................................... 111
Atom............................................................................................................................................... 112
Formulae................................................................................................................................... 113
Ionic bonding................................................................................................................................ 115
Covalent bonding......................................................................................................................... 116
Salts................................................................................................................................................ 118
Binary salts............................................................................................................................... 121
Binary oxides (metal oxides)........................................................................................ 122
Peroxide salts.................................................................................................................. 122
Hydroxide salts.............................................................................................................. 123
Complex ions (polyatomic)......................................................................................................... 123
Oxysalts.................................................................................................................................... 123
Cyanide salts............................................................................................................................ 125
Ammonium salts..................................................................................................................... 125
Inorganic nonsalts........................................................................................................................ 126
Binary nonsalts........................................................................................................................ 126
Nonmetal oxides..................................................................................................................... 127
Binary acids (inorganic acids)............................................................................................... 128
Oxyacids (inorganic acids)..................................................................................................... 128
Inorganic cyanides.................................................................................................................. 129
Nonmetal compounds................................................................................................................. 129
Physical and chemical terms...................................................................................................... 132
Review questions......................................................................................................................... 133
Chapter 3 Explosives...............................................................................................................135
Definition of explosion................................................................................................................ 136
Categories of explosions.............................................................................................................. 136
Phases of explosions.................................................................................................................... 136
Mechanical overpressure explosions........................................................................................ 137
Mechanical/chemical explosions............................................................................................... 138
Chemical explosions.................................................................................................................... 138
Dust explosions............................................................................................................................ 138
Nuclear explosions....................................................................................................................... 141
Components of a chemical explosion........................................................................................ 142
Types of chemical explosives..................................................................................................... 142
Forbidden explosives for transportation.................................................................................. 145
Types of chemical explosions..................................................................................................... 145
Chapter 7 Oxidizers................................................................................................................323
Class 5.1 oxidizers........................................................................................................................ 323
Oxysalts.................................................................................................................................... 327
Peroxide salts........................................................................................................................... 331
Inorganic acid oxidizers......................................................................................................... 331
Other oxidizer compounds....................................................................................................334
Incidents................................................................................................................................... 335
Class 5.2 organic peroxides......................................................................................................... 336
Incident.....................................................................................................................................343
Review questions.........................................................................................................................343
Chapter 8 Poisons....................................................................................................................345
Types of exposure........................................................................................................................348
Routes of exposure.......................................................................................................................348
Effects of exposure....................................................................................................................... 350
Short-term effects.................................................................................................................... 350
Long-term effects..................................................................................................................... 352
Etiologic effects........................................................................................................................ 353
Variables of toxic effects......................................................................................................... 353
Dose/response.............................................................................................................................. 353
Susceptible target organs............................................................................................................354
Exposure rate................................................................................................................................ 355
Defense mechanisms for toxic materials.................................................................................. 357
Toxic elements............................................................................................................................... 358
Toxic salts...................................................................................................................................... 359
Toxic hydrocarbons...................................................................................................................... 360
Toxic hydrocarbon derivatives................................................................................................... 360
Alkyl halides............................................................................................................................ 361
Amines...................................................................................................................................... 363
Cyanides and isocyanates......................................................................................................363
Alcohols.................................................................................................................................... 364
Aldehydes................................................................................................................................. 365
Organic acids........................................................................................................................... 366
Phosphoric esters..................................................................................................................... 366
Miscellaneous toxic materials.................................................................................................... 366
Pesticides....................................................................................................................................... 369
Other toxic materials................................................................................................................... 374
Military and terrorist chemical agents..................................................................................... 377
Chemical agents...................................................................................................................... 377
Nerve agents............................................................................................................................ 379
Antidotes.................................................................................................................................. 382
Mustard agents (vesicants)..................................................................................................... 383
Blood agents (cyanogens)....................................................................................................... 388
Choking agents (lung-damaging agents)............................................................................. 390
Riot-control agents (irritant agents and vomiting agents)................................................. 391
Vomiting agents....................................................................................................................... 393
Miscellaneous chemical agents............................................................................................. 394
Infectious substances................................................................................................................... 394
Bacterial agents........................................................................................................................ 396
Viruses......................................................................................................................................404
Toxins........................................................................................................................................408
Chemistry of clandestine drug labs.......................................................................................... 413
Summary....................................................................................................................................... 415
Review questions......................................................................................................................... 415
Chapter 10 Corrosives...............................................................................................................435
Inorganic acids.............................................................................................................................435
Strength and concentration........................................................................................................ 437
pH...................................................................................................................................................438
Organic acids................................................................................................................................ 441
Dilution vs. neutralization..........................................................................................................448
Incidents........................................................................................................................................ 451
Review questions......................................................................................................................... 452
Appendix�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 477
Glossary......................................................................................................................................... 493
References..................................................................................................................................... 509
Passing of a friend
Noel P. “Chris” Waters retired as New York City Fire
Department (FDNY) Acting Lieutenant, Charter Member
of Hazmat 1, and former chair of the Hazardous Materials Program at the National Fire
Academy. Chris served with the United States Coast Guard for 4 years, and in 1965 he
joined FDNY where he served for 22 years. While with FDNY, he was assigned to E-69,
L-28, R-3, Battalion 16, and spent most of his time in Harlem and the South Bronx. During
his off days, he was the fire marshal for the Town of Woodbury, New York, and a substitute
teacher, secondary level. He was program chair for hazardous materials at the National
Fire Academy for 7 years. Following his departure from the National Fire Academy, Chris
became the Hazmat coordinator for Charleston County, South Carolina, and emergency
management director.
Chris’ students called him “Dr. Doom.” His shaved head, “Fu Manchu” mustache, and
physical presence may have precipitated his nickname. He was a big man with a passion
for people and teaching. He loved to cook for family and friends and share his recipes
with them. Upon meeting him, he seemed a little rough and imposing on the outside;
however, he had a heart of gold and you couldn’t have a better friend. I met Chris in
Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1988 while attending an instructor class for the National Fire
Academy Chemistry of Hazardous Materials. During the 1990s, I had the opportunity to
teach with Chris at the National Fire Academy. He was without a doubt the best instructor
I have ever known. Teaching with him wasn’t easy: How do you possibly follow the best?
During mentoring sessions, he always told me to just be yourself and develop your own
style, don’t try to imitate anyone else. Well there was no way anyone could imitate Chris.
He had a wonderful style that was like no other. His teaching was no nonsense, and he had
a way of explaining difficult concepts that made them seem easy. He was animated and
at times even boisterous, but you could tell he loved teaching and really cared about his
students. After class, he would spend hours tutoring students to make sure they were able
to pass his classes. He also helped me, and I am sure others, to become better instructors.
While he was the program chair for hazardous materials at the National Fire Academy,
I taught a number of classes there in the early 1990s. Chris was always available to help
you, giving out teaching pointers for different sections of the courses. I didn’t always make
his job easy. There was the “Toga” incident following the final exam in one class. Another
class was involved in the abduction of a sheep that appeared at the Ott House. Then there
was the “field trip” incident and another time the eggs at graduation. Following one of the
incidents that caused him some grief with the academy administration, he said “Bobby”
come over to my office. Chris always called me “Bobby.” I never understood why. It was
my actual given name, but I never used it and I don’t think he knew it was my real name.
Anyway, he sat me down in his office and asked why do these incidents with students
only happen in your classes? My response was “you told me to develop my own style!”
I knew that the students were pretty keyed up for the final exam in the courses and I just
“encouraged” them to let off steam. He just rolled his eyes and gave me one of those stern
looks and shook his head. My career would not be where it is today if not for the mentor-
ing, tutoring, and friendship of Chris Waters. I will miss him.
newspapers, radio, and television about incidents that have occurred in local communities,
including Fox Television in New York City during a tank farm fire on Staten Island.
Burke has been a presenter at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore on numerous occasions. He
has given presentations at the EPA Region III SERC/LEPC Conference in Norfolk, Virginia,
in November 1994 and at the 1996 Environmental and Industrial Fire Safety Seminar,
Baltimore, Maryland, on North America Emergency Response Guidebook (NAERG).
He was a speaker at the 1996 International Hazardous Materials Spills Conference held
on June 26, 1996, at New Orleans, Louisiana; at the 5th Annual 1996 Environmental and
Industrial Fire Safety Seminar, held at Baltimore, Maryland, sponsored by Baltimore
City Fire Department; and at LEPC, Instructor for Hazmat Chemistry, held in August
1999 at Hazmat Expo 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also gave a keynote presentation
at the Western Canadian Hazardous Materials Symposium at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada, in 2008.
Burke has developed several CD-ROM-based training programs, including the
Emergency Response Guidebook, Hazardous Materials and Terrorism Awareness for
Dispatchers and 911 Operators, Hazardous Materials and Terrorism Awareness for Law
Enforcement, Chemistry of Hazardous Materials Course, Chemistry of Hazardous
Materials Refresher, Understanding Ethanol, Understanding Liquefied Petroleum
Gases, Understanding Cryogenic Liquids, Understanding Chlorine, and Understanding
Anhydrous Ammonia. He has also developed the “Burke Placard Hazard Chart” included
in the appendix of this book. He has published three additional books titled Counterterrorism
for Emergency Responders, Fire Protection: Systems and Response, and Hazmat Teams Across
America. He can be reached via e-mail at robert.burke@windstream.net or through his
website www.hazardousmaterialspage.com.
Introduction
Mention the word chemistry to the average firefighter or other emergency responder and it
strikes fear in their heart. Maybe that is a bit overstated, but the idea of chemistry certainly
creates a great deal of anxiety to some. Many emergency personnel do not want any part of
chemistry, often because they feel it is too difficult or complicated. Difficulty of the subject
of chemistry is not the material itself; it is in convincing emergency response personnel
that they need to study the concepts to make them better hazardous materials responders
at all levels.
Firefighters learn about fire behavior as part of their basic training in order to have
a better understanding of fire. Fire behavior is part of the chemistry of fire, which is
really a chemical chain reaction. Understanding fire and how it behaves helps firefight-
ers extinguish fires safely and effectively. Emergency medical personnel take courses to
learn how to care for sick and injured patients. Sometimes, drugs are used by paramed-
ics as part of the initial treatment. Drugs are chemicals and can be hazardous if they
are not handled properly. Emergency medical personnel learn about drugs and treat-
ment techniques in order to effectively treat their patients. Law enforcement personnel
take courses in criminal justice to better prepare for their job of enforcing the law. All
emergency response personnel receive some type of basic training to better prepare for
their jobs. Responders are called upon daily to deal with incidents of all kinds that often
involve hazardous chemicals. In order for personnel to better understand the hazardous
chemicals they face on a daily basis, an understanding of basic chemistry principles and
terminology is as essential as other emergency response training. This book presents
emergency response personnel with a view of chemistry as it applies to the hazardous
materials that may be encountered in any emergency response. Some of the concepts pre-
sented may bend the rules of chemistry a bit. However, the purpose of this book is not to
educate chemists, but rather to teach response personnel about basic chemistry concepts
in a format that most responders, regardless of educational background, can understand.
Concepts taught will work in the street application of chemistry when dealing with haz-
ardous materials. This course is sometimes referred to as “Street Chemistry.” This book
also presents firefighters, police, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel with
some basic tools to assist them in understanding hazardous materials and their behav-
ior. This information may help keep them from being injured or killed at the scene of a
hazardous materials incident.
In an effort to understand chemistry or to make chemistry more understandable, let
us look at chemistry as it affects us on a daily basis in life. Chemistry is all around us.
Everything on Earth, including the human body (Figure 1.1), is made up of one of the
chemical elements or a combination of those elements from the periodic table of elements.
In 1869, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev put forth the theory of periodicity. Through
his work, the first periodic table of elements was developed. His efforts were the begin-
ning of the understanding of the concept of elements, which led to the understanding