HIGHLY REACTIVE CHEMICALS & POTENTIAL EXPLOSIVES
A few of the items that your company uses in its every day business, and especial those partially used in the past that are now hidden away in a locker, may fit in this category. Here is a list of some "common" reactive/explosive items that may well by in your school, university, laboratory, or chemical storage locker: View Compiled Reactive List
KEY: Chemical Category Common Uses Potential Hazards
Organic Peroxides: Polymer catalyst, bleaching agent, drying agent and some are even used in production of cheese. At a given temperature, different for every peroxide and concentration (some as lower than room temperature), a chemical reaction will begin. The organic peroxide is then it own fuel, ignition source, and the oxygen source (the three sides of the fire triangle) making a fire that is next to impossible to put out. ie. Benzyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, chemicals ending with "peroxide" or "-peroxy-" in the name. Picric Acid: Yellow dye, biological slide stain, explosives, matches, electric batteries and laboratory reagent. In dry form picric acid is extremely heat and shock sensitive. There is danger in just opening a bottle of picric acid, small crystals under the cap can explode causing a chain reaction and a true explosive detonation. ie. Picronitric acid, trinitrophenol, nitroxanthic acid, and carbazotic acid. Ethers (Peroxidable): Organic synthesis, smokeless powder, analytical chemicals, anesthetics and extractants. Extremely flammable liquids that on contact with air, even just opening the contain for the first time, can cause explosive organic peroxides (see above) of that ether to form. There is danger in just opening bottles of ethers, small crystals under the cap can explode causing a fire and potential explosion. ie. Ethyl ether, butyl ether, isopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and other "short chained ethers". Water and/or Air Reactive Metals: Drying agent, heat transfer agent, chemical production, fertilizers, matches, rodenticides and smoke screens. Some metals are quite reactive to water and/or air, causing a wide range of reactions from fire and explosions to toxic smoke clouds and extreme heat. ie. Sodium metal, phosphorus (red), phosphorous (white), lithium and aluminum powder. Di- and Tri- Nitrated Organics/Ammonium: Explosives, organic synthesis, fertilizers and laboratory reagents. Most commonly found in a solid state, these compounds and be explosively sensitive to both heat and shock. Most of the commercial explosive are in this category and should be handled by only professionals. ie. Ammonium nitrate, trinitrophenol (see Picric Acid), trinitrotoluene (TNT), dinitrophenol, dinitropheyl hydrazine and "azo-" compounds. Reactive and Toxic Cylinders: Sterilization, organic synthesis and chemical production. Commonly found on old farms, greenhouses, and laboratories, these chemicals can be extremely dangerous to life and the environment. Often these gases can not even be shipped off site due to changes in DOT regulations. ie. Phosgene, phosphine, sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide.