FPASA BULLETIN FD 06
PROPERTIES OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
(Solids)
Many of the chemicals found in everyday use in industry represent a hazard should they
become involved in fire.
The table below lists some commonly used chemicals together with some important
properties and the emergency action to be taken should they be involved in fire or spillage.
Properties:
1.
2.
3.
Where a chemical is listed as being toxic or evolving toxic fumes or gases when
exposed to heat, the emergency action should include the use of respiratory
protection – preferably the wearing of breathing apparatus. (BA).
Where it is indicated that a chemical is an irritant or a corrosive, then the wearing of
protective gear such as goggles, gloves, rubber boots, etc should be compulsory.
Reference to special powders under emergency action means that fires can only
be extinguished by using certain powders specially designed for the risk, e.g.:
powdered graphite, powdered talc, soda ash, lime-stone, cement, or special dry
chemicals such as ternary eutectric chlorides. In the absence of special powders
dry sand may be effective.
Substance & Synonyms
Adipic Acid
(hexanedionic acid:1,4
butanedicarboxylic acid)
Formula
COOH(CH2)4COOH
Alkaloids (alkaloid salts)
Properties
Powder or crystals: flammable
Emergency Action –
Fire/Spillage
Dilute with copious water
spray.
Solids: corrosive, vapour given
off when heated, highly toxic
Dilute with copious water
spray.
Alpha-naphthylamine
C10H7NH2
White crystals: toxic
Dilute with copious water
spray
Aluminium Chloride
AlCl3
White or yellow crystals. Gas
given off when heated, highly
toxic, non-flammable. Reacts
with water evolving HCl
Shovel spillage into a dry
container and remove to
isolated position where
fumes can disperse,
decontaminate.
Ammonium
Metavanadate
(ammonium vanadate)
NH4VO3
White crystals: non-flammable,
toxic.
Avoid any personal
contact. Cover spillage
with dry sand.
Decontaminate.
Ammonium Nitrate
(Norway saltpetre)
NH4NO3
Colourless crystals. Powerful
oxidiser. Explosive if
contaminated with organic
matter and confined.
Decomposes at 210°C evolving
highly toxic nitrous fumes
Cool with copious water
spray. Flood where
necessary. Ventilate well.
4/2000
Substances &
Synonyms
Barium
Formula
Properties
Emergency Action –
Fire/Spillage
Avoid any personal
contact.
Ba
Solid: toxic. Reacts violently
with water, halogens, oxygen
acids and ammonia.
Flammable in powder form.
Barium Nitrate
(nitrobarite)
Ba(NO3)2
White crystals: nonflammable, toxic, oxidising
agent. When heated gives
off oxygen and highly toxic
nitrous fumes. Explosive if
contaminated with organic
material.
Avoid any person
contact. Flush away
spillage with copious
water spray. Beware
hazard on drying out.
Barium Peroxide)
(barium binoxide, barium
dioxide)
BaO2
Grey-white powder: toxic,
oxidising. Reacts violently
with water to produce heat.
Oxygen liberated on heating
to high temperatures.
Avoid any personal
contact with solid.
Beware explosion risk on
heating or on
contamination with
combustible materials.
Boric Acid (boracic acid,
orthoboric acid)
H2BO3
Powder or crystals: noncombustible, toxic, irritating.
Cadmium
Cd
Crystals: Flammable in
powder form. Fumes toxic,
fatal dose can be inhaled
without immediate
discomfort. Reacts
vigorously with oxidising
agents.
Calcium
Ca
Metal: Reacts violently with
water to produce hydrogen.
Non-toxic.
Avoid any personal
contact. Cover spillage
with dry sand.
Calcium Carbide
CaC2
Grey crystals: nonflammable. Reacts violently
with water to produce
acetylene gas, heat and
corrosive solid.
Beware explosion risk if
water enters punctured
containers.
Calcium Chlorate
Ca(ClO3)22H2O
White to yellow crystals.
Oxidising. When heated
above 100°C decomposes to
liberate volumes of oxygen.
Explosive if contaminated
with combustible material or
when subjected to shock.
Beware explosion risk on
heating or shock.
Calcium Cyanamide
(calcium carbinide, lime
nitrogen)
CaCN2
Calcium Hypochlorite
(bleaching powder,
calcium oxychloride)
Ca(ClO)2
4/2000
Colourless crystals: Reacts
with heat or water to produce
acetylene and ammonia.
Irritant by contact.
White powder, granules or
pellets. Dangerous oxidising
material. Heat evolves
oxygen. Non-flammable.
Evolves chlorine with acids.
Irritant, toxic.
Flood with copious water
spray.
Substances &
Synonyms
Calcium Hydroxide
(calcium hydrate, slaked
lime, hydrate lime).
Camphor (2camphonone, gum
camphor, laurel camphor)
Formula
Ca(OH)2
C10H10O
Powder: non-flammable, skin
irritant. Caustic. Reacts with
acids to produce heat
Crystals. Vapour given off
when heated, toxic
flammable. Explosive range
0,6 to 3,5 % in air.
Emergency Action –
Fire/Spillage
Dilute and flush away
spillage with copious
water spray.
Avoid personal contact.
White flakes or powder.
Flammable, burning slowly
giving off black smoke.
Cellulose Acetate (C.A.)
Chloride of Lime
(bleaching powder)
Properties
CaCl(ClO).4H2)
Chromates (chromium
compounds)
White powder: Oxidising
agent, corrosive. Explosive
decomposition when heated
– reacts with combustible
material, acids or water to
liberate chlorine.
Dilute and flush away
spillage with copious
water spray. Keep
containers cool with
water spray.
Toxic. When heated
decomposes to liberate
oxygen.
Avoid any personnel
contact with solid or
fumes. Dilute and flush
away spillage with
copious water spray.
Beware explosion risk on
heating of containers.
Chromic Acid (chromium
trioxide, chromic
anhydride)
CrO3
Purple – red crystals.
Oxidising material. Reaction
with organic materials causes
ignition. Severe irritant.
Containers may explode
when heated.
Flood with copious water
spray.
Diethanolamine (DEA, Di(2-hydroxyethyl)-amine
(HOCH2CH2)2NH
Colourless crystals.
Flammable poison. Melts at
28°C to form viscous liquid
which smells of ammonia.
Reacts with oxidising
materials.
Avoid personal contact.
Dilute spillage with
copious water spray.
Hydroquinone (quinol,
hydroquinol, paradihydroxybenzene)
C6H4(OH)2
Crystals: toxic, combustible,
irritant. Can react with
oxidising materials.
Beware explosion risk on
ignition of released
vapour if heated.
Lithium
Li
Metal: Flammable, toxic.
Vapour given off when
heated, toxic. Reacts
violently with water, acids
and oxidisers.
Avoid any personal
contact with solid and/or
fumes. Cover spillage
with dry sand. Beware
explosion risk.
4/2000
Substances &
Synonyms
Magnesium
Formula
Properties
Emergency Action –
Fire/Spillage
Beware disturbing dust to
form dust cloud. Use
special powders to
extinguish.
Mg
Metal: Flammable. When
burning reacts explosively
with water producing
hydrogen. Dust explosive in
air. Reacts violently with
oxidisers.
Melamine (2, 4, 6Triamino-s-triazine,
cyanurotriamide)
C3N3(NH2)3
Crystals: Decomposes on
heating liberating cyanide
fumes.
Flush with copious water
spray
Naphthalene (moth balls,
white tar, tar camphor).
C10H8
Flammable, toxic. Reacts
with oxidisers. Melts at 80°C.
Avoid any personal
contact with liquid
spillage, danger of
scalds. Copious water
spray will solidify liquid
spillage.
Nicotine Sulphate
(C10H14N2)H2SO4
White crystals, powerful
poison. Soluble in water,
combustible.
Avoid any personal
contact
With solid or fumes.
Nitrocellulose
(nitrocotton, gun cotton,
cellulose nitrate)
C12H14(ONO2)6O4
Powder or cotton – like solid.
FP 4,4°C. Dangerous when
exposed to heat or oxidisers.
Containers when heated
or dropped may detonate
with rupture of drum and
violent flame. Cool
containers with water
spray.
Octylphenol (diisobutyl
phenol)
C6H4(C8H17)OH
Flakes, flammable. Vapour:
heavier than air, highly toxic,
irritating.
Contain spillage with dry
sand, earth.
Decontaminate.
Members of this group of
chemicals may be pastes,
powders or liquids. All are
hazardous and can burn with
explosive violence. May
explode if subject to heat,
shock, friction or acids.
Avoid any personal
contact. Beware
explosion risk on heating
of containers. Keep cool
with water spray applied
to containers from a
distance. Do not move
heated containers until
they have cooled.
White crystalline mass.
Flammable, poison,
corrosive. Vapour: very
dangerous to eyes. Soluble in
water; heavier than air.
Vapour given off when
heated.
Dilute and flush away
spillage with copious
water spray.
Grey-black solid.
Decomposes when heated
giving off toxic, flammable
heavier than air, phenol and
formaldehyde fumes. Dust is
explosive in air.
Beware explosion risk on
ignition of dust or release
of fumes of
decomposition.
Organic Peroxides
Phenol (carbolic acid,
phenic acid, phenylic
acid)
Phenol Formaldehyde
(resin)
4/2000
C6H5OH
Substances &
Synonyms
Phosphorus (Red)
Formula
P4
Phosphorus (yellow or
white)
P4
Phosphorus
Pentachloride
(phosphoric chloride,
phosphoric perchloride)
Properties
Powder: flammable, toxic.
Vapour given off when
heated, toxic, heavier than
air. Products of combustion
highly toxic.
Emergency Action –
Fire/Spillage
Avoid any personal
contact. Cover spillage
with wet sand.
Flammable toxic. Reacts with
air, spontaneously flammable
at 30°C. Products of
combustion highly toxic.
Avoid any personal
contact with solid. Cover
contaminated areas with
wet sand or earth. Solid
phosphorus should be
put under a water seal.
PCl5
Flammable, corrosive.
Reacts with water to produce
hydrochloric acid and
phosphoric acid.
Decomposes when heated to
produce highly toxic chloride
fumes.
Beware explosion risk on
ignition of released
vapour. Copious flooding.
Phosphorus
Pentasulphide
(phosphorus sulphide,
phosphorus persulphide,
thiophosphoric
anhydride)
P2S5
Flammable, toxic. Reacts
violently with water or acids
to produce H2S.
Decomposes when heated to
liberate highly toxic fumes of
sulphur and phosphorus
oxides. Reacts with oxidisers.
Avoid any personal
contact with solid and/or
fumes. Use dry powder
or sand.
Potassium
K
Soft metal: flammable,
corrosive, poison.
Transported molten in this
state reacts violently with air
to produce hydrogen, the
heat being sufficient to result
in ignition. Cold metal also
reacts with water. When
heated gives off highly toxic
fumes.
Cover spillage with dry
sand. Beware explosion
risk on contact with
moisture.
Potassium Cyanide
KCN
White crystalline solid: nonflammable, highly toxic.
Reacts with heat, moisture or
acids to produce volumes of
highly flammable, toxic,
lighter than air gas.
Avoid any personal
contact. Cover spillage
with dry sand pending
decontamination. Do not
allow spillage to enter
drains. Special powders.
Potassium Ferrocyanide
(yellow potassium
prussiate)
K4Fe(CN)63H2O
Crystals or powder. Toxic.
Decomposed by heat or
acids to liberate cyanide
fumes.
Avoid any personal
contact.
Potassium Nitrate (nitre,
saltpetre)
KNO3
Crystals or powder: powerful
oxidising agent. Decomposes
on heating liberating oxygen
and toxic fumes. If molten
violent vaporisation if water is
applied. Explosive if heated
and confined or shocked.
Flush away spillage with
copious water spray.
Beware hazard of
contaminated
combustibles on drying
out. Beware explosion
risk on heating.
4/2000
Substances &
Synonyms
Potassium
Permanganate
Formula
Properties
Emergency Action –
Fire/Spillage
Use B.A. at all times.
Flush away spillage with
copious water spray.
Beware hazard of
contaminated
combustibles on drying
out. Beware explosion
risk on heating.
KMnO4
Purple crystals: powerful
oxidising agent, strongly
irritant. Decomposes violently
when heated liberating
oxygen.
Sodium (natrium)
Na
Silver-white solid: corrosive,
flammable, poison. Reacts
violently with water to
produce hydrogen and
caustic soda, the heat being
sufficient to result in ignition
of the hydrogen. When
burning gives off toxic fumes.
Contain spillage with dry
sand. Evacuate area and
decontaminate. Contact
with moisture will result in
ignition.
Sodium Hydrosulphite
(sodium hyposulphite,
sodium dithionite)
Na2S2O4
Flakes or powder.
Decomposes when heated
giving off volumes of toxic
non-flammable, heavier than
air gases. Heats on contact
with air or moisture and may
ignite combustibles. Strong
reducing agent.
Avoid any personal
contact. Cover/contain
spillage with dry sand,
cement, salt, bicarbonate
of soda. Do not allow
spillage to enter drains.
Beware explosion risk on
heating of containers.
Sodium Nitrate (soda
niter, nitratine)
NaNO3
Crystals. Powerful oxidising
agent. Decomposes on
heating liberating oxygen and
toxic fumes. Explosive if
heated and confined, or when
shocked.
Flush away spillage with
copious water spray.
Beware hazard of
contaminated
combustibles on drying
out. Beware explosion
risk on heating.
Sodium Peroxide (sodium
dioxide, sodium
superoxide, sodium
binoxide)
Na2O2
White-powder: powerful
oxidising agent, highly toxic.
Reacts violently with water to
produce oxygen and caustic
soda. Decomposes on
heating liberating oxygen.
Explosive if contaminated
with organic material.
Avoid any personal
contact. Beware
explosion risk on heating
or contact with organic
material. Special
powders.
Strontium Nitrate
Sr(NO2)2
White powder: powerful
oxidising agent. Decomposes
on heating liberating oxygen
and toxic fumes. Explosive if
heated and confined.
Flush away spillage with
copious water spray.
Beware hazard of
contaminated
combustibles on drying
out.
Sulphur (brimstone,
flowers of sulphur,
sulphur flour)
S
Crystals or powder,
combustible. Reacts violently
with oxidising agents.
Products of combustion
highly toxic.
Beware explosion risk on
ignition of airborne dust.
Flush with copious water
spray.
4/2000
Substances &
Synonyms
Titanium
Formula
Ti
Triisopropanolamine
N(C3H6OH)3
Properties
Powder or granular form,
flammable (even if wet). May
be ignited by spark. When
dry burns without flame.
When burning reacts
explosively with water. Burns
in N2 or CO2.
Crystalline solid: flammable
vapour: heavier than air
flammable, toxic.
Avoid
any
personal
contact.
Protect
containers from heat with
water
spray.
Dilute
spillage and flush with
copious water spray.
Avoid personal contact.
Dilute and flush with
copious water spray.
Zinc Hydrosulphite (zinc
dithionite)
(ZnS2O4)
White solid: toxic. When
burning or in contact with
acids produces toxic, heavier
than air gas. Self heats in
contact with moisture.
Decomposes on being
heated to emit highly toxic
fumes.
Zirconium
Zr
Scales or powder: flammable
and explosive in dust form.
Ignites spontaneously in air
or on contact with oxidising
materials. Burning zirconium
decomposes water.
References:
Hazardous Loads – Institution of Fire Engineers
Hazardous Properties of Industrial Materials – N Irving Sax
Condensed Chemical Dictionary
Published by
Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa
(Incorporated Association not for Gain)
(Reg. No. 73/00022/08)
P O Box 15467
Impala Park
1472
4/2000
Emergency Action –
Fire/spillage
Beware explosion risk
from dust in air mixture.
Small spillage may be
covered with dry salt or
dry sand. Don’t strike
sparks from tools during
application. Avoid water
and
gaseous
extinguishers.
Beware explosion risk on
ignition of dust. Special
powders.