Term | Definition |
Acid | a substance with a pH less than 7.0 |
Base | a substance with a pH greater than 7.0; also referred to as alkaline |
Carcinogen | a cancer-causing substance |
Combustible liquid | any liquid that has a flashpoint at or above 100 degrees F but below 200 degrees F |
Explosive | a substance that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous release of pressure, gas and heat when sujected to sudden shock, pressure or high temperatures |
Flammable gas | any gas that, at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure forms a flammable mixture with air at a concentration of 10% by volume or less |
Flammable liquid | any liquid that has a flashpoint below 100 degrees F |
Flammable solide | any solid, other than a blasting agent or explosive, that is liable to cause fire through friction, absorption of moisture, spontaneous chemical change or retained heat from manufacturing or processing |
Flashpoint | the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives of a vapor in sufficient concentration to ignite |
HAZCOM | OSHA 29 C.F.R. 1910.1200 Hazard Communication/Employee Right-to-Know, a standard to ensure that employees are aware of the chemicals they are exposed to in the workplace and the measures to take to protect themselves from such hazards |
Highly toxic | a substance that requires only a small amount of exposure to be lethal |
Inorganic compound | a chemical compound that that does not contain carbon chains |
Mutagen | a chemical suspected to have properties that change or alter a living cell's genetic structure; mutagens can lead to cancer or birth defects if the egg or sperm is affected |
Nuerotoxin | a poison that affects the nervous system |
Organic Compound | a chemical compound that contains carbon chains |
Organic peroxide | an organic comound that contains the bivalent -O-O- structrue and which can be considered to be a structural derivative of hydgrogen peroxide, where one or both of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by an organic radical |
Oxidizer | a chemical that can initiate or promote combustion in other materials |
pH | a measure of the amount of hydrogen ions in a solution that can react and indicate if a substance is an acid or base |
Pyrophoric | a chemical that will ignite spontaneously in air at a temperature of 130 degrees F or below |
Sensitizer | an agent that can cause an allergic reation |
Teratogen | a substance believed to have an adverse effect on human fetus development |
Toxic materials | a substance determined to have an adverse health impact |
Water-reactive | any substance that reacts with water to release a gas that is either flammable or that presents a health hazard. |