General Oxidizer Safety Lab Safety Meeting August 27 th,

What are oxidizers? Defined as: – Chemicals capable of evolving oxygen at room temperature or with slight heating. – Chemicals capable of receiving electrons from a substance being oxidized MAIN HAZARD: COMBUSTION PROMOTING AGENTS! GENERALLY CORROSIVE! 4 classes: – Class 1: Causes slight increase in burning rate, no spontaneous ignition – Class 2: Moderate increase in burning rate or may cause spontaneous ignition of combustible material it comes into contact with – Class 3: Severe increase in burning rate. Undergoes vigorous burning when contaminated or or exposed to heat – Class 4: Undergoes explosive reaction when contaminated, or exposed to heat, physical shock, or friction. Spontaneous ignition of combustibles 2

Typical Oxidizers Class 1 All Inorganic nitrates (unless otherwise classified) All Inorganic nitrites (unless otherwise classified) Ammonium persulfate Barium peroxide Calcium peroxide Hydrogen peroxide solutions (greater than 8% up to 27.5%) Lead dioxide Lithium hypochlorite (39% or less available chlorine) Lithium peroxide Magnesium peroxide Manganese dioxide Nitric acid (40% concentration or less) Perchloric acid solutions (less than 50% by weight) Potassium dichromate Potassium percarbonate Potassium persulfate Sodium carbonate peroxide Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate Sodium dichromate Sodium perborate (anhydrous) Sodium perborate monohydrate Sodium perborate tetrahydrate Sodium percarbonate Sodium persulfate Strontium perioside Zinc peroxide Class 2 Barium bromate Barium chlorate Barium hypochlorite Barium perchlorate Barium permanganate 1-Bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin Calcium chlorate Calcium chlorite Calcium hypochlorite (50% or less by weight) Calcium perchlorate Calcium permanganate Chromium trioxide (Chromic acid) Copper chlorate Halane (1,3-Dichloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin) Hydrogen peroxide (greater than 27.5% up to 52% percent) Lead perchlorate Lithium chlorate Lithium hypochlorite (more than 39% available chlorine) Lithium perchlorate Magnesium bromate Magnesium chlorate Magnesium perchlorate Mercurous chlorate Nitric acid (more than 40% but less than 86%) Perchloric acid solutions (more than 50% but less 60%) Potassium perchlorate Potassium permanganate Silver peroxide Sodium chlorite (40% or less by weight) Sodium perchlorate Sodium perchlorate monohydrate Sodium permanganate Sodium peroxide Strontium chlorate Strontium perchlorate Strontium peroxide Thallium chlorate Trichloro-s-triazinetrione (Trichloroisocyanuric acid) Urea hydrogen peroxide Zinc bromate Zinc chlorate Zinc permanganate Class 3 Ammonium dichromate Calcium hypochlorite (over 50% by weight) Chloric acid (10% maximum concentration) Hydrogen peroxide solutions (greater than 52% up to 91%) Mono-(trichloro)-tetra-(monopotassium dichloro)-penta-s- triazinetrione) Nitric acid, fuming (more than 86% concentration) Perchloric acid solutions (60% to 72% by weight) Potassium bromate Potassium chlorate Potassium dichloro-s-triazinetrione (Potassiumdichloroiso-cyanurate) Sodium bromate Sodium chlorate Sodium chlorite (over 40% by weight) Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) Class 4 Ammonium perchlorate (particle size greater than 15microns) Ammonium permanganate Guanidine nitrate Hydrogen peroxide solutions (greater than 91%) Tetranitromethane 3

Safety Measures Recommended PPE: safety goggles/face shield, gloves, lab coats No open toed shoes! If reaction is potentially explosive, or if you’re not sure, work in a fume hood Store in a cool, dry place isolated from organic or combustible materials and strong reducing agents such as zinc, alkaline metals, and formic acid Strong oxidizing agents such as perchloric acid should be stored in a separate secondary container Unbreakable secondary containment (i.e. PVC) is critical for transportation Don’t forget to consult MSDS! 4

Unexpected Direct Exposure! If an acid is splashed onto bare skin rinse for minutes If splashed in eyes, irrigate with eye wash station for minutes If splashed onto clothing, remove immediately (don’t be modest) and rinse off skin areas that might have been exposed Don’t forget to consider the safety showers Seek help: – Fires/Accidents dial 911 (from a cell phone: ) – Spills dial (Risk Management and Safety) – After hour spills dial 911 5

Sources df df _HS_LAB_SAFETY_ART.pdf _HS_LAB_SAFETY_ART.pdf 6