Liquids flammability characteristics

Flammability characteristics of some important organic chemicals (liquids and gases) are provided in appendix B. 

MW 78.12 CAS [71-43-2] occurs in gasoline and coal-tar distillation products used as a solvent and in organic synthesis colorless liquid with characteristic odor boils at 80.1°C freezes at 5.5°C vapor pressure 76 torr at 20°C density 0.88 g/L slightly soluble in water (1.78 g/L) readily miscible with organic solvents toxic and carcinogenic flammable. 

EXPLOSION and FIRE CONCERNS noncombustible solid liquid formulations containing organic solvents may be flammable characteristics of the dust or the solvent used in the formulation will determine the explosion hazard decomposes in acid or base decomposes on heating above 200°C (392°F), producing toxic and corrosive fumes of nitrogen oxides, phosphorous oxides, and oxides of sulfur use dry powder, alcohol foam or carbon dioxide for firefighting purposes. 

Pyridine 5 Colourless liquid flammable with characteristic nauseating odour, bp 115°C Causes puritis (itching), eczema, headache, vomitting, conjunctivitis, and abdominal pain. To be handled in a Fuming cupboard. 

Isobutyl alcohol (2-methyl-1 propanol [CAS 78-83-1]) A CNS depressant at high levels. 50 ppm 1600 ppm 1 3 0 Coloriess liquid. Mild characteristic odor is a good warning property. Vapor pressure is 9 mm Hg at 20 C (68 F). Flammable. 

Boiling point, °C 138 Melting point, C -78 Flash point, C 33 Auto-ignitlon temperature, ° C 300 Relative density (water -1) 0.8 Relative vapor density (air-1) 3.0 Relative density at 20 ° C of saturated mixture vapor/air(air-1) 1.01 Vapor pressure, mm Hg at 20 C 2.3 Solubility in water, g/100 ml 2.7 Explosive limits, vol% in air 1.3-10.5 Electrical conductivity, pS/m 2.6 x 10 Relative molecular mass 88.1 Log P octanol/water 1.3 Grossformula 5 12 COLORLESS LIQUID WITH CHARACTERISTIC ODOR Vapor mixes readily with air. Reacts violently with oxidants, with risk of fire and explosion. Reacts violently with alkaline-earth and alkali metals, giving off flammable gas (- hydrogen). ... 

Much of the concern in the literature is centered on the flammable characteristics of flammable liquids, much of which has already been addressed in Chapter 4, Section V.G. This characteristic will be treated in more detail in the following section. There are many other issues relating to the health effects of these solvents which also need to be considered. 

The flash point of a liquid is an important and practical flammability characteristic and is one of the main physical properties used to determine fire and explosion hazard. It is defined as the minimum temperature at which the liquid gives off sufficient vapour to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid or within a vessel. A fire may not necessarily develop at the flash point of a liquid. Instead, this will occur at the fire point , which is the lowest temperature at which the vapour above a liquid will continue to burn. The fire point is usually found a few degrees above the flash point. 

MTBE is a colorless, low-viscosity liquid with characteristic terpene-like odor. It is flammable and nonautoxidizable. It is miscible in all proportions with gasoline, scarcely soluble in water, and presents no phase-separation problems in existing distribution systems. It is stable in storage and has no extreme effect on automotive fuel elastomers and plastics at the commercial levels used. 

Characteristics Combustible (Vapor) Liquid Flammable (Vapor) Liquid... 

Characteristics associated with ignitable liquids are relatively simple to understand when a single element or compound is involved however, mixtures are more difficult to understand. Flammability characteristics of the most volatile element or compound may persist this becomes the danger indicator for the entire volume of mixture. This is a common problem with mixing chemicals for laboratories or when cleaning with multiple cleaning solvents. 

Benzene [71-43-2] 6 6 volatile, colorless, and flammable liquid aromatic hydrocarbon possessing a distinct, characteristic odor. Benzene is used as a... 

Alkenes — Also known as olefins, and denoted as C H2 the compounds are unsaturated hydrocarbons with a single carbon-to-carbon double bond per molecule. The alkenes are very similar to the alkanes in boiling point, specific gravity, and other physical characteristics. Like alkanes, alkenes are at most only weakly polar. Alkenes are insoluble in water but quite soluble in nonpolar solvents like benzene. Because alkenes are mostly insoluble liquids that are lighter than water and flammable as well, water is not used to suppress fires involving these materials. Because of the double bond, alkenes are more reactive than alkanes. 

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