Is it corrosive?

Key Points

  • CorrosiveLiquid or solid that can destroy human skin or lung tissue or corrode metals. substances (such as acidsA substance that donates hydrogen ions that can be accepted by a base. Acids have a pH below 7.听补苍诲 basesA substance that accepts hydrogen ions donated by an acid. Bases have a pH greater than 7.) can corrode metals and destroy human skin, eye, or lung tissue.
  • Check the chemical's datasheet in CAMEO 365bet娱乐 to find out whether it's corrosive and to get response recommendations.
  • The placards below are used to label shipments of corrosive substances.

    Sample placard for hazard class 8 (corrosive).Sample placard for hazard class 8 (corrosive).

Backgrounder

Most corrosives are either acids (such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid) or bases (such as sodium hydroxide); however, other substances (such as bromine) can be corrosive too. Transportation accidents involving corrosives are very common.

Corrosive substances can:

  • Burn and destroy human skin tissue on contact.
  • Irritate or burn human eye tissue on contact.
  • Burn and destroy lung tissue if people breathe a corrosive gas or evaporating vapors.
  • Corrode metals such as steel, zinc, tin, galvanized metal, and aluminum. When acids corrode metals, flammableEasy to ignite and burns readily. hydrogen gas is often given off.

Corrosive substances can have other hazards. Some corrosive substances also are flammable or explosive. Some react with other chemicals, causing chemical reactions that can generate toxicPoisonous; can injure or kill people or other organisms. or explosiveA material synthesized or mixed deliberately to allow the very rapid release of chemical energy (that is, an explosion). Also, a chemical substance that is intrinsically unstable and liable to detonate under conditions that might reasonably be encountered. products. Some corrosive materials are poisonous and/or carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Acids and bases鈥攚hen spilled into water鈥攑otentially can change the pHMeasure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. At room temperature, a solution having a pH of 7 is neutral (neither acidic nor basic). Solutions with pHs greater than 7 are basic (alkaline); solutions with pHs below 7 are acidic. of the water enough to harm water animals and plants.

Corrosivity Information in CAMEO 365bet娱乐

Follow the steps below to find out whether a substance is corrosive:

  1. Search for the chemical.
  2. In the Search Results pages, find the chemical datasheet, and click View Datasheet.
  3. Look in the Chemical Identifiers聽section of the datasheet. First, review the DOT Hazard Label information (and the example placard/label images shown at the top of the datasheet) to see if the chemical has a Corrosive label. Then review the聽General Description聽for details about a substance's potential corrosive hazards.

    The DOT Hazard Label for sulfuric acid indicates that this substance is corrosive. Several sentences in the General Description talk about corrosive hazards.
  4. Next, go to the Response Recommendations section of the datasheet. Review the Firefighting recommendations if the substance is involved in a fire, and the Non-Fire Response recommendations if it is not. Review the Protective Clothing section to find out about suitable PPE for responders.
  5. The Health Hazard聽field in the Hazards section of the datasheet may also contain information on whether a substance is corrosive. See Health Hazard exampleSee Health Hazard example

    CAMEO 365bet娱乐 description of the health hazards of sulfuric acid, a strong corrosive.