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Identification and classification of chemicals
Identification of chemicals begin with knowledge of basic chemistry.
Chemicals are classified in different ways.
They are broadly classified as organic and inorganic chemicals.
In organic are sub classified as metal and non metal.
Out of 104 elements, 80 are metals and majority of them are solid.
In non metal, more than half are gases.
Metals: aluminium, arsenic, calcium, chromium, cobalt etc.
Non metals: bromine, chlorine, flourine, iodine etc.
Organic chemicals include carbon compound.
They are sub classified as;
Aliphatic compound (without benzene rings): hydrocarbon, alcohol , ethers, ketons, aldehydes etc.
Aromatic: benzene, phenol, aromatic alcohol etc.
Heterocyclic compound and polymers (with other compound): furan, pyridine, thiophene etc.
Chemicals are also classified as under;
- According to physical state: solid, liquid or gas
2. Noxious gas:
Irritant gas: chlorine, ammonia, SO2
Systemic poison: benzene, nickel carbonyl etc.
Simple asphyxiate: nitrogen, methane, CO2
Chemical asphxiants: CO, hydrogen sulfide, HCN
3. Dust (P.M)
4. Biological agents and disease
Virus, bactaria, fugi, parasites etc.
The chemicals should be properly identified, classified and handled accordingly.
For this purpose some major divisions are given below;
Corrosive chemicals: bromine, caustic soda,flourine, sulfuric acid, sulfur chloride, hydrazine, phenol etc.
Oxidizing agent: aluminum nitrate, ammonium nitrate, perchlorate, zinc chlorate, zinc peroxide etc.
Carcinogens: asbestos, aniline, benzene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, styrene, phenol etc.
Poisonous chemicals: bromide, chloride, arsenic acid, cyclohexane, phenol, nickel cyanide, phosgene, DDT etc.
Pesticides- Insecticides: aldrine, acephate, BHC, cupric sulfate etc.
Explosive chemicals: carbon dust, aluminum dust, wood saw dust, potassium nitrate etc.
Solvents: methanol, ethanol, benzene, toluene etc.
Other flammable chemicals: LPG, ethylene, ethylene oxide, phosphorous, vinyl chloride etc.
Reactive chemicals: acetic acid, acetone, sodium, potassium, magnesium aluminium powder etc.
Alcohols: methyl, ethyl, amyl etc.
Refrigerant gases: ammonia, freon, carbon dioxide etc.
Esters: borate, benzoate, cynate
Ethers: thio ethers, vinyl ethers etc.
Enzymes: catalase, deaminase, lactose etc.
Resins: allyl, aminoplastic etc.
Acids:
In organic: hydorchloric, hydrobromic, hydrofloric etc.
Organic: acetic, acrylic, adipic, benzoic etc.
Compatible: means which can be stored or handled with that chemical to which it is compatible
Incompatible: means which should not be stored or handled with that chemicals to which it is incompatible.
| Chemicals | Incompatible chemicals |
| Ammonia | Mercury, chlorine, calcium hypochlorite, iodine, bromine and hydrogen floride |
| Chlorine | Ammonia, acetylene, hydrogen, benzene |
| Oxygen | Oils, grease, hydrogen, |
| Phosphurs | Air, oxygen |
| Sulfuric acid | Chlorate, per chlorates, permanganets |
READ MORE :- MSDS/SDS section. -09 & Interpretation and use of MSDS/SDS
