When reading a chemical label, it’s important to check for what two kinds of hazards?

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when reading a chemical label, it’s important to check for what two kinds of hazards?

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LectureNotes said when reading a chemical label, it’s important to check for what two kinds of hazards?

Answer: When reading a chemical label, it’s important to check for two primary kinds of hazards: physical hazards and health hazards. These categories provide essential information about the potential risks associated with handling and using the chemical.

  1. Physical Hazards:

    • Flammability: Indicates if the chemical can easily catch fire.
    • Reactivity: Information about how the chemical reacts with other substances, including if it explodes or produces hazardous byproducts.
    • Corrosivity: Details on whether the chemical can corrode metals or other materials.
    • Oxidizers: Identifies chemicals that can cause or enhance the combustion of other materials, making them more likely to catch fire.

    Example Symbols:

    • Flame symbol for flammability.
    • Exploding bomb symbol for explosives and highly reactive substances.
    • Corrosion symbol for chemicals that cause skin burns or eye damage and also corrode metals.

  2. Health Hazards:

    • Toxicity: Details on the adverse effects of the chemical if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, including acute and chronic toxicity.
    • Carcinogenicity: Indicates whether the chemical has the potential to cause cancer.
    • Mutagenicity: Information on whether the chemical can cause genetic mutations.
    • Reproductive Toxicity: Details on whether the chemical can affect reproductive health or cause birth defects.
    • Irritation and Sensitization: Indicates if the chemical can cause skin or eye irritation, or allergic reactions upon exposure.

    Example Symbols:

    • Skull and crossbones for acute toxicity.
    • Health hazard symbol (a human silhouette with a star burst) for carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory sensitization, and other severe health risks.
    • Exclamation mark for less severe health hazards like skin sensitization, skin and eye irritation, or narcotic effects.

Final Answer: When reading a chemical label, it’s essential to check for physical hazards and health hazards. These classifications help ensure safe handling, usage, and emergency responses related to the chemical in question.