MsSilvie
Posts: 248
Joined: 2/4/2005 Status: offline
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http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/CH/chloroform.html Physical data Appearance: clear colourless liquid with a sweet odour Melting point: -63 C Boiling point: 61 C Vapour density: 4.1 Vapour pressure: 159 mm Hg at 20 C Specific gravity: 1.48 g/cm3 Flash point: none Explosion limits: (none) Autoignition temperature: (none) http://msds.ehs.cornell.edu/msds/msdsdod/a97/m48174.htm Section 5 - Fire Fighting Measures CHLOROFORM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fire Fighting Procedures: WEAR SELF-CNTD BRTHG,APP H20 SPRAY TO COOL CONTR. Unusual Fire or Explosion Hazard: NOT CONSIDERED TO BE AN EXPLOSION HAZARD; SLIGHT FIRE HAZARD WHEN EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT. Extinguishing Media: EXTINQUISH W. AGENT SUITABLE FOR SURROUNDING FIRE. Flash Point: Flash Point Text: NONE Autoignition Temperature: Autoignition Temperature Text: N/A Lower Limit(s): N/R Upper Limit(s): N/R http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/c2915.htm 5. Fire Fighting Measures Fire: Slight fire hazard when exposed to high heat; otherwise, practically not flammable. Explosion: Sealed containers may rupture when heated. Fire Extinguishing Media: Use any means suitable for extinguishing surrounding fire. Chloroform is volatile, it can build up a head pressure if heated in a sealed container. Preserved chloroform has some alcohol, and if the liquid gets contaminated with water, that all creates more pressure, because vapor pressures are additive. If you want to say "explosion" can be breaking the container it is in due to pressure under excessive heat, I suppose I would agree. A can of soda will also do this under excessive heat. It's not an explosive reaction that you would get from something like ether. I've never seen chloroform offered in an explosion proof container. I have never heard of a bottle of chloroform rupturing unexpectedly. Nor do I look at a bottle of cloroform with deep mistrust that it may pop on me. quote:
ORIGINAL: dark~angel quote:
www.info.anu.edu.au quote:
Laboratory Chemicals that may Develop Explosive Potential on Deterioration A very wide variety of laboratory chemicals may deteriorate to produce explosive chemicals or chemicals with explosive potential due to (1) becoming a shock-sensitive explosive, (2) forming peroxides (which are shock-sensitive explosives), (3) may also form peroxides, (4) being a strong oxidising agent (and hence, sensitive to the presence of dust and organics), (5) container developing high internal gas pressure (due to decomposition or other reaction). A list of chemicals coded in the above scheme has been provided in Appendix C6 (Deteriorated chemicals) of M.J. Pitt and E. Pitt Handbook of Laboratory Waste Disposal and this list, together with local additions, is reproduced below. The list may not be complete. Information is also available from the Bretherick references. Appropriate care should be exercised in the storage and handling of these materials. Acetal (3) Acetaldehyde diethyl acetal (3) 2-acetyl furan (3) Acetyl peroxide (1) Aluminium chloride (5) Aluminium lithium hydride (5) Ammonia solution (5) Ammonium dichromate (4) Ammonium hydroxide (5) Anethole (3) Anisaldehyde (3) Anisole (3) Anisyl chloride (5) Aqua regia (5) Benzenesulphonyl chloride (5) Benzoyl peroxide (1) Bleach (5) Bleaching powder (5) 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl acetate (3) 2-Butoxyethyl acetate (3) t-Butyl hydroperoxide (4) iso-Butyl ether (2) n-butyl ether (3) Calcium carbide (5) Calcium hydride (5) Calcium hypochlorite (5) Cellosolve (3) Chloroform (5) Chromic acid (5) Chromium trioxide (4) Cleaning mixtures (5) Cumene (3) Cumene hydroperoxide (5) Cyclohexene (3) Cyclopentadiene (3) Cyclopentane (3) Unfortunately I can't pull up this link to see what else is listed in there. Overall, appropriate care should be exercised in the storage and handling of any chemical materials. Most things have the potential to be hazardous. I generally would agree that I would have about the same level of concern for a bottle of bleach, ammonia or cleaning mixture (all of which can be found in my laundry room) exploding as I would have about a bottle of chloroform. quote:
Chemrest Chemical Scorecard for the Federal Clear air act quote:
List: Regulated Toxic, Explosive, or Flammable Substances (Clean Air Act) No one was stating chloroform isn't toxic, were they? Edited, 'cause I don't spel to gud.
< Message edited by MsSilvie -- 6/1/2005 9:16:59 AM >
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Strange thoughts beget strange deeds. - Percy Bysshe Shelley
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