Decomposition 07
Decomposition 07 : Chemistry and Chemical Disasters. Breakdown or change of a material or substance (by heat, chemical reaction, or other processes) into other chemical compounds. Thermal decomposition is decomposition initiated by heating. Chemical decomposition is decomposition induced by the addition of one or more chemicals to a substance. Additional Info: Just as a piece of food (which is really just a collection of many chemicals) can spoil or rot (See: Biodegradable), so can certain chemical substances or mixtures. For example, when glucose (a form of sugar) is burned in air, it decomposes intocarbon dioxide and water (this is also an example of a combustion reaction): See: This discussion of thermodynamics for more information about the energy involved in this and other reactions. Living organisms exploit decomposition reactions in order to live. For example, the digestion of food is an exothermic process, which provides organisms with heat and chemical energy while converting the food to simpler substances that are then used as building blocks within the body or are discarded as waste. As we live in a dynamic world, many of the everyday objects around us are thermodynamically unstable. Provided the conditions are right, they will decompose all by themselves or with a little help by Nature. Examples include bread, nitroglycerin, lawn clippings and more. Some of these processes generate enough heat on their own to undergo spontaneous combustion! MSDS Relevance: Decomposition can have many effects, each of which is potentially hazardous: (1) New substances may be formed, some or all of which are explosive, flammable or toxic. Peroxide-forming materials are particularly dangerous. (2) Decomposition may result in the release of a large amount of heat, possibly resulting in a fire or explosion. The phrase "explosive decomposition" may appear on the MSDS. (3) Partial decomposition can introduce toxins or other unstable materials as well as degrade the physical properties of the material. (4) Polymerization of the material may occur, changing an easily handled liquid into an insoluble solid. See also: HMIS, Incompatible Chemicals, Peroxide, Polymerization
No records Found