The Chemistry of Hazardous Materials

CHEM-1060

Syllabus

  1. Introduction: Chemistry in Fire Science, Characteristics of Hazardous Substances, Classes of Fire, Household Products, Hazardous Substances in the Workplace, Hazardous Materials in Transit, NFPA System of Identifying Hazardous Materials, CHEMTREC, National Response Center, Hazardous Materials on the Internet.

  2. Matter and Energy: Matter, Units of Measurement, Converting Between Units, Density, Energy, Temperature, Pressure, Heat, Expansion of Liquids, The Gaseous State, Hazards of Cryogens.

  3. Flammable Gases and Liquids: Flammability, RCRA Characteristics of Flammability, Compressed Gases, Disasters involving Compressed Gases, Flammable Liquids, Transport of Flammable Liquids.

  4. Chemical Forms of Matter: Elements and Compounds, Metals, Nonmetal, Metalloids, Chemical and Physical Changes, The Atom, Periodic Classification of the Elements, Molecules and Ions, Chemical Bonding, Lewis Structures, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Chemical Formulas, Formulas and Nomenclature of Ionic Compounds, Formulas and Nomenclature of Covalent Compounds, Acids, Molecular Weights, The Mole.

  5. Principals of Chemical Reactions: The Chemical Reaction, Balancing Chemical Equations, Types of Chemical Reactions, Oxidation-Reduction Reactions, Factors Affecting the Rates of Reactions, Combustion, Energetics of Chemical Reactions, Spontaneous Combustion, The Fire Tetrahedron, Water as an Extinguisher, Carbon Dioxide as an Extinguisher, Halon Fire Extinguishers, Dry Chemical Extinguishers.
  6. DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations: The Shipping Paper, DOT Labels, DOT Markings, DOT Placards, DOT Classification of Hazardous Substances, Responding to Hazardous Material Disasters, Reporting Hazardous Substance Releases.
  7. Chemistry of Some Common Elements: Oxygen, Hydrogen, Fluorine, Chlorine, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Carbon.
  8. Chemistry of Corrosive Materials: Properties of Acids and Bases, the pH Scale, Corrosiveness of Acids and Bases, Sulfuric Acid, Nitric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, Perchloric Acid, Acetic Acid, Alkali Metal Hydroxides, Responding to Corrosive Material Disasters.
  9. Chemistry of Water-Reactive Substances: Alkali Metals, Combustible Metals, Aluminum Alkyl Compounds, Metal Hydrides, Metal Phosphides, Metal Carbides, Water-Reactive Substances that Produce Hydrochloric Acid.
  10. Chemistry of Toxic Substances: Definition of Toxic Substances, Routes of Entry into the Body, Health Effects of Toxic Substances, Factors Affecting Toxicity, Measuring Toxicity, Toxic Substances at the Fire Scene, Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Cyanide, Sulfur Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ammonia, Responding to Disasters Involving Toxic Substances Poisonous Metals, Asbestos, Pesticides.
  11. Chemistry of Oxidizers: Definition of an Oxidizer, Oxidation Numbers, Oxidation-Reduction Reactions, Properties of Oxidizers, Hydrogen Peroxide, Hypochlorites, Fireworks, Ammonium Compounds, Chromates and Dichromates, Permanganates, Nitrates and Nitrites, Metal Peroxides, Persulfates, Chemistry of Matches, Responding to Disasters Involving Oxidizers.
  12. Chemistry of Hazardous Organic Compounds: Definition of Organic Compounds, Aliphatic Hydrocarbons, Gaseous Hydrocarbons, Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Functional Groups, Halogenated Hydrocarbons, Alcohols, Ethers, Aldehydes and Ketones, Organic Acids, Esters, Amines, Peroxo-Organic Compounds, Carbon Disulfide.
  13. Chemistry of Polymeric Materials: Definition of Polymers, Polymerization, Autopolymerization, Combustion of Polymers, Vegetable and Animal Fibers, Vinyl Polymers, Polyurethanes, Natural and Synthetic Rubber.
  14. Chemistry of Explosive Materials: General Characteristics of Explosive Materials, Classification of Explosives and Blasting Agents, Storing Explosives, DOT Regulation of Explosives, Black Powder, Nitroglycerine, Dynamite, Nitrocellulose, Cyclonite, Tetryl, PETN, Primary Explosives, Responding to Disasters Involving Explosives.
  15. Radioactive Materials: The Atomic Nucleus, Types of Radiation, Modes of Nuclear Decay, Detection and Measurement of Radioactivity, Adverse Effects of Exposure to Radiation, Effects of Ionizing Radiation, Effects of Radiation on Matter, Nuclear Fission, Transporting Radioactive Materials, Radon.