A Reactivity Problem Set

If you're a new Worksheet user, we recommend that you first try out the Reactivity Example Problem (see link below), if you haven't already done so.

1. Why should isopropenylbenzene be stored in an air-tight container? [Answer]

2. How many radioactive substances are in the database? (Hint: radioactive substances are in Hazard Class 400.) [Answer]

3. A metal fabrication and finishing plant has a large warehouse containing several chemicals. One chemical stored in the warehouse has a "Caustic Liquid" label. Another chemical arrives at the plant with a label reading, "Muriatic Solution." Should the new chemical be stored next to the caustic liquid solution? [Answer]

4. A freight train has derailed, and now a tank car of hydrogen fluoride is lying in a ditch next to the tracks, surrounded by containers of phosphorus pentachloride. If you mix these two chemicals in the Reactivity Worksheet, you'll find that heat would be generated (as you discovered in the Example Problem). If these chemicals accidentally mix, or if there is a fire associated with the incident, should the responders use water to reduce the temperature?

   
   Hint: If you have a copy of CAMEO (Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations), check it, as well as the Reactivity Worksheet, to find the answer to this problem. [Answer]

5. At your chemical processing plant, to save space, the production engineers would like to combine 80 liters of waste that is predominately nitric acid with the contents of a nearly-full drum of waste containing mostly methylene chloride. Should you allow them to combine the contents of these two drums? [Answer]

6. In April 1995, a violent explosion and fire at a chemical specialty plant killed five employees and destroyed much of the facility and nearby businesses. About 300 people were evacuated from the area. Just before the fire and explosion, a blending operation was conducted. The chemical mixing stage of this process, which should have lasted 1 hour, actually lasted 24 hours. During this time, an unexpected reaction occurred inside the blender: heat was created and a foul-smelling gas evolved. The substances that were mixed inside the blender were aluminum powder and sodium hydrosulfite, and water was also present.

   
   What does the Worksheet predict would happen when aluminum powder and sodium hydrosulfite are mixed?

   What caused the fire and explosion?

   What gas was evolved? [Answer]

7. The night crew at your chemical processing facility has accidentally pumped ethyl ether out of a railcar into a storage tank of styrene. The styrene contains an inhibitor, which is a chemical that prevents the styrene from polymerizing (uninhibited styrene has a strong tendency to polymerize in a heat-generating reaction that can be hazardous). The crew calls you to ask whether there are potential hazards.

   
   What should you tell them, and what should you do next?

   Hint: Could any peroxides be present? Peroxides, if present in large enough quantities, would consume the inhibitor that prevents the styrene from polymerizing. How could you check whether enough peroxides are present to consume the inhibitor? [Answer]

8. At your chemical processing company, Technical Services is considering adding a new process. In the proposed process, methyl chloroformate, at room temperature, would be pumped from drums into a reaction mixture containing mainly dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which would be at 50º C. DMSO also would be used to rinse the remaining methyl chloroformate from the drums into the reaction vessel.

   
   Should you approve the new process? [Answer]

Related information

CAMEO The Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) program is an integrated set of software modules designed to help first responders and emergency planners plan for and quickly respond to chemical accidents.