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Running Head: CHEMICAL INCOMPATIBILITY 1

CHEMICAL INCOMPATIBILITY 5

Chemical Incompatibility

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The products considered for this exercise are sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and oxalic acid. Sodium hypochlorite is a strong oxidizing agent with the following chemical formula, NaOCl. According to DOT, the hazard label for NaOCl is that of corrosive product, and the pictogram 1 is used to emphasis its hazard (Cameo Chemicals, 2016), while EPA’s Chemical Labels and Safety Data Sheets recommend the use of placards in pictogram 2 shown below for the same (EPA, 2015).

Pictogram 1 Pictogram 2

The chemical is used in purifying water, bleaching and removing odor (Occidental Chemical Corporation, 2014). Sodium hypochlorite is a very reactive chemical. According to Figure 6, sodium hypochlorite is in the reactivity group 104 in the EPA’s Chemical Compatibility Chart (strong oxidizing agent) and therefore it is incompatible with chemicals in reactivity groups 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 101, 102 and 103. The chemical should be stored in a place away from combustible products due to its incompatibility, and the storage area should be dark, cool and well ventilated (Cameo Chemicals, 2016). Sodium hypochlorite can be decomposed by fire/ heat to generate chlorine gas (chlorine gas irritates the respiratory system and burns the skin). When NaOCl is inhaled, it causes pulmonary oedema and irritation of the bronchial. It also causes skin and eye irritation, and when ingested, it causes mouth burn, vomiting, nausea, delirium or coma (Cameo Chemicals, 2016).

Oxalic acid is an organic chemical with the following chemical formula C2H2O4. It is a reducing agent and according to DOT, it’s labeled as corrosive chemical. It is a compound with health hazard value of 3 and when in solution or dust form it causes skin, eyes and mucous membrane burns. When the chemical is ingested by weight of more than 5 grams, it can be fatal while chronic skin exposure can cause slow healing ulcers and dermatitis (Cameo Chemicals, 2016). Oxalic acid is used to enhance cleaning when bleaching and removing stains or rust. According to DOT, the pictogram is used to show that the oxalic acid is corrosive and is a hazmat in group 8 (Chemtron, 2017). Therefore, due to its hazmat classification oxalic acid should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated area and inside a tightly closed container (EPA, 2015).

According to Figure 6, oxalic acid is in the reactivity group 3 in the EPA’s Chemical Compatibility Chart (organic acid) and therefore it is incompatible with chemicals in reactivity groups 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 102, 103, 104 and 105.

In an incident where there is mixing between sodium hypochlorite and oxalic acid, there would be probably formation a poisonous gas (chlorine gas). NaOCl is a salt, and when an acid combines with a solvent containing hypochlorite anions, chlorine gas is produced. SDSs inform the workers or users about the hazardous status of a particular chemicals or product. They also inform workers about the proper methods of using a product, the possible consequences if directions on use are violated, indicators of exposure to a hazmat and possible emergency response in case of an incident (EPA, 2015). Proper labeling of chemicals containers labeling as per SDS direct one not to mix household bleach with other cleaning agents in the house to avoid the formation of hazardous by-products. One the other hand, the compatibility chart is used to inform people the possible outcome when there is accidental mixing of two known or believed to be dangerously products or chemicals. It’s is also used to show whether two or more industrial chemicals be transported in neighboring cargo tanker compartments (Wiley Online Library, 2010).

In the work place or home, compatibility chart can be used to inform individuals about the kind of reactions and the expected outcome when there is an incident of one chemical mixing with another in the reactivity group because the chart indicates the incompatibility of different chemicals. Therefore, one can keep incompatible products or chemicals away from one another and vice verse to avoid hazmat accidents.

Reference

Cameo Chemicals. (2016). Oxalic Acid. Retrieved December 26, 2017, from Cameo Chemicals Web site: https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/8966

Cameo Chemicals. (2016). Sodium Hypochlorite. Retrieved December 26, 2017, from Cameo Chemicals Web site: https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/4503

Chemtron. (2017, December 1). Marble Crystallizer Safety Data Sheet. Retrieved December 26, 2017, from Chemtron: http://www.chemtron.com/uploads/products/msds/MARBLE-CRYSTALLIZER–CT-257

EPA. (2015, December). Hazard Communication Standard for Chemical Labels and Safety Data Sheets In GHS Format . Retrieved December 26, 2017, from Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-01/documents/hazard_communication_standard-safety_data_sheets_epa_dec_2015

Occidental Chemical Corporation. (2014, December). Sodium Hypochlorite Handbook. Retrieved December 26, 2017, from OXY Occidental Chemical Corporation: http://www.oxy.com/OurBusinesses/Chemicals/Products/Documents/sodiumhypochlorite/bleach

Wiley Online Library. (2010, August 18). Chemical Compatibility Chart. Guidelines for Hazard Evaluation Procedures, Third Edition , pp. 523-528.