Before using any chemical, even if it is something that you have worked with at home or in other situations, it is important to understand what the hazards may be and how to work with it safely. In order to assess the hazards of a particular chemical, both the physical and health hazards of the chemical must be considered. Generally, more information is available about physical hazards than health hazards. An overview of basic toxicology and physical hazards follows. The physical hazards of a chemical include its flammability and reactivity.
Flammability is the tendency of a chemical to burn.
The flashpoint, autoignition temperature and flammable limits of the material may be found in the MSDS, and are helpful in assessing the potential for a fire hazard under specified conditions. See section 5, Explanation of Material Safety Data Sheet Information for a more detailed explanation of these terms. Reactivity is the potential of the material to explode or react violently with air, water or other substances upon contact. The MSDS furnishes this information in the Reactivity Data section. Before using any chemical, the MSDS or other appropriate source should be reviewed to determine what conditions of use may pose a hazard.