HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: CHEMISTRY AND SAFE HANDLING ASPECTS OF FLAMMABLE, TOXIC AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. A COURSE OF STUDY

The subject of this dissertation is a one semester, three credit course designed for students who have taken at least twelve credits of college chemistry, and for high school teachers as a continuing education course. The need for such a course arises from the increased concern for safety in recent years and the introduction of many regulations of which the working chemist should be aware, notably those issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A few colleges have recently started to offer courses in laboratory safety to undergraduate and graduate chemistry students. Thus, there is a need for the development of courses in which chemical safety is taught.; This course is divided into three units: (1) Flammable Materials; (2) Toxic Materials; (3) Radioactive Materials.; Each unit is self contained and could be taught separately as a one credit course. The material necessary for lecture presentation is given in the text of this dissertation: there are about seven topics in each unit. The chemical properties of selected substances are emphasized. For example in the Flammable Materials unit one of the topics is the study of explosive chemicals. The Toxic Materials unit contains organic and inorganic descriptive chemistry including selected carcinogens, some alkaloids, the cyanides and the elements mercury, thallium, lead, phosphorus and arsenic. The radioactive materials unit includes such topics as the biological effects of radiation, measurement techniques, medical uses of radioisotopes and nuclear fission. Thus the hazardous materials described are not only those encountered in the normal chemical laboratory but also many that are of industrial and consumer importance.; Examples of governmental regulations are given, and there are sample examination questions for each unit and homework assignments that require the use of reference sources.; Laboratory exercises are included. This is to enable the student to gain experience in the safe handling of hazardous chemicals and of some equipment and instruments used to analyze and study flammable, toxic and radioactive materials.