CHEMICALS

Applied Science

Mrs. Bonifay

What are chemicals?

Short answer: Everything is a chemical. Longer answer: Chemistry is the study of matter

and its interactions with other matter. Anything made of matter is, therefore, a

chemical. Any liquid, solid, gas. A chemical can often be broken down into components.

People generally use the term 'chemical' to refer to a substance that appears the same throughout its structure.

Did you know that…….

elements like carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen bond together to make a chemical? One unit is a called a molecule. There are 110 named elements, but there are thousands and thousands of chemicals.

Examples of Household Chemicals

Water Table Salt Borax Vinegar Baking Soda Lemon Juice Detergent Rubbing Alcohol Alum (spices) Sucrose (sugar) Pesticides

Citric Acid Vegetable Oil Mineral Oil Hydrogen Peroxide Unflavored Gelatin Milk of Magnesia Steel Wool Calcium Chloride (de-

icer) Sodium Hydroxide

(lye/drain cleaner)

Toxic or Non-Toxic?

What does “toxic” mean? “Poisonous, or otherwise directly harmful to life

in any form.” Practically every substance is toxic. The only

difference is in the quantity (dose) that produces a toxic effect.

Some chemicals are harmful in small doses while others are harmful in high doses.

Chemicals should be used as directed on the label.

Did you know that…….

toxics can be natural or man-made? If the substance is man-made, it is referred to as a “toxicant.” However, if it is natural, it is called a “toxin.”

Warning Labels!!!!

Poisonous/Toxic

Explosive

Radioactive

Irritant

Harmful Substance

Biohazard

Corrosive Substance

Flammable

Hazardous for theEnvironment

Did you know that…….

Chemicals that are not produced by life or in a natural process are called synthetic?

Synthetic usually means “man-made.” There are tens of thousands of man-made

chemicals. Over 1,000 new man-made chemicals are

created each year.