Class F – Dangerously Reactive Materials

A material is considered to be dangerously reactive if it shows the following three different properties or abilities:

• If it reacts very strongly and quickly (“vigorously”) with water to make a toxic gas
• If it reacts with itself when it gets shocked (bumped or dropped), or if the temperature or pressure increases
• If it can vigorously connect to itself to make larger molecules (polymerization), break down (decomposition) or lose extra water such that it is a more dense material (condensation).

If a material is dangerously reactive, it is described as “unstable”.

Most of these materials can be extremely hazardous if they are not handled properly because they can react in such a quick manner very easily.

Examples of these products are ethyl acrylate, vinyl chloride, picric acid and anhydrous aluminum chloride.

The image below is the symbol used for dangerously reactive materials.