Shock Sensitive Chemicals

The following materials are shock-sensitive, and may decompose violently if struck or heated. Solids are also prone to explosive decomposition if ground, for example with pestle and mortar. A few of the materials listed are not, of themselves, explosive, but mixtures of them with combustible material such as organic reagents, may be dangerous.

The table below provides examples of peroxide-forming and/or shock sensitive chemicals only and is not an inclusive list. Consult Material Safety Data Sheets for information on the peroxide-forming potential and shock sensitivity of specific chemicals.

Shock sensitive materials should be kept to a minimum by maintaining proper inventory consistent with the rate of use. Inventory is also important in order to dispose of chemicals which tend to form unstable materials with age, such as ethers, or materials which become dangerous when they become dehydrated, such as picric acids. Shock-sensitive materials should be stored in a cool, dry area, and protected from heat and shock. During storage, the materials should be segregated from incompatible materials including flammables and corrosives. Materials which are used specifically because of their explosive properties should be treated as an explosive of the appropriate class and kept in a explosive proof locker or the equivalent storage area.