Class 5.1: Oxidising Agents (Oxidizers) Hazardous Substances

General Information:

Class 5.1 Oxidising Agents are chemicals that don't necessarily burn by themselves, but they are dangerous because they release concentrated oxygen during a reaction or when heated. They feed oxygen to a fire and can cause normally stable materials to ignite spontaneously or turn a small, manageable fire into an intense, rapidly spreading inferno. Because they provide their own oxygen, you can't put out an oxidiser fire by "smoothering it with a blanket or CO2, you usually have to use large amounts of water to cool it down.

Main Hazards:

• May cause a fire when in contact with combustible materials.
• May increase intensity of combustion.
• Contact may cause burns to the skin and eyes.

Examples:

• Ammonium Nitrate - Widely used in fertilisers to help crops grow but due to being packed with oxygen-rich nitrogen, they can become explosive if they get too hot or are mixed with fuel.
• Hydrogen Peroxide (High Strength) - Is an "Oxygen-heavy" substance that is used as a high-powered bleaching and cleaning agent. Industries use Hydrogen Peroxide to whiten paper and textiles, sanitise food packaging and treat wastewater to remove pollutants.
• Calcium Hypochlorite - The dry, solid form of chlorine which is more commonly sold as "Pool Shock" or Chlorine Granules. It's a strong oxidising agent that won't catch fire on its own but does contain a massive amount of "internal" oxygen that can be released instantly if it gets contaminated or hot. This oxygen can fuel any nearby fire, increasing its intensity.