Coffee Break Training (Haz-Mat): Fundamental Chemistry Terms (#HM-2012-4)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Coffee Break Training (Haz-Mat): Fundamental Chemistry Terms (#HM-2012-4)

Learning Objective: The student shall be able to define some fundamental chemistry terms.

Chemistry is the science of matter, energy and reactions. It is essential that first responders who may be exposed to hazardous materials have a fundamental understanding of key terms.

Inorganic chemistry is the study of all compounds except hydrocarbons and their derivatives. Generally speaking, inorganic chemistry involves compounds that do not include carbon.

Organic chemistry is the study of compounds that are formed predominantly with carbon and hydrogen, although other elements can be in combination. As with inorganic chemistry, there are some limited exceptions to this simplified definition.

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. It can exist as a solid, liquid or gas. A solid is a state of matter that has a definite shape and a definite volume while a liquid is a state of matter that has a definite volume but no definite shape. A gas is the state of matter in which the molecules are colliding together but have relatively low density. It has no definite shape, and its density and volume vary with temperature and pressure.

An element is a material that cannot be broken down into simpler material by chemical means. Elements are the building blocks of the universe.

A compound is two or more elements bound together. Pure substances are elements or elements that have been joined chemically to form a compound. Some compounds are “binary,” which means they contain only two components. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an example that contains only carbon and oxygen.

Mixtures may be mixtures of compounds and elements. Mixtures are combinations of elements that are not joined chemically.

Homogeneous mixtures are relatively uniform in composition. For example, air is a uniform mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and trace elements.Heterogeneous mixtures may or may not have uniformly dispersed constituents.

For additional information, you can enroll in the National Fire Academy’s (NFA’s) Online self-study course

“Foundational Concepts in Chemistry” (Q228) found at: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/nfa/nfaonline/browse/hazmat.shtm

CFN - California Fire News 2012

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Tuesday, November 13, 2012