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Pyrophoricity
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<h2 id="uses">Uses</h2> <p>The creation of <a href="/facts/Spark_(fire)/BwGFWEtJ">sparks</a> from metals is based on the pyrophoricity of small metal particles, and pyrophoric alloys are made for this purpose.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> Practical applications include the sparking mechanisms in <a href="/facts/Lighter/1RmolVYz">lighters</a> and various toys, using <a href="/facts/Ferrocerium/1Hp6Hmqw">ferrocerium</a>; starting fires without matches, using a <a href="/facts/Firesteel/Ts19g9zv">firesteel</a>; the <a href="/facts/Flintlock_mechanism/PYASe0A7">flintlock mechanism</a> in firearms; and <a href="/facts/Spark_testing/4EhoYGNK">spark testing</a> ferrous metals. </p> <h2 id="handling">Handling</h2> <p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/Air-free_technique/pEW9wY6e">Air-free technique</a></p> <p>Small amounts of pyrophoric liquids are often supplied in a glass bottle with a <a href="/facts/PTFE/jesBNXKq">polytetrafluoroethylene</a>-lined <a href="/facts/Septum/lPNxGG9u">septum</a>. Larger amounts are supplied in metal tanks similar to gas cylinders, designed so a needle can fit through the valve opening. A syringe, carefully dried and flushed of air with an <a href="/facts/Inert_gas/3EkBEoYh">inert gas</a>, is used to extract the liquid from its container. </p><p>When working with pyrophoric solids, researchers often employ a sealed <a href="/facts/Glovebox/NnR37n6E">glove box</a> flushed with inert gas. Since these specialized glove boxes are expensive and require specialized and frequent maintenance, many pyrophoric solids are sold as solutions, or dispersions in <a href="/facts/Mineral_oil/KjXl9BUo">mineral oil</a> or lighter <a href="/facts/Hydrocarbon/Dcg95Ju5">hydrocarbon</a> solvents, so they can be handled in the atmosphere of the laboratory, while still maintaining an oxygen- and moisture-free environment. Mildly pyrophoric solids such as <a href="/facts/Lithium_aluminium_hydride/QMMhdqEy">lithium aluminium hydride</a> and <a href="/facts/Sodium_hydride/Pnsh2T64">sodium hydride</a> can be handled in the air for brief periods of time, but the containers must be flushed with inert gas before the material is returned to the container for storage. </p> <h2 id="pyrophoric-materials">Pyrophoric materials</h2> <h3>Solids</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/White_phosphorus/GarX3byj">White phosphorus</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Alkali_metal/IkWbCLk2">Alkali metals</a>, especially <a href="/facts/Potassium/5lcumVgo">potassium</a>, <a href="/facts/Rubidium/KDHSe2HM">rubidium</a>, <a href="/facts/Caesium/dXKN1S5k">caesium</a>, including the alloy <a href="/facts/NaK/09HKRf44">NaK</a></li> <li>Finely divided metals (<a href="/facts/Iron/DkICCKIC">iron</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Aluminium/7wmR8jYE">aluminium</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Magnesium/XyIhd2FG">magnesium</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Calcium/hf252CC0">calcium</a>, <a href="/facts/Zirconium/y7gsoQFz">zirconium</a>, <a href="/facts/Uranium/n2sGWBzU">uranium</a>, <a href="/facts/Titanium/53ArnDoy">titanium</a>, <a href="/facts/Tungsten/WYwbNDYX">tungsten</a>, <a href="/facts/Bismuth/75FLjkoX">bismuth</a>, <a href="/facts/Hafnium/rBNnlxDS">hafnium</a>, <a href="/facts/Thorium/ysdWH470">thorium</a>, <a href="/facts/Osmium/1TjXD69n">osmium</a>, <a href="/facts/Neodymium/GzDkTIoI">neodymium</a>)</li> <li>Some metals and alloys in bulk form (<a href="/facts/Cerium/a7UjMBQ6">cerium</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Alkylate/CW0FUWv4">Alkylated</a> metal <a href="/facts/Alkoxide/RqG0rm1v">alkoxides</a> or nonmetal <a href="/facts/Halides/ujYu8kGD">halides</a> (diethylethoxyaluminium, dichloro(methyl)silane)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Graphite_intercalation_compound/FssMzW21">Potassium graphite</a> (KC8)</li> <li>Metal <a href="/facts/Hydride/v2rlBGMg">hydrides</a> (<a href="/facts/Sodium_hydride/Pnsh2T64">sodium hydride</a>, <a href="/facts/Lithium_aluminium_hydride/QMMhdqEy">lithium aluminium hydride</a>, <a href="/facts/Uranium(III)_hydride/SxADohI7">uranium trihydride</a>)</li> <li>Partially or fully alkylated derivatives of metal and nonmetal hydrides (diethylaluminium hydride, <a href="/facts/Trimethylaluminium/QxlKB90v">trimethylaluminium</a>, <a href="/facts/Triethylaluminium/CTLVqBbP">triethylaluminium</a>, <a href="/facts/Butyllithium/BQ2BUttk">butyllithium</a>), with a few exceptions (i.e. <a href="/facts/Dimethylmercury/ettgPTS7">dimethylmercury</a> and <a href="/facts/Tetraethyllead/M33pHTTX">tetraethyllead</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">Copper</a> fuel cell catalysts (<a href="/facts/Zinc_oxide/P7sTyDez">zinc oxide</a>, <a href="/facts/Aluminium_oxide/wXM9P6pI">aluminium oxide</a>)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Grignard_reagent/0vkLtPo1">Grignard reagents</a> (compounds of the form RMgX)</li> <li>Used <a href="/facts/Hydrogenation/l7EzNSA7">hydrogenation</a> <a href="/facts/Catalysts/LPBS7TQC">catalysts</a> such as <a href="/facts/Palladium_on_carbon/VnIwXfJR">palladium on carbon</a> or <a href="/facts/Raney_nickel/y4CnrEXv">Raney nickel</a> (especially hazardous because of the adsorbed hydrogen)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Iron(II)_sulfide/byDMQhD8">Iron(II) sulfide</a>: often encountered in oil and gas facilities, where corrosion products in steel plant equipment can ignite if exposed to air</li> <li><a href="/facts/Lead/EYljasJN">Lead</a> and <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">carbon</a> powders produced from decomposition of <a href="/facts/Lead_citrate/N3htEq36">lead citrate</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Uranium/n2sGWBzU">Uranium</a>, as shown in the disintegration of <a href="/facts/Depleted_uranium/oKGvpUlW">depleted uranium</a> penetrator rounds into burning dust upon impact with their targets; in finely divided form it is readily ignitable, and uranium scrap from machining operations is subject to spontaneous ignition<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Neptunium/pwp7Yvds">Neptunium</a></li> <li>Several compounds of <a href="/facts/Plutonium/4bUw9zH3">plutonium</a> are pyrophoric, and they have caused some of the most serious fires occurring in <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Energy/PRp6Cz8g">United States Department of Energy</a> facilities<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></li> <li>Petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) sludge</li></ul> <h3>Liquids</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Diphosphane/hFQJA6fQ">Diphosphane</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Metalorganics/WFv2Ypum">Metalorganics</a> of main group metals (e.g. <a href="/facts/Aluminium/7wmR8jYE">aluminium</a>, <a href="/facts/Gallium/EucevDs9">gallium</a>, <a href="/facts/Indium/zRq3stVb">indium</a>, <a href="/facts/Zinc/80b1qgk3">zinc</a>, <a href="/facts/Cadmium/wXkV2eIX">cadmium</a>, etc.)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Triethylborane/qLlyzN2r">Triethylborane</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Tert-Butyllithium/qokAzb3U"><i>tert</i>-Butyllithium</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Diethylzinc/b7eYFsy3">Diethylzinc</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Triethylaluminium/CTLVqBbP">Triethylaluminium</a></li></ul> <h3>Gases</h3> <ul><li>Nonmetal <a href="/facts/Hydride/v2rlBGMg">hydrides</a> (<a href="/facts/Arsine/VkH6217V">arsine</a>, <a href="/facts/Phosphine/aYysn5TS">phosphine</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Diborane/k7egwbPf">diborane</a>, <a href="/facts/Germane/BDKb4Wxl">germane</a>, <a href="/facts/Silane/XNevDLgE">silane</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Metal_carbonyl/KzJBcMzU">Metal carbonyls</a> (<a href="/facts/Dicobalt_octacarbonyl/jASAAluy">dicobalt octacarbonyl</a>, <a href="/facts/Nickel_carbonyl/8Py5Dre1">nickel carbonyl</a>)</li></ul> <h2 id="explanatory-notes">Explanatory notes</h2> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100527183802/http://www.hss.energy.gov/nuclearsafety/ns/techstds/standard/hdbk1081/hdbk1081.pdf">US Dept. of Energy Handbook, "Primer on Spontaneous Heating and Pyrophoricity"</a> (archived)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150709154008/http://prtl.uhcl.edu/portal/page/portal/RSK/Safety/Lab%20Safety/High%20Hazard%20Materials/DDCC509064554644E0401DAC7AB601FB">"List of pyrophoric materials"</a>. Archived from <a href="http://prtl.uhcl.edu/portal/page/portal/RSK/Safety/Lab%20Safety/High%20Hazard%20Materials/DDCC509064554644E0401DAC7AB601FB">the original</a> on 2015-07-09.</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141031032636/http://www.dehs.umn.edu/PDFs/PyrophoricMaterialsListAppendix.pdf">"Pyrophoric Chemicals Guide"</a> (PDF). <i>Environmental Health and Safety</i>. University of Minnesota. Archived from <a href="http://www.dehs.umn.edu/PDFs/PyrophoricMaterialsListAppendix.pdf">the original</a> (PDF) on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2021.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>GHS, seventh revised version. https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_rev07/English/ST_SG_AC10_30_Rev7e.pdf <a href="https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_rev07/English/ST_SG_AC10_30_Rev7e.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_rev07/English/ST_SG_AC10_30_Rev7e.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>N. Pradeep Sharma (September 1998), Dictionary Of Chemistry, Gyan Publishing House, ISBN 9788121205931 <a href="9788121205931" target="_blank">9788121205931</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Angelo & Subramanian (2008), Powder metallurgy: science, technology and applications, p. 48, Powders of aluminium, iron and magnesium are highly pyrophoric in nature[better source needed] <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTRS" target="_blank">/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTRS</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Angelo & Subramanian (2008), Powder metallurgy: science, technology and applications, p. 48, Powders of aluminium, iron and magnesium are highly pyrophoric in nature[better source needed] <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTRS" target="_blank">/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTRS</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Angelo & Subramanian (2008), Powder metallurgy: science, technology and applications, p. 48, Powders of aluminium, iron and magnesium are highly pyrophoric in nature[better source needed] <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTRS" target="_blank">/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTRS</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>C.W. Corti et al. / Applied Catalysis A: General 291 (2005) 257 <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Pyrophoric lead composition and method of making it <a href="http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3297590.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3297590.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Charles J (1966). "The Reaction of Pyrophoric Lead with Oxygen". The Journal of Physical Chemistry. 70 (5): 1478–1482. doi:10.1021/j100877a023. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>DOE | Office of Health, Safety and Security | Nuclear Safety and Environment | Uranium Archived 2015-02-21 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 3 September 2013; archived on 24 August 2010. <a href="http://158.132.155.107/posh97/private/Case/hbk1081e.html#ZZ30" target="_blank">http://158.132.155.107/posh97/private/Case/hbk1081e.html#ZZ30</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>DOE | Office of Health, Safety and Security | Nuclear Safety and Environment | Plutonium Archived 2015-02-21 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 3 September 2013; archived on 28 September 2010. <a href="http://158.132.155.107/posh97/private/Case/hbk1081d.html#ZZ281" target="_blank">http://158.132.155.107/posh97/private/Case/hbk1081d.html#ZZ281</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Phosphine, PH3 is only pyrophoric if impure, with P2H4 present. <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>