Functional Groups Indicative of Reactive Hazards

Functional Groups Indicative of Reactive Hazards

The presence of certain functional groups is considered an indicator of reactivity. This is the simplest possible reactivity screening method and serves as a guideline for further analysis. For example, chemicals containing the following functional groups can be considered potentially reactive:

-NO2 : organic nitro compounds
-O-O-, -O-OH : organic/inorganic peroxide and hydroperoxide compounds
-C?C- : Triple bonded carbon atoms as in acetylene and acetylenic compounds

A few of the reactive groups are summarized in table below.

Groups Containing Carbon Groups Containing Oxygen Groups Containing Nitrogen
Acetylenic compounds Peroxyacids and salts Fluorodinitromethyl compounds
Metal acetylides Peroxides N-metal derivatives
Diazirines Peroxyesters Azo compounds
Diazo compounds Dithionites Trizenes
Nitroso and Nitro-compounds Ester monomers Tetrazole
Acyl or alkyl nitriles Amide monomers Azides
Epoxides - Hydroxylamine and salts
Metal fulminates or oximates - N-haloamides
Alkene monomers, -(CH-CH)n- - -

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