Essay Responses:

 Unless otherwise indicated, there is a 300 word minimum response required for each numbered essay question.

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Course Textbook in APA format:

Meyer, E. (2010). Chemistry of hazardous materials (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.

Essay #1

Two important allotropes of elemental phosphorus are white phosphorus and red phosphorus:

Why should gloves be worn when handling white phosphorus?

Why are firefighters advised to use dry sand rather than wet sand to extinguish a small red phosphorus fire?

Essay #2

The DOT regulation at 49 CFR 174.450 previously stipulated that when fire occurs in a domestic rail shipment of charcoal in transit, water should not be used if it is practicable to locate and remove the burning charcoal. Any charcoal that becomes wet while a fire is being extinguished must be removed from the car and not reshipped, and the remaining charcoal must be held under observation in a dry place for at least 5 days before forwarding.

What is the most likely reason DOT regulates the domestic transportation of charcoal in this fashion?

What chemical reaction is involved here?