Final answer:
A substance with a flash point of less than 37.8 °C is classified as a flammable liquid. Flash points indicate the temperature at which a liquid can create an ignitable mixture with air, with lower flash points representing a higher risk of combustion. Safety precautions for these materials are critical to prevent fires.
Step-by-step explanation:
A substance that has a flash point of less than 37.8 °C (100 °F) is classified as a flammable liquid. The term flash point refers to the lowest temperature at which a liquid can form an ignitable mixture in air, near the surface of the liquid. The lower the flash point, the easier it is for the liquid to ignite. This is why substances with low flash points require careful handling and storage to prevent accidental ignition and fires.
When we refer to waste liquids with flash points below 60 °C, such as used solvents and waste oils, we are dealing with materials that pose a significant risk of combustion. Non-liquids that can cause fire through specific conditions, ignitable compressed gases, and oxidizers are also considered under this category of hazardous materials.
Examples include volatile waxy solids that can glow and ignite spontaneously in air due to their dangerously reactive nature and substances like early anaesthetics which have a low boiling point and were historically used as starting fluid for diesel engines.
To safely manage these substances, precautions are often stated on containers, such as warnings to store at temperatures below a certain threshold to prevent pressure build-up and potential explosion. Knowledge of these properties, particularly flammability, is crucial for anyone involved in the handling or transportation of hazardous materials.