Final answer:
A chemical known to harm unborn babies is described as a teratogen on an MSDS. Teratogens can cause physical and neurological damage to a fetus with the impact depending on several factors including dose, timing, and potency.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a student is working with a chemical that is known to cause harm to unborn babies, on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), the chemical will be described as a teratogen. A teratogen is any environmental agent, whether biological, chemical, or physical, that can cause damage to the developing embryo or fetus. It can result in physical deformities or neurological damage in unborn babies due to exposure during pregnancy. Examples of known teratogens include alcohol, cigarette smoke, certain prescription drugs, and some chemicals used in pesticides and plastics.
The effects of a teratogen on the fetus depend on factors such as the potency of the teratogen, the dose and duration of exposure, the degree of transfer from maternal to fetal circulation, and the point during development when exposure occurs. Notably, Thalidomide is a historically significant example of a teratogen that caused severe birth defects when it was introduced as a medication.