Final answer:
The NFPA 704 fire diamond uses colors to indicate hazards: red for fire hazard, blue for health hazard, yellow for reactivity, and white for special hazards, each rated on a 0-4 scale.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colors on the NFPA 704 fire diamond represent different types of hazards associated with chemicals. The top (red) diamond indicates the level of fire hazard or flammability, including the temperature range for the substance's flash point. The left (blue) diamond details the substance's health hazard, such as toxicity or harmful effects on health. The right (yellow) diamond signifies the level of reactivity hazards, looking at the chemical stability and potential for violent reactions. Lastly, the bottom (white) diamond warns of special hazards, including whether the chemical is an oxidizer, reacts dangerously with water, or poses risks such as being corrosive, radioactive, or a biological threat. Each color in the diamond has a rating scale from 0 to 4 to denote the severity of the hazard, where 0 means no hazard and 4 means extremely hazardous.