ACGIH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; among other activities, it publishes standards for exposure to industrial chemicals

Acutely Toxic Chemicals: immediately dangerous to life or health at concentrations in the ppm range. Cyanide salts are an example of an acutely toxic substance

Acutely Toxic Gases: substances that are immediately dangerous to life or health at concentrations in air in the low ppm (parts per million), and have an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 °F or 104 psi at 130 °F. Liquids having vapor pressures exceeding 40 psi at 100 °F also are classified as acutely toxic gases. Examples of acutely toxic gases are hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and phosgene (COCl₂).

AIHA: American Industrial Hygiene Association

ANSI: American National Standards Institute; a voluntary organization of manufacturing industries that publishes standards for a variety of products.

ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials

Carcinogens: substances that can initiate or speed the development of malignant or potentially malignant tumors, or malignant neoplastic proliferations of cells. Aromatic amines are examples of carcinogens

CAS Number: the Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number

CFR: the Code of Federal Regulations

Combustible: having a flash point greater than 100 ^oF

Compressed Gases: gases or mixtures of gases having an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 °F; or an absolute pressure exceeding 104 psi at 130 °F, regardless of the pressure at 70 °F; or liquids having a vapor pressure exceeding 40 psi at 100 °F.

Corrosive Chemicals: cause visible destruction or permanent changes in human skin tissue at the site of contact. Strong acids (e.g., H₂SO₄), strong bases (e.g., NaOH), and dehydrating agents such as P₂O₅ are the major corrosives

CPC: chemical protective clothing

EC Number: the European Community registry number

EPA: Environmental Protection Agency; in Maine, the equivalent agency of state government is called the Department of Environmental Protection, DEP

Flammable: having a flashpoint below 100 ^oF

Flashpoint: the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives vapor in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid

Health Hazards: substances that pose a health hazard through either acute (immediate) or chronic (long-term) toxicity. Examples of substances that are acutely toxic are sodium cyanide and ammonium molybdate; chronic toxicity is displayed by many organics such as aniline derivatives, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and thiocyanates.

IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer

IDLH: immediately dangerous to life or health; any atmosphere that poses an immediate hazard to life or produces immediate, irreversible debilitating effects

LC₅₀: concentration in air killing 50% of experimental animals

LD₅₀: dosage (by ingestion or injection) killing 50% of experimental animals

MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet

NFPA: National Fire Protection Association

NIOSH: National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

Nonhazardous Materials: known to pose no health risks. Examples are simple salts such as calcium chloride, buffer solutions, indicators, copper metal, and so on. These materials can be kept in alphabetical order in a general chemical storage area.

NTP: National Toxicology Program

OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration; an agency of the Department of Labor

Oxidizing Substances: either substances that promote combustion, or substances that spontaneously release oxygen at room temperature or upon slight warming. They include peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, and permanganates (clearly, not a chemist's definition)

PEL: permissible exposure limit; issued by OSHA

PPE: personal protective equipment; goggles, gloves, and the like

Pyrophoric Substances: ignite spontaneously in air at room temperature, either by oxidation or by reaction with atmospheric moisture. Phosphorus is a pyrophoric solid, tributylaluminum is an example of a pyrophoric liquid, and phosphine is a pyrophoric gas

REL: recommended exposure limit; issued by NIOSH

Reproductive Hazards: substances known to affect human reproductive capabilities, including chromosomal damage (mutagens) and fetal damage (teratogens).

SCBA: self-contained breathing apparatus

SOG: standard operating guidelines; guidelines for performing laboratory operations with various classes of chemicals

Title 29: the section of the CFR dealing with the regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

TLV: threshold limit value

TWA: time weighted average

Water Sensitive Chemicals: react vigorously with water. The most common ones are the alkali metals, metal hydrides, alkyl lithiums, and alkyl aluminums.