Question

A pipe has burst on campus and has caught fire. As you walk by, you detect both the colors orange and green in the flames. What metals might you guess would be present in the substance that is burning.? How would this be useful for those responsible for containment and clean up the fire? (Metals used in lab flame test, CuCl2, SrCl2,CaCl)

Answer 1

1) The green color is due to CuCl2

and Crimson to Scarlet (orange), yellowish through green glass and violet through blue cobalt glass is SrCl2

The above salts may have come in contact with flammable solvents (liquid) in the pipe line and hence was responsible for fire. So, Appropriate Containers must be used for Small Quantities (storing) of Flammable Liquids

Flammable Liquid Category	Waste Quantity (Maximum)	Container Type*
Class IA—Flash point below 73°F (22.8°C), and a boiling point below 100°F (37.8°C) (e.g., acetaldehyde, diethyl ether, pentane)	≤1 pint >1 pint	1 pint, glass 1-gallon safety can
Class IB—Flash point below 73°F (22.8°C), and a boiling point at or above 100°F (37.8°C) (e.g., acetone, acetonitrile, carbon disulfide, cyclohexane, 1,2-dichloroethane, diethylamine, ethyl alcohol, heptane, hexane, isopropyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran, toluene)	≤1 quart >1 quart	1-quart glass 2.5- or 5-gallon safety can
Class IC—Flash point >73°F, but <100°F (e.g., p-xylene)	≤1 gallon >1 gallon	1-gallon safety can 5-gallon safety can

Dry powder fire extinguisher can be used for cleaning up of metal fire