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What Caused the Explosion and Fire in Napp Technology in New Jersey


Quiz Questions

1. What does EPA stands for?
Environmental Protection Agency
Engineering Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Association
None of the above
2. At the time of the explosion, Napp was performing a blending operation to produce ACR 9031, a gold precipitating agent (GPA) under a toll blending arrangement with Technic Inc. (Technic) of Cranston RI.
True
False
3. The chemicals involved in the explosion were sodium hydrosulfite, aluminum powder, potassium carbonate, and benzaldehyde.
True
False
4. Sodium hydrosulfite (sodium dithionite), Na2S2O4, is a whitish, crystalline solid, with moderately strong reducing properties. It is principally used in dying and bleaching operations.
True
False
5. NFPA stands for National Fire Projection Association
True
False
6. Sodium hydrosulfite is unstable in the presence of water, heat or humid air, giving off sulfur dioxide gas and other sulfur products in an exothermic reaction.
True
False
7. Aluminum powder has a number of uses related to its flammability and explosivity when dispersed in air, including use in explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics.
True
False
8. Potassium carbonate is usually in the form of white crystalline granules. Because of its alkaline chemical nature, it is commonly used to raise the pH of mixtures and solutions.

True
False
9. What does OSHA stand for?
Occupational Safety Health Association
Occupational Safety Health Agency
Occupational and Safety Health Administration
None of the above
10. The reports of unusual odors in the blending room and building, bubbling and smoking noted on the surface of the material in the blender, and pressure buildup in the blender all suggest that the explosion and fire were triggered by an unwanted and uncontrolled chemical reaction occurring in the blender.
True
False
11. Water was used to clean the inside of the blender before it was used. If water remained in the blender, it would have reacted with the raw materials.
True
False
12. Atmospheric humidity is known to react with sodium hydrosulfite and aluminum. Interviews revealed that a nitrogen blanket was placed on the contents of the blender when the blender was opened to the atmosphere, minimizing the effects of atmospheric moisture on the feed materials.
True
False
13. Moisture present in any of the raw materials could not have been sufficient to initiate a reaction.
True
False
14. The heat generated by the friction of the blades of the intensifier bar running through the dry chemicals in the blender may have been sufficient to initiate or contribute to the thermal decomposition of the sodium hydrosulfite.
True
False
15. Before handling any substance, facilities should ensure that all chemical and process hazards and the consequences and deviations associated with the chemical and process hazards are completely understood, evaluated, documented, and appropriately addressed through preventive measures.
True
False
16. CCPS stand for Center for Chemical Process Society
True
False
17. All facilities should ensure that equipment manufacturers’ recommendations are followed and that equipment is installed, operated, and maintained as designed.
True
False
18. Anhydrous sodium hydrosulfite has a tendency to decompose spontaneously as in the following equation (Equation 4), forming sodium thiosulfate and sodium sulfite and releasing sulfur dioxide.
True
False
19. Aluminum is a strongly electropositive metal and is very reactive, burning rapidly in air when strongly heated.
True
False
20. What does ARC stand for?
Accelerated Rate Calorimetry
American Rate Calorimetry
American Rural Calorimetry
None of the above