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Multiple Choice

Thermally unstable and is liable to undergo a strongly exothermic decomposition even without the presence of oxygen. Which term describes this?

Self-reactive substances are materials that are thermally unstable and can decompose exothermically without the need for oxygen from the air. The heat generated during this internal decomposition can sustain a runaway process, sometimes producing gas and even causing ignition or explosion. The description given—thermally unstable and liable to undergo a strongly exothermic decomposition in the absence of oxygen—fits this behavior exactly. A more specific label exists for levels of reactivity (such as a Type B self-reactive), but the general term that best describes the situation is a self-reactive substance. The other options don’t capture this intrinsic reactivity: Class 4.1 is a broad category that includes flammable solids, packing group relates to packaging severity rather than chemical behavior, and a Type B self-reactive is a particular subcategory, not the general property described.

Self-reactive substances are materials that are thermally unstable and can decompose exothermically without the need for oxygen from the air. The heat generated during this internal decomposition can sustain a runaway process, sometimes producing gas and even causing ignition or explosion. The description given—thermally unstable and liable to undergo a strongly exothermic decomposition in the absence of oxygen—fits this behavior exactly. A more specific label exists for levels of reactivity (such as a Type B self-reactive), but the general term that best describes the situation is a self-reactive substance. The other options don’t capture this intrinsic reactivity: Class 4.1 is a broad category that includes flammable solids, packing group relates to packaging severity rather than chemical behavior, and a Type B self-reactive is a particular subcategory, not the general property described.