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Chemistry vocabulary · Laboratory Safety

Flammable

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

/ˈflæməbl/adjectiveCore term

In chemistry, flammable means: Describes a substance that catches fire easily and burns quickly. Many organic solvents, such as acetone, diethyl ether and ethanol, belong to this group.

In Turkish: yanıcı, alevlenir, tutuşabilir

How it is used

Seen on labels, storage cabinets and safety data sheets. Flammable liquids are kept in a flammables cabinet away from heat and sparks, and a low flash point means a higher fire risk. The opposite is 'non-flammable'.

Example sentences

  1. Diethyl ether is extremely flammable, so there must be no open flames in the room.

  2. Put the flammable solvents back in the cabinet at the end of the day.

Common collocations

  • highly flammable
  • flammable liquid
  • flammables cabinet
  • non-flammable
  • hazard pictogramA small symbol in a red-bordered diamond on a chemical label that warns of a specific danger, such as flammable, toxic, corrosive or harmful to the environment.
  • safety data sheetA standard document from the supplier that describes a chemical's hazards, safe handling, storage, first aid and disposal. It is usually shortened to SDS.
  • fume hoodA ventilated cabinet with a sliding glass front that draws fumes away from the user. Work with volatile, toxic or strong-smelling chemicals is done inside it.
  • solventThe substance, usually a liquid, that dissolves another substance to form a solution. Water is the most common one; ethanol, acetone and hexane are widely used organic ones.

More terms: Laboratory Safety

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