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Reactive Group Datasheet

Bases, Strong

What are reactive groups?

Reactive groups are categories of chemicals that typically react in similar ways because they are similar in their chemical structure. Each substance with a chemical datasheet has been assigned to one or more reactive groups, and CAMEO Chemicals uses the reactive group assignments to make its reactivity predictions. More info about reactivity predictions...

If you can't find a chemical in the database--but you know what reactive group it belongs in--you can add the reactive group to MyChemicals instead in order to see the reactivity predictions.

There are 62 chemical datasheets assigned to this reactive group.

Description

Flammability
Materials in this group are mostly nonflammable and non-combustible. Exceptions include mixtures that contain organic components.
Reactivity
Compounds in this group are chemically similar to sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or sodium oxide (Na2O). They neutralize acids exothermically to form salts plus water. When soluble in water they give solutions having a pH of 12 or higher. Mixing these materials with water can generate significant heat as the base is dissolved or diluted. Bases react with certain metals (such as aluminum and zinc) to form oxides or hydroxides of the metal and generate gaseous hydrogen. Bases may initiate polymerization reactions in polymerizable organic compounds, especially epoxides. They may generate flammable and/or toxic gases with ammonium salts, nitrides, halogenated organics, various metals, peroxides, and hydroperoxides. Materials of this group often serve as catalysts.
Toxicity
Corrosive to tissue.
Other Characteristics
Solutions of bases have a bitter taste and a slippery feel; they turn red litmus blue. (Note: This reactivity group does not include Metal hydrides, alkyls and aryls and silanes, which are also strong bases with additional hazards, but are covered under Reactive Group 35). They possess a pKa value greater than 12 or a pH value greater than 12.
Examples
Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, barium oxide, calcium oxide, sodium methoxide, tetramethylammonium hydroxide.

Reactivity Documentation

Use the links below to find out how this reactive group interacts with any of the reactive groups in the database.

The predicted hazards and gas byproducts for each reactive group pair will be displayed, as well as documentation and references that were used to make the reactivity predictions.

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