Category:Dissolvers

Substances classified as dissolvers include liquid or solid products, which dissolve rapidly in water with or without reaction. Methyl alcohol is a typical example of the substances belonging to this group, as are various acids and bases.

Dissolvers can be subdivided into the following subclasses:

Dissolver Evaporator

Substances that dissolve in water or evaporate are classified as dissolver/evaporators. Even though these products dissolve, they can still form flammable mixtures above the water surface. Depending on the rate of evaporation and the degree of solubility, flammable concentrations may be produced above the floating substance, though toxic effects in the water column are limited by the concentrations attainable in reality.

Dissolver

Dissolver is the collective name for the category of substances that dissolve or react in water without rapidly evaporating. The degree of solubility and turbulence and dilution in the water column determine whether significant levels of toxicity occur in the water phase.

As their name suggests, substances classified as dissolvers are characterized by the fact that they enter into solution with water. The speed at which they dissolve depends on such factors as the difference in density of the substance and the surrounding water, the contact area available, the temperature of the water and the degree of turbulence. If the substances in question tend to accumulate at the bottom of the sea, prevailing currents will cause these deposits to disperse.

Those substances that react with water will generate a submerged plume of reaction products. The prevailing currents will also disperse plumes of this type. The way in which these plumes behave is comparable to those generated by substances which dissolve without reaction.