What type of material can cause explosions or fires when in contact with calcium hypochlorite?

Calcium hypochlorite is a strong oxidizing agent commonly used for water treatment and disinfection. When it comes into contact with organic materials, it can trigger chemical reactions that lead to the release of energy in the form of heat, which can subsequently cause explosions or fires.

Organic materials, such as oils, fats, or even certain types of vegetation, can react violently with calcium hypochlorite because they can serve as fuel in these reactions. The presence of heat and other reaction byproducts can ignite the organic materials, leading to fires.

Understanding this interaction is crucial for safety in water treatment facilities and other environments where calcium hypochlorite is used. Other materials, such as metals or water, do not typically lead to explosive reactions with calcium hypochlorite in the same way that organic materials do, making them less of a concern in this context. Inorganic materials sometimes can have reactions with calcium hypochlorite, but they are generally less reactive than organics. Therefore, the greatest risk from calcium hypochlorite comes from organic materials.