A substance that oxidizes another substance
Any chemical substance that has a tendency to accept electrons
and thereby undergoing reduction themselves is known as an
oxidising agent.
An oxidizer is a compound that supplies its own oxygen and heat
when in contact with organic compounds. These chemicals that can
react vigorously and explode.
Oxidizers are compounds which are capable of reacting with and
oxidizing (i.e., giving off oxygen) other materials. A well known
example of oxidation is the process we know as corrosion, where the
metal reacts with air to form the metal oxides referred to as
"rust".
The primary hazard associated with this class of compounds lies
in their ability to act as an oxygen source, and thus to readily
stimulate the combustion of organic materials. As you may recall,
it takes three components for a fire to happen - a fuel source
(usually an organic compound, such as paper), an ignition source
(such as a flame, a spark, friction, etc.) and an oxygen source (in
this case - a cylinder of OXYGEN, a strong oxidizer).
Oxidizers may be grouped into 4 classes based on their ability
to affect the burning rate of combustible materials or undergo
self-sustained decomposition. This classification system was
established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 43A,
1980) as a means to provide information on safe storage of
oxidizing materials.
Class 1: An oxidizing material whose primary hazard is that it
may increase the burning rate of combustible material with which it
comes in contact
Class 2: An oxidizing material that will moderately increase the
burning rate of which may cause spontaneous ignitionof combustible
material with which it ocmes in contact.
Class 3: An oxidizing material that will cause a severe increase
in the burning rate of combustible material with which it comes in
contact or which will undergo vigorous self-substained
decomposition when catalyzed or exposed to heat.
Class 4: An oxidizing material that can undergo an explosive
reaction when catalyzed or exposed to heat, shock or friction.