Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

Which chemical when stored would cause an increase in facility risk when stored in an area with wet pipe automatic sprinkler system?

1. Calcium Chloride

2. Calcium Carbide

3. Sodium Bicarbonate

4. Potassium Nitrate

The correct answer is: Calcium Carbide

Calcium Carbide is the correct choice because it is known to react with water to produce acetylene gas, which is highly flammable and poses a significant fire hazard. When Calcium Carbide is stored in an environment where there is a wet pipe automatic sprinkler system, any exposure to moisture could trigger this reaction. If water contacts Calcium Carbide in a quantity sufficient to cause significant formation of acetylene, the presence of an ignition source could lead to a fire or explosion, thereby greatly increasing the facility's risk. In contrast, the other chemicals listed do not carry the same level of risk when exposed to water. Calcium Chloride can absorb moisture and is typically used as a drying agent, but it does not produce a hazardous reaction like Calcium Carbide. Sodium Bicarbonate and Potassium Nitrate also do not have reactions with water that would increase the risk significantly compared to Calcium Carbide. Therefore, the unique and dangerous reaction of Calcium Carbide with water makes it the correct response in this scenario.