Question

question 3 4 pts what hazardous properties does sodium hydroxide have? (check all that apply)
☐ can release dangerous amount of heat when dissolved in water.
☐ can cause blindness if it contacts your eyes.
☐ corrosive.
☐ can be fatal if ingested.

Explanation:

• "Can release dangerous amount of heat when dissolved in water": Sodium hydroxide ($\ce{NaOH}$) is a strong base, and its dissolution in water is a highly exothermic process, releasing a large amount of heat which can be dangerous (e.g., causing burns or boiling the solution if not handled properly).
• "Can cause blindness if it contacts your eyes": Due to its corrosive nature, sodium hydroxide can severely damage eye tissues. The strong alkaline nature can break down proteins in the eye, leading to permanent damage or blindness if not immediately and properly treated.
• "Corrosive": Sodium hydroxide is a strong corrosive substance. It can react with and damage organic materials (like skin, eyes, respiratory tract lining) and some metals, as it can hydrolyze fats (in skin) to form soap - like compounds while causing severe chemical burns.
• "Can be fatal if ingested": Ingesting sodium hydroxide can cause severe damage to the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, intestines) due to its corrosive action. The damage can lead to internal bleeding, perforation of organs, and in severe cases, can be fatal.

Answer:

• $\boldsymbol{\text{Can release dangerous amount of heat when dissolved in water.}}$ (checked)
• $\boldsymbol{\text{Can cause blindness if it contacts your eyes.}}$ (checked)
• $\boldsymbol{\text{Corrosive.}}$ (checked)
• $\boldsymbol{\text{Can be fatal if ingested.}}$ (checked)