Unknown Chemical

When a chemical or solution has not been labeled, was improperly labeled, or its label has deteriorated, become obscured or illegible, it becomes an unknown. Fortunately, it is not necessary to know the exact identity of an unknown. It is usually sufficient to determine if an unknown is a hazardous material, and if it is, to assign it to an appropriate hazard class for safe transportation, treatment, and disposal. Many unknowns turn out to be perfectly harmless chemicals that could be disposed of as ordinary waste, or moderately hazardous chemicals that can be easily treated to render them non-hazardous. (The Flinn Chemical and Biological Catalog Reference Manual describes many examples in detail.)