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pyrophoric
[ pahy-ruh-fawr-ik, -for- ]
adjective
- capable of igniting spontaneously in air.
pyrophoric
/ ˌpaɪrəʊˈfɒrɪk /
adjective
- (of a chemical) igniting spontaneously on contact with air
- (of an alloy) producing sparks when struck or scraped
lighter flints are made of pyrophoric alloy
Word History and Origins
Origin of pyrophoric1
Word History and Origins
Origin of pyrophoric1
Example Sentences
George Koutsantonis, a chemist at the UWA, describes her components as “vital” for his research on pyrophoric chemicals, which ignite spontaneously if exposed to air.
Static or piezoelectricity is another popular candidate for the helicopter halos–as opposed to the pyrophoric, muffler-scraping-on-the-road phenomenon I describe in the video above.
But again, if the helicopter blades aren’t pyrophoric but do conduct electricity, the whole effect disappears.
Prosecutors say the fire broke out when Sangji, a recent college graduate who had only been working in the lab for some 2 1/2 months, was performing an experiment with tert-Butyllithium, a pyrophoric chemical, meaning that it spontaneously ignites when exposed to air.
In a 2009 statement to the Los Angeles Times, Harran called Sangji an "experienced chemist" who had previous experience handling pyrophoric substances.
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