Pharma IQ Glossary: Hazardous Chemical Reaction (HCR)

A Hazardous Chemical Reaction (HCR) is defined as a reaction which generates pressure or byproducts which could cause injury, illness or harm to humans, domestic animals, livestock or wildlife. HCR can be grouped into general categories, such as: self-reactive materials (polymerizing, decomposing and rearranging), reactive with other materials (oxygen and water), mixing of two or more chemicals in an intentional chemical process. General situations involving chemical reactivity hazards include: mixing or physical processing (blending, milling and distillation), intentional chemistry (batch, semi-batch or continuous processes), transportation, storage, handling and repackaging (warehousing or tank storage) and unintentional reactions.