CHM 1321 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Anthophyllite

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: CHM 1321
• Professor: Rashmi Venkateswaran

Document Summary

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that occurs in rock and soil. It is the generic name for the six substances, chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite. It was popularly used as a building material from the 1950s to 1990s. Asbestos is recognized for its heat resistance, strength, insulation and fire retardance. Asbestos has mainly been used for building materials such as floor tiles, roof shingles, and insulation, as well as hot water and steam pipes. Despite being popularly used, asbestos is a danger to the health and can cause fatal illnesses. Hydrous magnesium silicate, (mg 3 si 2 o 5 (oh) 4 ), commonly known as asbestos, is an inert substance in most forms. It is insoluble in water and organic solvents and is nonflammable (barbalace, 2004). Asbestos can withstand a temperature upto 2750 . The substance has no odour or taste and its fibres are too small to see with the human eye (ccsn).