pyrophoric
1
9.9
- adjective
- /ˌpaɪrəˈfɔrɪk/
- Specialized
:
pirofórico
- Pyrophoric explosions scattered plutonium oxide throughout the building, and cleanup was even needed outside, on the roof, in minus 30 degrees C weather.
Examples
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The lithium deuteride is pyrophoric—it ignites spontaneously if exposed to air—so it requires special care.
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Before we left Earth, some alarmists considered the lunar dust very dangerous; in fact, pyrophoric—capable of igniting spontaneously in air.
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A pyrophoric solid means a solid which, even in small quantities, is liable to ignite within five minutes after coming into contact with air.
Antonyms
Compounds
How Easily Ignited
Surface Forms
Morphology
pyrophoric = pyro + phor + ic
The word is technically compositional, but it relies on Greek combining forms and a specialized chemistry meaning that is not readily inferable for an average learner.
Etymology
Pyrophoric comes from Greek parts pyro- meaning 'fire' and -phoric meaning 'carrying', as in pyrotechnics where pyro- is 'fire'. So if something is pyrophoric it is like a 'fire-carrier' and can catch fire by itself when it meets air.