Chemical Hazards: Toxicology & Reactivity

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Chemical Hazards: Toxicology & Reactivity

This course is part of Chemical Hazards and Process Safety Specialization

Instructor: Jason White

6,466 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

60 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

9 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

60 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

9 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Chemical Hazards and Process Safety Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 4 modules in this course

This course aims to provide process safety experience for engineers, particularly relevant to chemical engineering but applicable to any field involving process operations. This course introduces you to the important, practical, value-added skills and information that will aid your career, or preparation for a career, in chemical process engineering. These skills include improving your ability to identify and quantify toxic chemical hazards and be able to identify and mitigate scenarios where reactive chemical hazards are present. You will be able to describe the importance of pressure protection and the general process for pressure relief system design all while using lessons learned from past chemical process incidents to inform the implementation of safer solutions and work practices.

After this module, you will be able to define industrial health and hygiene including important regulatory agencies. You'll be able to describe chemical hazards and the importance of understanding these hazards. You will be able to describe how chemical reactions, when not managed properly, can result in catastrophic scenarios. Finally, you will be able to use the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for Safety Data Sheets and Labels as well as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) diamond.

What's included

7 videos1 reading1 assignment2 discussion prompts

7 videos Total 35 minutes

Course Introduction 3 minutes
Module 1 Introduction 2 minutes
Runaway Reactions Leading to Disaster 5 minutes
Introduction to Industrial Health and Hygiene 2 minutes
Noise and Thermal Radiation 8 minutes
Globally Harmonized System 9 minutes
NFPA Diamond 6 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

A Note From UC Davis 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 45 minutes

Module 1 Assignment 45 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 30 minutes

Learning Goals 10 minutes
Case Study: T2 Labs Disaster 20 minutes

After this module, you will be able to define, discuss, and use exposure limits such as threshold limit value (TLV) and permissible exposure limit (PEL). You will be able to describe effects of toxicants and quantify impact of exposure using dose versus response curves. You will be able to describe control techniques to prevent exposures, as well as use lessons from past chemical process safety incidents to inform the implementation of solutions and work practices.

What's included

6 videos1 assignment2 discussion prompts

6 videos Total 47 minutes

Module 2 Introduction 2 minutes
Routes of Entry for Toxins 6 minutes
Dose vs. Response Curves 17 minutes
Example of Using Dose/Response Curves 10 minutes
Describing Toxicology 8 minutes
Control Techniques 4 minutes

1 assignment Total 45 minutes

Module 2 Assignment 45 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 50 minutes

Case Study: Toxic Release at DuPont, TX La Porte Facility 20 minutes
Case Study: Hydrogen Sulfide Release in Odessa, TX 30 minutes

After this module, you will be able to identify processes and situations where reactive chemical hazards are likely to be present. You will be able to create and use a chemical compatibility matrix. And finally, you will be able to describe how to use calorimeter data to characterize chemical reactions.

What's included

8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videos Total 62 minutes

Module 3 Introduction 2 minutes
Identifying Reactive Hazards 5 minutes
Specific Reactive Hazards 4 minutes
Chemical Compatibility 8 minutes
Characterizing Chemical Reactivity 5 minutes
Calorimetry 6 minutes
Analysis of Calorimetry Data 23 minutes
Calorimetry Example 10 minutes

2 readings Total 40 minutes

Try It Problem! (Suggested Activity) 30 minutes
Solution 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 40 minutes

Module 3 Assignment 40 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Case Study: The Danger of Popcorn Polymer 10 minutes

At the end of this module, you will be able to explain the importance of pressure protection and define key terms related to pressure relief devices. You will be able to identify major classes of relief devices and be able to describe options for handling relief effluent. Finally, you'll be able to describe the general process for relief system design.

What's included

7 videos1 assignment2 discussion prompts

7 videos Total 42 minutes

Module 4 Introduction 2 minutes
Pressure Protection and Key Definitions 4 minutes
Types of Relief Devices 7 minutes
Handling Relief Effluent 4 minutes
Pressure Protection and Relevant Codes & Standards 6 minutes
General Relief System Design 15 minutes
Course Summary 3 minutes

1 assignment Total 40 minutes

Module 4 Assignment 40 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 25 minutes

Case Study: Ethylene Release and Fire at Kurary America 15 minutes
Self-Reflection 10 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(22 ratings)

Jason White

University of California, Davis

4 Courses 16,217 learners

Offered by

University of California, Davis

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Reviewed on Nov 26, 2025

this course is so valuable , it add more information to my knowledge that will be used in advancing my career

Reviewed on Jan 1, 2026

This course proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. It was a valuable experience. Thank you!

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Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.