What is the purpose of peroxide testing for solvents?

• A. To monitor solvent color changes during storage.
• B. To determine the solvent's purity level.
• C. To assess the odor of solvents.
• D. To detect and manage peroxide formation that could lead to explosive hazards.

Answer: (D)

Peroxide formation in solvents is a safety hazard because peroxides can be shock-sensitive and potentially explosive, especially in storage and during operations like distillation. Peroxide testing is used to detect and measure any peroxides that have formed so you can manage the risk—dispose of or treat solvents that have hazardous peroxide levels, or store them with appropriate stabilization and precautions. Peroxides can be present even when a solvent looks and smells normal, so the test provides a reliable safety signal that goes beyond everyday indicators. Color changes during storage, overall solvent purity, or odor are not dependable ways to identify peroxide hazards, which is why targeted peroxide testing is essential.