Differentiate neutralization from absorption in hazmat response.

• A. Neutralization chemically converts hazards to less dangerous products; absorption physically removes or contains liquids to prevent spread
• B. Absorption chemically converts hazards; neutralization physically removes liquids
• C. Both are purely physical processes
• D. Neutralization and absorption are synonyms

Answer: (A)

Neutralization is a chemical change that converts the hazard into less dangerous products by reacting it with a suitable reagent. In hazmat work, this might mean adding something to neutralize a corrosive or reactive liquid, forming benign salts and water (often with heat released). Absorption is a physical process that removes or contains liquids by soaking them into a sorbent material (pads, booms, or other absorbents) without changing the chemical, so the liquid is taken up and contained rather than chemically transformed. The correct choice captures that neutralization chemically alters the hazard, while absorption physically removes or contains it.