What does a specific gravity of less than 1 indicate about a substance?

• A. It sinks in water
• B. It floats on water
• C. It is highly viscous
• D. It has a high density

Answer: (B)

A specific gravity of less than 1 indicates that a substance is less dense than water. Since water has a specific gravity of 1, a substance with a specific gravity below this threshold will naturally float when placed in water. This property is essential in hazardous materials response and understanding the behavior of substances in aquatic environments, such as spills or leaks. Recognizing how a substance interacts with water can be crucial for implementing appropriate containment and cleanup strategies.

The other options do not apply to this principle: a substance that has a specific gravity less than 1 will not sink in water, and a specific gravity reading does not inherently indicate viscosity or high density. Instead, it directly correlates with buoyancy in relation to water.