What is 'off-gassing' in relation to materials?

• A. A technique for sterilizing instruments
• B. Evaporation of a chemical substance trapped in a material
• C. A method for enhancing chemical reactions
• D. The process of bonding materials together

Answer: (B)

Off-gassing refers to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other chemical substances from materials into the air. This phenomenon occurs when the trapped gases or chemicals within a material evaporate or diffuse out. Often associated with new products, off-gassing can be noticeable with items like furniture, carpets, or even some surgical materials, potentially affecting air quality and health due to inhalation of those released compounds. Understanding this process is important in fields like healthcare, where the purity and safety of materials are critical. The other options describe unrelated processes: sterilization techniques, chemical reaction enhancements, and bonding methods, which do not capture the essence of what off-gassing entails.