Which statement about glove materials is true?

• A. All glove materials provide protection against all chemicals.
• B. No glove material protects against all chemicals.
• C. Glove materials never degrade.
• D. Latex gloves are always the best choice.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that glove materials have different chemical resistance, and no single material shields you from every substance. Each polymer reacts differently with chemicals: some tolerate acids or bases well but break down in organic solvents; others resist solvents but can still be penetrated by certain oils or ketones. For example, latex gloves can be great barriers for many situations, but they’re not reliable against many organic solvents and they can cause allergic reactions. Nitrile gloves often offer broader resistance to a range of solvents, yet even they aren’t impervious to every chemical. Vinyl tends to be less protective overall, especially against many solvents, and compatibility also depends on exposure duration, glove thickness, and wear.

Because no glove material covers all chemicals, the correct approach is to check chemical compatibility data and select the glove type that best matches the specific chemical, its concentration, and how long you’ll be exposed, while also considering factors like allergies and potential degradation over time.