What characterizes a corrosive hazardous waste?

The characteristic that defines corrosive hazardous waste is its potential to cause damage through chemical interactions, particularly with materials like skin or metal. A substance is classified as corrosive if it has a pH below 2 or above 12.5. This is due to the fact that highly acidic or highly alkaline solutions can corrode or degrade materials significantly. The range of pH values indicates the extreme chemical nature of such substances, highlighting their hazardous properties.

In contrast, a pH equal to 7 indicates a neutral solution, which does not display corrosive characteristics. Options suggesting pH levels between 4 and 10 do not align with the criteria for corrosivity, as neither of these ranges indicates a strong acid or base. An inability to conduct electricity is not a defining characteristic of corrosive materials; rather, it does not provide information about the potential to cause chemical damage. Thus, the option indicating the extremes of pH effectively captures the definition of corrosive hazardous waste.