2026 WASHINGTON PESTICIDE LAWS LATEST
EXAMS STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SURE A+
✔✔What is an emulsion? - ✔✔When one liquid is dispersed within anther liquid like oil
and water. AI is usually dissolved in oil (oil/ai droplet) and mixed with an emulsifier. The
AI/oil mixture is suspended in water forming a white, milky spray mix, called an
emulsion. Agitation is typically required.
✔✔Pesticide incompatibility: - ✔✔Unless specified on the label, pesticides can typically
be tank mixed, but not all pesticides are compatible. Chemical or physical separation of
ingredients into layers, globules, clumps, precipitates, or gels indicate the products are
incompatible.
✔✔What are some problems that may arise when incompatible pesticides are mixed? -
✔✔-Loss of effectiveness against the target pest.
-Phytotoxicity
-Increased hazard to the applicator or treated animals.
-Clogging of equipment lines, pumps, and tanks.
✔✔Describe the steps of a jar test: - ✔✔1. Wear the proper PPE as required on the
label of the pesticides being used.
, 2. Use a clean glass jar about 1 qt in size.
3. Use the same water as you will use in your tank mix.
4. Add the products in the same proportions, order, and at the same temperature as the
tank mix. Unless specified otherwise mix in this order: water, buffer, wettable powders,
flowables, soluble powders, surfactants, and ECs. Agitate after each addition.
5. Shake the jar vigorously and let stand for 15 minutes. Watch for signs of
incompatibility. Do not use any mixture that gives off heat, as this is a sign that a
chemical reaction has occurred and the properties of some of the products could be
altered.
6. Test the mix on the plant and apply under similar application conditions if possible to
check for phyto.
✔✔What is an adjuvant? - ✔✔A chemical added to a pesticide formulation to improve its
performance and safety. Remember: The WSDA classifies adjuvants as pesticides,
even though the EPA does not.
✔✔What is a surfactant? - ✔✔Surfactants, or surface active adjuvants, are adjuvants
that alter the dispersing, spreading, and/or wetting properties of the spray droplets.
✔✔What are wetting agents? - ✔✔Wetting agents and spreaders are the adjuvants
most commonly used by applicators. These adjuvants reduce the surface tension of the
droplets. A spray droplet must wet the treated surface and spread uniformly over the
treated area to provide the maximum pest control. Applications to plants with waxy or
hairy leaves often require the inclusion of an adjuvant to the spray mixture.
✔✔What do stickers, penetrants, and safeners have to do with spray mixtures? -
✔✔These adjuvants influence the adherance, absorption, or safety of a pesticide
mixture on a treated surface. Buffers, compatibility agents, emulsifiers, and anti-foaming
agents affect the mixing, handling, and longevity of the pesticide mixture. Foaming
agents, drift retardants, and thickeners reduce drift during application.
✔✔Always read the label before adding adjuvants to a tank mix. - ✔✔Manufactured
formulations often contain all necessary adjuvants in appropriate amounts for all or most
uses. However, sometimes it is desirable to add adjuvants at application. Some labels
clearly prohibit the addition of adjuvants or specify a specific adjuvant that is
permissible.
✔✔What is a residue tolerance? - ✔✔The maximum legal amount of a pesticide residue
that may legally remain on or in food or feed at harvest or slaughter. This level is
established by the EPA under the authority of FIFRA and the Food Quality Protection
Act (FQPA). It should be noted that the residue tolerance is higher than any residue
found when used according to the label approved by the EPA.
✔✔What is the trade, brand or product name: - ✔✔The product name that is typically
trademarked by the manufacturer, so other companies cannot use it. This is the name
EXAMS STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SURE A+
✔✔What is an emulsion? - ✔✔When one liquid is dispersed within anther liquid like oil
and water. AI is usually dissolved in oil (oil/ai droplet) and mixed with an emulsifier. The
AI/oil mixture is suspended in water forming a white, milky spray mix, called an
emulsion. Agitation is typically required.
✔✔Pesticide incompatibility: - ✔✔Unless specified on the label, pesticides can typically
be tank mixed, but not all pesticides are compatible. Chemical or physical separation of
ingredients into layers, globules, clumps, precipitates, or gels indicate the products are
incompatible.
✔✔What are some problems that may arise when incompatible pesticides are mixed? -
✔✔-Loss of effectiveness against the target pest.
-Phytotoxicity
-Increased hazard to the applicator or treated animals.
-Clogging of equipment lines, pumps, and tanks.
✔✔Describe the steps of a jar test: - ✔✔1. Wear the proper PPE as required on the
label of the pesticides being used.
, 2. Use a clean glass jar about 1 qt in size.
3. Use the same water as you will use in your tank mix.
4. Add the products in the same proportions, order, and at the same temperature as the
tank mix. Unless specified otherwise mix in this order: water, buffer, wettable powders,
flowables, soluble powders, surfactants, and ECs. Agitate after each addition.
5. Shake the jar vigorously and let stand for 15 minutes. Watch for signs of
incompatibility. Do not use any mixture that gives off heat, as this is a sign that a
chemical reaction has occurred and the properties of some of the products could be
altered.
6. Test the mix on the plant and apply under similar application conditions if possible to
check for phyto.
✔✔What is an adjuvant? - ✔✔A chemical added to a pesticide formulation to improve its
performance and safety. Remember: The WSDA classifies adjuvants as pesticides,
even though the EPA does not.
✔✔What is a surfactant? - ✔✔Surfactants, or surface active adjuvants, are adjuvants
that alter the dispersing, spreading, and/or wetting properties of the spray droplets.
✔✔What are wetting agents? - ✔✔Wetting agents and spreaders are the adjuvants
most commonly used by applicators. These adjuvants reduce the surface tension of the
droplets. A spray droplet must wet the treated surface and spread uniformly over the
treated area to provide the maximum pest control. Applications to plants with waxy or
hairy leaves often require the inclusion of an adjuvant to the spray mixture.
✔✔What do stickers, penetrants, and safeners have to do with spray mixtures? -
✔✔These adjuvants influence the adherance, absorption, or safety of a pesticide
mixture on a treated surface. Buffers, compatibility agents, emulsifiers, and anti-foaming
agents affect the mixing, handling, and longevity of the pesticide mixture. Foaming
agents, drift retardants, and thickeners reduce drift during application.
✔✔Always read the label before adding adjuvants to a tank mix. - ✔✔Manufactured
formulations often contain all necessary adjuvants in appropriate amounts for all or most
uses. However, sometimes it is desirable to add adjuvants at application. Some labels
clearly prohibit the addition of adjuvants or specify a specific adjuvant that is
permissible.
✔✔What is a residue tolerance? - ✔✔The maximum legal amount of a pesticide residue
that may legally remain on or in food or feed at harvest or slaughter. This level is
established by the EPA under the authority of FIFRA and the Food Quality Protection
Act (FQPA). It should be noted that the residue tolerance is higher than any residue
found when used according to the label approved by the EPA.
✔✔What is the trade, brand or product name: - ✔✔The product name that is typically
trademarked by the manufacturer, so other companies cannot use it. This is the name
