o chem lab safety quiz

acetic acid

corrosive enough to cause serious acid burns on skin; vapors irritate eyes and nasal passages.

acetone

not very toxic; flammable

benzene

serious carcinogenic hazard: damages bone marrow, causes various blood disorders, may lead to leukemia, poisons liver and kidneys; flammable; toluene as substitue

carbon tetrachloride

serious liver and kidney damage, skin irritation, death by respiratory failure (if high concentrations), suspected carcinogenic material; non flammable

chloroform

similar toxicity to carbon tetrachloride; suspected carcinogen; methylene chloride as substitute

(carbon tetrachloride - serious liver and kidney damage, skin irritation, death by respiratory failure (if high concentrations), suspected carcinogenic material; non flammable)

1,2-Dimethoxyethane

flammable; explosive peroxide formation; reproductive toxin

(miscible with water = useful alternative to solvents like dioxane and tetrahydrofuran)

dioxane

suspected as carcinogenic; toxic affecting CNS, liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, and mucous membranes; flammable; explosive peroxide formation

ethanol

intoxicant; flammable

ether (diethyl ether)

most flammable solvent in lab (dense vapors travel long distances); not very toxic (drowsiness, nausea if high concentration); highly explosive peroxides

hexane

most serious hazard = flammability; skin and respiratory tract irritation; intoxicant and depressant of CNS

Ligroin

see hexane

methanol

ethanol hazards apply but more toxic; ingestion can cause blindness and death; more volatile = more fire danger

methylene chloride (dichloromethane)

not flammable or serious carcinogen; liver damage if ingested; vapors cause drowsiness or nausea

pentane

see hexane

petroleum ether

see hexane

pyridine

some fire hazard; highly toxic (depress CNS, irritate skin and respiratory tract, damage liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, cause temporary sterility)

tetrahydrofuran

irritation of skin, eyes, respiratory tract; explosive peroxides; flammable

toluene

not carcinogen but at least as toxic as benzene; anesthetic; damage CNS; flammable

solvents not used in lab because of carcinogenic properties:

benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and dioxane