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Author: Subject: Bad days in the lab or with glassware?
arkoma
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[*] posted on 19-7-2014 at 15:07


got impatient with my alcohol burner so broke out the MAPP gas torch. oops. first melted a hole, then a piece popped outa this test tube after the water ran out

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[*] posted on 19-7-2014 at 16:00


Oops indeed, poor little test tube!
I like my propane Bunsen burner for that sort of stuff. I got a pretty good deal for it online, and it just runs off of a normal barbecue propane tank.

And I had a glassware issue two days ago When I was cleaning a bunch of glassware, I accidentally broke a 50ml erlenmeyer, getting very tiny pieces of glass in my fingers that I didn't notice until later, one of which is still bugging me now.

[Edited on 7-20-2014 by zts16]




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The Volatile Chemist
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[*] posted on 20-7-2014 at 08:12


I broke my second to last 50mL beaker by accidentally dropping it on my hotplate....Those things don't like me!!! Luckily one was in the mail.... I got a bunch of equipment for my b-day :)



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[*] posted on 24-7-2014 at 20:08


Had brand new pair of designer jeans on that I just pulled the tags off and wearing for the first time. Picked up bottle of 4 molar H2SO4 to put it away before I left, top disintegrated in my hand, tried to catch it with the other but failed. Smashed on the floor and splashed all up my legs. Did not hurt me, but those jeans are done for. Fortunately nothing got above my waist and onto my good shirt or in my eyes

They tell you never to pick up a bottle by the lid, and this is exactly why. I usually wear safety goggles but was just putting something back that I forgot to put away. Accidents happen when you are least prepared it seems.





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[*] posted on 24-7-2014 at 21:30


Today I pulled a kim wipe soaked with trimethylsilylmethyl lithium out of a glove box, as soon as I opened the vacuum chamber the wipe burst into flames.
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[*] posted on 19-8-2014 at 13:46


I was boiling down some weak sulfuric acid to concentrate it and accidentally spilled it all on my hotplate. Luckily there was only 20ml of liquid but still produced room full of sulfuric acid fumes. Not fun lol



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kt5000
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[*] posted on 21-8-2014 at 20:06


Quote: Originally posted by hissingnoise  
Adding any antibumping granules to a hot liquid is practically a recipe for bumping.
They should be in before the heat goes on. . .



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[*] posted on 21-8-2014 at 21:56


Quote: Originally posted by digitalemu  
Had brand new pair of designer jeans on that I just pulled the tags off and wearing for the first time. Picked up bottle of 4 molar H2SO4 to put it away before I left, top disintegrated in my hand, tried to catch it with the other but failed. Smashed on the floor and splashed all up my legs. Did not hurt me, but those jeans are done for. Fortunately nothing got above my waist and onto my good shirt or in my eyes

They tell you never to pick up a bottle by the lid, and this is exactly why. I usually wear safety goggles but was just putting something back that I forgot to put away. Accidents happen when you are least prepared it seems.


This is why I have special clothes I wear when doing chemistry. I NEVER go into my lab unless I am wearing these clothes and this has paid off, as my chemistry clothes now have all these holes in them.
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[*] posted on 22-8-2014 at 00:50


Boron is more inflammable than I thought.

I know boron should colour flames green (Trimethyl borate certainly does) so I have had some amorphous Boron for a while and thought I would see what colour flame it gives with an oxidant. I had some powdered potassium permanganate so I mixed a little boron powder with it using an orange stick. Bad move. It flashed and I ended up with some nice burnt fingers. (See picture taken 2 weeks down the line). Moral of the story - Even materials not usually thought of as very inflammable can go up when mixed with an oxidant. The flame is not noticeably green in any case.

IMG_5012.jpg - 61kB
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[*] posted on 22-8-2014 at 14:13


A picture says 1000 words.

In brief : you invented fake tan remover.

4 out of 6 fingers say so.




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[*] posted on 22-8-2014 at 14:19


Quote: Originally posted by Oscilllator  
This is why I have special clothes I wear when doing chemistry. I NEVER go into my lab unless I am wearing these clothes and this has paid off, as my chemistry clothes now have all these holes in them.

Those 'special' clothes must be quite well holed by now.

Please change your handle to:

'The Scantily Clad Chemist'




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[*] posted on 23-8-2014 at 16:59


All summer I worked with pirhana solution and no lab coat. I'm not 100% sure how I didn't spill the stuff once but would find mysterious holes in my shirts and pants. Clothes are impermanent and there's no reason to be dressing up for lab work.



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[*] posted on 23-8-2014 at 19:10


I've been finding mysterious holes in my clothes too, despite not spilling anything on myself. I don't know for sure what causes them, but just in case, I've started to wear only the clothes that have holes when I'm doing chemistry.



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[*] posted on 23-8-2014 at 19:13


Same with me, its sulfuric acid I'm sure. I don't know how, it just happens.

[Edited on 24-8-2014 by Zyklon-A]




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[*] posted on 23-8-2014 at 19:15


Quote: Originally posted by Zyklon-A  
Same with me, its sulfuric acid I'm sure. I don't know how, it just happens.

[Edited on 24-8-2014 by Zyklon-A]


Actually, sulfuric doesn't fume all that much, nor does it poke holes in stuff. I did some tests with some cuts of a pair of old pants, and the culprits turned out to be HCl and bleach.

In this case, I'd suspect nitric, as it fumes like crazy.




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[*] posted on 23-8-2014 at 19:19


Interesting, I also assumed that it was sulfuric, despite it not fuming, because the holes seemed to start appearing only after I obtained sulfuric acid. I'd used hydrochloric for months before and never noticed any holes, and I've never had any nitric acid. Your test seems pretty conclusive though. What was the material of the pants?



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[*] posted on 24-8-2014 at 07:14


I have so many holes in my clothes . . .

I wonder if I could start a new fashion trend, similar to torn jeans.




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[*] posted on 24-8-2014 at 07:27


ONce im pretty sure i nitrated a cotton shirt with N2O5.
also i get the weirdest discolorations that change color occasionally. who knows what happened there.




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[*] posted on 24-8-2014 at 17:27


Quote: Originally posted by elementcollector1  


Actually, sulfuric doesn't fume all that much, nor does it poke holes in stuff. I did some tests with some cuts of a pair of old pants, and the culprits turned out to be HCl and bleach.

In this case, I'd suspect nitric, as it fumes like crazy.


I have to disagree there. I once pulled apart a car battery in a stupid manner to get the sulfuric acid out, and the next day I discovered that my trousers were COVERED in holes. There were even a couple of holes around the shoulder area of my shirt :o. This was the experiment that led me to my policy regarding the clothes I wear while doing chemistry.
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[*] posted on 24-8-2014 at 18:13


I also disagree, I KNOW sulfuric makes holes in things. every morning I pick up my tool belt for work, I can still see 30% through the tape-measure pocket. and the holes in my nylon tool bag. maybe polyester? is's man-made plastic fiber for sure. they were front row for the spill. my acid fumes just fine also. common hardware store drain cleaner.
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[*] posted on 24-8-2014 at 18:56


you should see what the battery delivery guys look like!
part of the service you get when buying new batteries is that they remove the old ones for free! they wear tyvek suits, I guess that's a bare minimum for carrying 24 old acid filled batteries up a ladder through a small hatch and 24 new ones back down, because their clothes still have holes in them.
and we get a floor full of black spots..




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[*] posted on 25-8-2014 at 17:47


Quote: Originally posted by Cheddite Cheese  
I have so many holes in my clothes . . .

I wonder if I could start a new fashion trend, similar to torn jeans.


Hahaha, I was thinking the same thing. Not so sure how much the ladies would be in to chemical spill chic. These posts did encourage me to buy some new pants because seriously, all of mine are holy. Not in the praise jesus way.




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[*] posted on 25-8-2014 at 17:54


Quote: Originally posted by smaerd  
Quote: Originally posted by Cheddite Cheese  
I have so many holes in my clothes . . .

I wonder if I could start a new fashion trend, similar to torn jeans.


Hahaha, I was thinking the same thing. Not so sure how much the ladies would be in to chemical spill chic. These posts did encourage me to buy some new pants because seriously, all of mine are holy. Not in the praise jesus way.
Haha, when I told my parents the other day that I needed to change out of my "holy clothes" before going to dinner, they were a bit confused at first, until I pointed out the multiple pinholes dotting my shorts.



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[*] posted on 26-8-2014 at 04:59


The fact that so many of you seem to have sulfuric acid mist spraying all over you and burning holes in your clothes is pretty alarming. I've never had this happen to me, ever. You guys should really review your safety procedures and how you pour and react things. Pour things slowly. Do reactions outside. Wear a lab coat. If I ever do anything that makes a gas, I cover it with a watch glass to contain the tiny droplets that are always formed. If something is eating through your clothes, it might be getting on your face and eyes!
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[*] posted on 26-8-2014 at 05:09


I also only wear old clothes when in the lab not because of the chemicals themselves, but more because my lab isn't just chemistry. I find a lab coat completly useless.

MrHomeScientist, when handling concentrated sulfuric acid there's absolutly no chance you're going to avoid holes in cotton made clothes. It just happens. Back in the day I remember PIPPTETING a sample of Sulfuric Acid (using glass pippetes) and finding my t-shirt with those tiny holes, in the following day. Coincidence or not, it has happened to me more than once.

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