A Sobering Experience with lsopropyl Ether Peroxide In sorting through some bottles of chemicals in a basement storeroom recently we found two 21/,-1 glass-stoppered bottles labeled IsopropgL Ether--Studat Prepa~ation. Although nu date was on the labels, we h e w that the bottles had been there for more than twenty years. Both bottles were nearly a third full of camphor-like crystalline solid beneath the liquid upper layer. Having heard of the tendency far isopropyl ether to form a peroxide, we suspected that the solid might be dangerous although i t looked harmless enough. The bottles were taken to the dispensing ~tockroom,and the supernatant liquid poured down the drain. Water was added but the solid proved to be insoluble. The.bottles with their contained water and solid wereallowed t o stand around several weeks awaiting disposal. As part of a. general stockroom oleanup the bottles were finally loaded into a box along with sundry contajners of sodium scraps and unlabeled chemicals and taken by the writer and the stockroom keeper to the dump, located in s. marshy area, a t the edge of town. Still aware that the white solid might be dangemus we tossed one bottle as far as possible out into the bog and the second after i t in the hope that both would be hroken. Failing in this attempt, we threw stones a t the bottles t o break them. When the first stone struck, there was s. violent explosion which blasted mud and debris over the surrounding landscape. Fortunately, neither tha writer nor his assistant were hit by flying glass. This incident not only points up the danger inherent in old samples of isopropyl ether but also illustrates the hasards which are alwavs Dresent around a chemistrv laboratow. Our knowl-
explosion.
Volume 40, Number 9, September 1963
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