edited by
MALCOLM M. RENFREW University of ldaho MOSCOW, ldaho 83843
Laboratory Chemical Reports: The First Step in Chemical Safety Carl J. Tenpas Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina 29613
The first and most important step in handling chemicak safely in the laboratory is for the students to know what they are dealing with. A recent ACS publication states the problem more succinctly ( I ):
"All chemicals are capable of causing injury to some degree!A complete listing of the hazards of the chemicals used in each laboratory should be provided in every laboratory."
Carl J. Tenpas is Assistant Professor of Chemistry a t Furman University. He has been teaching chemistry and directing student laboratories for the past nine years. He is involved in research in physical organic chemistry and undergraduate chemical education.
Introduction These statements seem self-evident and appear in various forms in the introductory sections of many organic laboratory textbooks. Little is said, however, about the development of such listings and the implementation of appropriate vehicles for transferring the information successfully to the students. Most textbook authors outline minimal safety precautions for extremely hazardous materials as they are encountered in each experimental procedure. Two sets of authors (2, 3) list also the 14 original carcinogenic compounds as determined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (4). Ault (5) provides a partial solution to this problem by listing several "hazardous materials and some of their properties" along with other preliminary topies in the mast recent edition of his laboratory manual. One of the best available complementary treatments of this topic is found in the short paperback book by Green and Turk (6)which "aims to teach the subject of chemical safety in a way that will provide understanding of the fundamental concept of safe practice." Included therein are excellent chapters on (a) "reaction hazards, flammable and explosive chemicals" and (b) "toxic and corrosive substances." Also, selected articles in the "Safety in the Chemical Laboratory" series (7) and several "resource papers" which have serve as good appeared in THIS JOURNAL sources for additional chemical safety information. Although it is not possible to foresee every problem associated with a given set of chemicals in an experimental procedure, it is feasible to document most hazards with a simple survey of selected sources from the secondary chemical literature. I wish to describe one of our efforts to make the students more knowledgeable about the materials which they are handling in the laboratory.
The Chemical Report Several days prior to the laboratory activ-
ity, selected students are each assigned one of the chemicals which will be used in the upcoming experiment. The student is responsible for completing a written "Chemical Report", an outline ofwhich appears in Table 1.
Table 1. The Chemlcal Report Compound Name Synonyms Formula M o i e ~ ~ l aShU~turaI r. Description Physical state at standard temperaturelpressure, color, odor Prooerties Molecular weight, density, refractive index. melting/boiling point, flash point, solubility Potential Hazards Volatile, flammable, explosive, disaster, cormlive. asphyxiant, lacrimatory, allergenic, toxic. poisonous, neoplastic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, other problems. Safety Requirements Handling, storage Emergency Fmcedwes First aid, antidotes, fires, disposal
Uses Industrial, commercial cost Per unitlexp~riment Student Wme, Date
An orientation period is held on theafternoon before the laboratory period and such topics as methodology, experimental p r o w dures and safety rules are reviewed. During this time, the students present an oral summary of the characteristics of each chemical as outlined on the Chemical Report, paying particular attention to the potential hazards, safety requirements and emergency pracedures. The Chemical Report is then posted in the laboratorv for subseouent referral. It is (Continued on page A338)
Volume 57, Number 12, December 1980 / A337
Safety
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understood t h a t the student responsible for each summary w i l l serve, along w i t h the i n structor, as the "authority" on that particular chemicaL Imieht add that this resoonsibilitv " is n o t taken lightly and often potentially dangerous situations have been avoided b y simply consulting the appropriate "authority."
Sources of Information Several excellent reference sources are made available t o the students for this eaerrise and a pnrtinl list appears in Table 2. I t should be p u i n t r d out thnt t h r r e w u r r e s a r e ~~~~~~~
Table 2.
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"Toxic and Hazardous lndusbial Chemicals Safety Handbookl', lnternationai Technical Infamatian Institute. Japan, 1979. Muir. G. D.. "Hazards in the Chemical Laboratory". 2nd Ed.. The Chemical Society, London, 1977. Lewis, R. J. (Editor). "Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances", 1978 Ed., USIDepartment of Health, Educationand Welfare. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Cincinnahi. Ohio. 1979. Christensen, N. E. and Fairchild, E. J.. "Suspected Carcinogens". 2nd Ed.. US. Depamnent of Health, Education and Welfare, National lnstihnie for Occupational Safety end Health. Cincinnati. Ohio, 1976. Chemical Supply Catalogs (i.e.. Aldrich. Baker. Eastman. Fisher. Mallinckrcdt, MCB, etc.).
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Llst of Sources for the Chemical Report
West. C. (Editor). "Handbook of Chemishy and Physi~s",59lh Ed.. CRC Press,Cleveland. Ohio, 1978.
Steere. N. V. (Editor), "Hendbwk of Laboratory Safety". 2nd Edition, CRC hers. Cleveland. Ohio. 1971.
Stecher. P. G. (Editor). "TIE Merck Index" 9th Ed. Merck Ca.. Inc. Rahway. New Jersey, 1976. Sax. N. E. "Dangerous Properties of Industrial M a terials", 5lh Ed., Van Nostrand Reinhdd Campany. New York. 1979. Bretherick, L. ''Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards". 2nd Ed.. Butterworth 8 Co.. Ltd.. London. 1979.
Conclusion Working safely in the laboratory is our
primary concern. It is our stated position that all chemicals are dangerous if you don't know what you are dealing with. Conversely, almost anv ~,chemical can he handled safelv ,if vou are ~
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Acknowledgment The author wishes to thank the numerous teaching assistants who have helped in the continual implimentation of this activity.
Literature Cited mndeavnilahle in the laboratoryandlor in a wading r w m adjacent to the lahorntors. Contrary to many a librarian's view, these materials do n o t helong o n the library reserve shelves only. Therefore, we have found it prudent t o purchase l a b copies of several of the required reference hooks from t h e departmental budget and w i t h the financial assistance o f the university safety office. Although the format for the Chemical Report was designed originally for our laboratory sections in organic chemistry, it could he adopted for use in a l l laboratory courses. Safety should n o t he taught only in a course; rather, i t murt be taught in e r w y course. Thii type o f iormaliring .,f safety pnredures w i l l oleoare Ihestudent well for future work in the chemical profession.
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informed of its characwristirj w d me aware of im putentral hazards. T h e C H E M I C A I . R E P O R T hasserved t u increase the knowledge and t o heighten the respect o f our students for a l l chemicals.
