DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
TEACHING LAB EXPERIMENT RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
This form must be completed jointly by the Lab Officer in charge and the Lecturer in charge. A
hardcopy of the completed form should be kept in a file together with the Project Risk
Assessment.
Name of Principal Investigator
Name of Lab Officer in Charge
Module / Expt No.
Irene Teo
CM1111 Expt 2
Activity being assessed:
Systematic Inorganic Qualitative Analysis
Known or expected hazards associated with the activity:
Hazards of reagents, solvents and known reaction products.
State each substance and the approximate amounts to be used/produced.
Solution, few drops to 2 mL used.
1) Acetic Acid 2M: Corrosive. Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.
2) Aluminon: Ingestion may produce health damage.
3) Ammonium Acetate 2M: Ingestion may produce health damage.
4) Ammonium Carbonate 2M: Ingestion may produce health damage.
5) Ammonium Hydroxide 5M: Harmful if swallowed. Causes burns. Risk of serious damage to
eyes.
6) Ammonium Mercuri-SCN: Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed. Can
be absorbed through skin.
7) Ammonium Oxalate 0.25M: Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed. Can be absorbed
through the skin.
8) Ammonium Sulfate (Saturated): Ingestion may produce health damage.
9) Barium Chloride 0.25M: Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed. Can be absorbed through
skin.
10) Cobalt Acetate 0.1M: Harmful if swallowed. Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.
11) Copper Sulphate 0.5M: Non-hazardous substance.
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12) Calcium Hydroxide (Saturated): Irritating to eyes.
13) Dimethylglyoxime 1%: Non- hazardous substance.
14) Hydrogen Peroxide 6% (20 Vol): Irritating to eyes and skin. May cause CANCER.
15) Magneson 0.5%: May cause CANCER.
16) Potassium Chromate 0.1M: Harmful if swallowed. May cause CANCER by inhalation. May
cause SENSITISATION by skin contact.
17) Potassium Dichromate 0.1M: Harmful in contact with skin. Toxic if swallowed. Very toxic by
inhalation. Can be absorbed through skin. May cause CANCER by inhalation. May cause
SENSITISATION by skin contact.
18) Potassium Ferrocyanide 0.1M: Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas.
May produce discomfort of the respiratory system.
19) Potassium Iodide: Do not breathe dust. Avoid contact with skin.
20) Phenolphthalein 0.5%: Non-hazardous substance.
21) Siliver Nitrate 0.1M: Avoid contact with skin.
22) Sodium Hydrogen Phosphate 0.2M: Non- hazardous substance.
23) Sodium Hydroxide 10 %: Causes severe burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes.
24) Sodium Hypochlorite: Contact with combustible material may cause fire. Contact with acids
liberates toxic gas.
25) Stannous Chloride saturated: Causes burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes.
26) Conc HCl & 5M HCl: Harmful if swallowed. Toxic by inhalation. Causes burns. Risk of
serious damage to eyes.
27) Conc Sulphuric Acid: Corrosive acid. Toxic or noxious vapours/gas. Reacts violently with
water. Toxic by inhalation. Causes severe burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes.
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Solids, 0.1g to 1g used.
28) Aluminium Powder: Contact with water liberates highly flammable gases. Spontaneously
flammable in air.
29) Aluminium Sulphate: Irritating to eyes and respiratory system.
30) Ammonium Chloride: Harmful if swallowed. Irritating to eyes.
31) Ammonium Sulphate: Ingestion may produce health damage.
32) Copper Turnings: Danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation.
33) Ferrous Sulphate: Harmful if swallowed.
34) Manganese Dioxide: Oxidising agents. Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed.
35) Oxalic Acid: Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed. Irritating to eyes.
36) Potassium Iodide: Do not breathe dust. Avoid contact with skin.
37) Potassium Nitrate: Harmful if swallowed. Irritating to eyes.
38) Sodium Bismuthate: Do not breathe dust. Avoid contact with skin.
39) Sodium Thiosulfate: Inhalation may produce health damage.
40) Sodium Sulphate: Non-hazardous substance.
41) Zinc Pellet: Non-hazardous substance.
42) Potassium Dichromate: Oxidising agents. Harmful in contact with skin. Toxic if swallowed.
Very toxic by inhalation. May cause SENSITISATION by skin contact. May cause CANCER
by inhalation.
43) Zinc Dust: Flammable. Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases.
Irritating to skin.
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Incompatible materials (special precautions):
Solution
1) Acetic Acid 2M: Avoid storage with oxidisers and reducing agents.
2) Aluminon: Avoid reaction with oxidising agents.
3) Ammonium Acetate 2M: None known.
4) Ammonium Carbonate 2M: Segregate from acids.
5) Ammonium Hydroxide 5M: Avoid storage with oxidisers and strong acids.
6) Ammonium Mercuri-SCN: Avoid reaction with oxidising agents. Incompatible with alkalis,
iodides and sodium thiosulfate.
7) Ammonium Oxalate 0.25M: Avoid storage with strong oxidisers, sodium hypochlorite and
ammonium acetate.
8) Ammonium Sulfate (Saturated): Avoid storage with oxidisers and strong alkalis.
9) Barium Chloride 0.25M: Avoid storage with bromine trifluoride and 2-furan percarboxylic acid.
10) Cobalt Acetate 0.1M: Avoid reaction with oxidising agents.
11) Copper Sulphate 0.5M: Segregate from powdered metals, ammonium salts , ammonia and
amines.
12) Calcium Hydroxide (Saturated): Avoid storage with acids, maleic anhydride, ammonium
salts, nitromethane, nitroethane, nitropropane, nitroparaffins, phosphorus. Forms salts with
nitroparaffins in the presence of water which are explosive when dried.
13) Dimethylglyoxime 1%: Avoid reaction with oxidising agents. Avoid storage with reducing
agents. Avoid strong acids.
14) Hydrogen Peroxide 6% (20 Vol): Avoid storage with reducing agents and combustible
materials. Avoid metallic bowls and stirrers. Contaminated product generates oxygen gas.
15) Magneson 0.5%: Store away from strong alkalis.
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16) Potassium Chromate 0.1M: None known
17) Potassium Dichromate 0.1M: Avoid storage with reducing agents. , acids , powdered metals
and organic materials / compounds.
18) Potassium Ferrocyanide 0.1M: Segregate from strong oxidisers and strong acids
Avoid contact with chlorine bleach.
19) Potassium Iodide 0.1M: No special precautions
20) Phenolphthalein 0.5%: Avoid storage with oxidisers.
21) Siliver Nitrate 0.1M: Segregate from organic materials / compounds, combustible materials.
22) Sodium Hydrogen Phosphate 0.2M: No information available.
23) Sodium Hydroxide 10 %: Avoid storage with acids, ammonium salts, strong oxidisers and
organic compounds.
24) Sodium Hypochlorite: Segregate from acids and combustible materials.
25) Stannous Chloride saturated: Segregate from alkalies, oxidising agents and chemicals
readily decomposed by acids, i.e. cyanides, sulfides, carbonates. Avoid storage with metals,
metal oxides, hydroxides, amines, carbonates, alkaline materials, acetic anhydride,
cyanides, sulphides, sulphites, phosphides, acetylides, borides, carbides, silicides, vinyl
acetate, formaldehyde and potassium permanganate.
26) Conc HCl & 5M HCl: Segregate from alkalies, oxidising agents and chemicals readily
decomposed by acids, i.e. cyanides, sulfides, carbonates. Avoid storage with metals, metal
oxides, hydroxides, amines, carbonates, alkaline materials, acetic anhydride, cyanides,
sulphides, sulphites, phosphides, acetylides, borides, carbides, silicides, vinyl acetate,
formaldehyde and potassium permanganate.
27) Conc H2SO4: Segregate from alkalies, oxidising agents and chemicals readily decomposed
by acids, i.e. cyanides, sulfides, carbonates. Reacts vigorously with water and alkali.
Contact with readily oxidisable organic material may cause ignition /fire.
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Solids
28) Aluminium Powder: Segregate from strong acids , strong alkalis , metal oxides , chlorinated
solvents oxidising agents and alcohols.
29) Aluminium Sulphate: Segregate from alkalies, oxidising agents and chemicals readily
decomposed by acids, i.e. cyanides, sulfides, carbonates. Segregate from combustible
materials.
30) Ammonium Chloride: Avoid storage with strong oxidising agents, acids and bases, most
common metals, bromine trifluoride and trichloride, silver and silver compounds.
Contact with acids produces toxic fumes , i.e. hydrogen chloride. Contact with alkalies
produces toxic fumes of ammonia.
31) Ammonium Sulphate: Avoid storage with oxidisers and strong alkalis.
32) Copper Turnings: Segregate from strong acids, ammonia. Avoid contact with acids as toxic
phosphine gas may result.
33) Ferrous Sulphate: Avoid storage with alkalis, soluble carbonates and oxidising agents.
34) Manganese Dioxide: Segregate from strong acids and reducing agents.
35) Oxalic Acid: Avoid storage with oxidising agents, strong alkalis and silver compounds.
36) Potassium Iodide: Avoid storage with acids, oxidising materials, bromine trifluoride and
trichloride, chloral hydrate, calomel (mercurous chloride), potassium chlorate and alkaloidal
salts.
37) Sodium Bismuthate: Segregate from strong acids.
38) Sodium Thiosulfate: Avoid storage with acids, metal nitrites, sodium nitrite, halogens and
oxidizing agents.
39) Sodium Sulphate: Store away from strong acids and aluminium.
40) Zinc Pellet: Segregate from acids and alkalies. Reacts with acids producing flammable /
explosive hydrogen (H2) gas. Segregate from inorganic metal nitrates/ chlorates and
inorganic nitrates, eg. ammonium, barium, sodium, potassium nitrates, hydroxylamine
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nitrate.
41) Potassium Dichromate: Avoid storage with reducing agents. , acids, powdered metals and
organic materials / compounds.
42) Zinc Dust: Avoid alkali hydroxides, air, halogen-halogen compounds, water, acids,
halogens,sulfur,chlorates, alkali oxides, carbon disulfide, hydroxylamine, hydrazine and
derivatives, ammonium compounds, halogenated hydrocarbons, azides, benzene/benzene
derivatives, various metals.
The risk of injury and its severity likely to arise from these hazards:
Spillage and accidental breakage of flasks containing the reagents.
Who is at risk?
Persons directly in contact with the above stated chemicals.
Measure to be taken to reduce the level of risk:
Proper laboratory attire and safety measures must always be used in order to reduce the level
of risk.
Training prerequisites:
Advise students on the hazards of reagents used. Refer to prepared risk assessments on use of
glassware and use of centrifuge.
Use of Glassware
Use of Standard Electrical Equipment
Purchasing, Safety and Security Office
Level of risk remaining:
Low.
Emergency action if :
Spill:
Clean up all spills immediately.
Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Wear impervious gloves and safety glasses.
Place spilled material in clean, dry, sealable, labelled container.
Conc Hydrochloric acid:
For small spills: Dilute with large quantities of water
For large spills: Contain spill if possible. Attempt to neutralize by adding materials such as
limestone, lime or soda ash.
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10 % Sodium Hydroxide:
Neutralize spill with dilute Hydrochloric acid and flush to sewer with copious amounts of water.
wash spill area with soap and water.
Fire:
Use type ABC dry power extinguisher.
Is the experiment suitable for out-of-hours operation?
Yes
No
References if any:
Signature of Lab Officer in Charge::………………………………………………………………..
Date:…………………………
Signature of Lecturer in Charge:………… ……………………………………..
Date:… ……………………..
Prepared Risks Assessments for standard equipment and operation are with the kind permission of Dr. Ken MacNeil,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol.
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Activity being assessed:
Note any activity to be used which entail risk (e.g. use of glass vacuum apparatus, high pressures, high
voltage, radiation, high temperatures). Give reference to any special protocols to be followed, and if
appropriate attach copies to the risk assessment form. State any additional precautions taken to minimise
risk.
Known or expected hazards associated with the activity:
FOR EACH CHEMICAL, read the MSDS and note:a) Particular hazards (e.g. highly toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive, flammable, pyrophoric, explosive, volatile,
dust hazard). Note any dangerous combinations of properties (e.g. volatile and toxic).
b) Requirements for safe handling (e.g. fume cupboard, inert atmosphere, low temperature).
c) How to dispose of residuals
 Dispose to drain, with water dilution
 Neutralise, then to drain with suitable dilution
 To flammable liquid waste receptacle
 To non-flammable liquid waste receptacle
 Keep for recovery/recycling
 Keep for special disposal later (e.g. heavy metals)
 Double bag and dispose to dry waste
 Special procedure (specify)
Incompatible materials (special precautions)
Note any dangerously incompatible materials and hazards arising from contact of any reagents and
substances used with common materials such as paper, benches, hoses, etc.
Measures to be taken to reduce the level of risk
Include hazards of previously unknown products.
Location of work – laboratory, open bench, fume cupboard
Level of risk remaining:
Likelihood and consequences of any accident or unforeseen events whilst carrying out the activity. When
this has been done, choose the appropriate procedure:a) Close supervision and/or attendance of trained first-aider needed.
b) Specific approval of supervisor needed.
c) Training is needed prior-to or during the operations specified.
d) Training is complete and only general laboratory competence required.
e) No risk perceived.
Emergency action:
a) Any special requirements to deal with accidental spillage or leakage.
b) What to do in the event of accidental exposure (skin contact, inhalation, etc.).
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