Risk Management
Year 1 Demonstration Lecture
Rebecca Kaner
Safety Information Relating to Chemistry for All Schools Demonstration Lecture
(Year 1)
Reaction 1.
Description
Hazards
Risk Management
First Aid Measures
The Blue Bottle Demonstration
0.5 M sodium hydroxide is corrosive (H290-H315-H319)
Methylene blue is the dye used – harmful (H319)
Glucose is also present – low hazard
Members of the audience are not allowed to handle the
chemicals. The reaction is kept in a stoppered bottle.
Sodium hydroxide with methylene blue added
NB: the solution used is very dilute
Eye contact: Immediately flush the eye with plenty of water.
Continue for at least ten minutes and call for immediate
medical help.
Skin contact: Wash off with plenty of water. Remove any
contaminated clothing. If the skin reddens or appears
damaged, call for medical aid.
Spillage
Last updated: 10/12/2014
If swallowed: If the patient is conscious, wash out the mouth
well with water. Do not try to induce vomiting. Call for
immediate medical help
Wipe up with absorbent paper and wash down the affected
area with water.
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Risk Management
Year 1 Demonstration Lecture
Rebecca Kaner
Reaction 2.
Description
Hazards
Risk Management
First Aid Measures
2 dry ice demonstrations
1. Some is added to a dilute alkali (sodium hydroxide) with
added universal indicator solution. Fog is generated and the
solution turns yellow.
2. A small amount is placed inside a rubber glove and the
glove tied shut. The glove inflates during the lecture but
does not burst.
Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is extremely cold (-78°C) and
can cause freeze damage if allowed to come into contact with
the skin. High concentrations in an enclosed space can cause
asphyxiation.
2 M sodium hydroxide is corrosive (H290-H315-H319)
Members of the audience are not allowed to handle the
chemicals. Insulated gloves are used to handle the solid
carbon dioxide. Solid carbon dioxide is kept in a polystyrene
containe.r Not more than an amount of dry ice equivalent to a
filled 600 ml beaker is brought to the location.
Work in a well-ventilated area and transport in a wellventilated vehicle with a separate driving cab.
Sodium hydroxide
Eye contact: Immediately flush the eye with plenty of water.
Continue for at least ten minutes and call for immediate
medical help.
Skin contact: Wash off with plenty of water. Remove any
contaminated clothing. If the skin reddens or appears
damaged, call for medical aid.
If swallowed: If the patient is conscious, wash out the mouth
well with water. Do not try to induce vomiting. Call for
immediate medical help
Spillage
Last updated: 10/12/2014
Solid carbon dioxide
Can cause freeze damage upon prolonged contact with skin.
Seek medical attention.
Solid carbon dioxide should be swept up and returned to its
container, a spillage of the sodium hydroxide should be wiped
up with absorbent paper and the area washed with water.
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Risk Management
Year 1 Demonstration Lecture
Rebecca Kaner
Reaction 3.
Description
Hazards
Risk Management
First Aid Measures
A large amount of foam (ca. 0.1 m3) is produced
100 vol hydrogen peroxide is harmful and corrosive. (H302H318)
0.1 M Potassium iodide solution is low hazard.
Some iodine is produced which is an irritant and can stain skin
and surfaces a yellow brown colour. (H312+H332-H315H319-H335-H372-H400)
Washing up detergent can irritate the eyes.
The solid potassium iodide powder should not be handled by
pregnant women.
The reaction is performed in a plastic tray with a bin liner
around it. On completion of the reaction, the bag is pulled up
around the foam, containing the mess and making it simple to
clear away.
Members of the audience are not allowed to handle the
chemicals.
Potassium Iodide:
Eye contact: Immediately flush the eye with plenty of water. If
irritation persists, call for medical help.
Skin contact: Wash off with water.
If swallowed: Wash out the mouth with water provided the
patient is concious. If the amount swallowed is large, call for
medical help.
100 vol hydrogen peroxide
Eye contact: Immediately flush the eye with plenty of water.
Continue for at least ten minutes and call for medical help
without delay.
Skin contact: Wash off with plenty of water. Remove any
contaminated clothing. If the skin reddens or appears
damaged, call for medical aid.
Spillage
Last updated: 10/12/2014
If swallowed: Wash out the mouth with water if the person is
conscious; call for immediate medical help.
Wipe up with absorbent paper and wash down the affected
area with water.
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Risk Management
Year 1 Demonstration Lecture
Rebecca Kaner
Reaction 4.
Description
Hazards
Risk Management
First Aid Measures
Spillage
Last updated: 10/12/2014
Liquid nitrogen demonstrations
1. A rubber glove is frozen and smashed
2. Rubber tubing is frozen and tapped on the bench to
demonstrate how brittle the rubber becomes. A liquid
nitrogen shower is created as a small amount of liquid
nitrogen and water vapour fog appears from the top of the
tubing.
3. A banana is frozen. It is used to tap a nail into a piece of
wood.
4. Some liquid nitrogen is poured into a dewar and this is used
to shrink an inflated balloon.
Freeze damage as a result of the extreme cold. Shattering of
the frozen objects as they are struck against a hard surface.
High concentrations in an enclosed space can cause
asphyxiation.
Insulated gloves are worn throughout the demonstrations. The
liquid nitrogen is transported in a bespoke dewar with a lid
that clips shut.
Tongs are used to retrieve the banana from the liquid nitrogen.
No liquid nitrogen is poured on the floor.
Not more than 1.5 litres of liquid nitrogen are brought to the
venue. There is no risk of the nitrogen evolved filling the
venue.
The audience must be sat on chairs at least 5 metres away
from the liquid nitrogen.
Work in a well-ventilated area and transport in a wellventilated vehicle with a separate driving cab.
Contact with skin can cause freeze damage. Seek medical
attention
The liquid nitrogen boils very quickly and evaporates.
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Risk Management
Year 1 Demonstration Lecture
Rebecca Kaner
Reaction 5.
Description
Hazards
Risk Management
First Aid Measures
Two chemicals are mixed and a blue light is produced for
a few seconds.
0.1M sodium hydroxide is corrosive (H290-H315-H319)
Very dilute bleach solution is irritant (H315-H319). (50ml of
household bleach is added to 200ml of water)
Luminol is irritant (H315-H319-H335) – although at very low
dilution here (0.03g / 250ml bleach solution.
Chemicals are transported in plastic bottles with screw tops.
Members of the audience are not allowed to handle the
chemicals.
Applicable to both solutions
Eye contact: Immediately flush the eye with plenty of water.
Continue for at least ten minutes and call for immediate
medical help.
Skin contact: Wash off with plenty of water. Remove any
contaminated clothing. If the skin reddens or appears
damaged, call for medical aid.
Spillage
Last updated: 10/12/2014
If swallowed: If the patient is conscious, wash out the mouth
well with water. Do not try to induce vomitting. Call for
immediate medical help
Wipe up with absorbent paper and wash the affected area with
water.
University of Warwick CfA Program | 5
Risk Management
Year 1 Demonstration Lecture
Rebecca Kaner
Reaction 6.
Description
Hazards
Risk Management
First Aid Measures
Spillage
Last updated: 10/12/2014
Hydrogen gas is ignited in hydrogen filled party balloons.
These have been filled at the university and brought to the
venue. The gas is ignited with a burning candle on the end of
a 1 metre long stick of wood. A cigarette lighter is used to
light the candle.
Hydrogen gas is a flammable gas and explosive. (H220-H280)
The audience are told what to expect. They are told to cover
their ears before the balloons are ignited. A door or window is
opened before the explosions to reduce the shock waves.
Note: mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen are not used.
Small risk of the fire alarm sounding, if this occurs follow
standard school procedure.
The small quantities of the gas used will be harmless if
released into the room.
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Risk Management
Year 1 Demonstration Lecture
Rebecca Kaner
Other risks:
Broken glass. Very little glassware is used in the lecture. Broken glassware will be
dealt with by picking it up / sweeping it up and wrapping in tissue paper. It will be
taken away and disposed of back at the university.
Important information
1. All chemicals are brought in sealed / stoppered bottles and are clearly labelled.
The chemical bottles and containers are transported in leak proof plastic
crates.
2. The demonstrator brings absorbent paper and polythene refuse sacks.
3. The audience must be sat on chairs and be at least 5 metres away from the
reactions.
4. At no point will a member of the audience be asked to assist with a chemical
demonstration.
5. The chemicals will not be left unaccompanied by a responsible adult whilst
they are at the lecture venue.
6. The demonstrator wears laboratory safety glasses and a laboratory coat
throughout the lecture.
7. The demonstrator will wash the tables used for the demonstrations before
leaving.
8. The chemicals can be disposed of at the venue by pouring them down a sink
and flushing with copious amounts of water.
9. No surplus chemicals will be left at the venue.
10. The demonstrator will not deliver the lecture unless a fully qualified member
of teaching staff or an adult recognised legally as acting in loco parentis is
also present with the class or group at all times.
11. The demonstrator will not deliver the lecture if it is felt that it cannot be done
so safely in the venue provided. Reasons for this would include a cramped
space, children sat on the floor or decorations in the room presenting a fire
hazard. (Eg: flammable art work suspended from the ceiling.
12. The demonstrator would appreciate knowing if any members of the audience
have learning difficulties, special needs or have suffered due to a traumatic
event such as a house fire or car accident recently.
13. The demonstrator will explain what each reaction will look like to the
audience before carrying it out. Also, it will be explained to the audience what
steps are being taken to keep them safe.
Last updated: 10/12/2014
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