CHAPTER 3 - HAZARDS

Abstract

This chapter focuses on several types of potential hazards, involved in practical organic chemistry, for both persons and property. These can usually be avoided unless work is done in a slovenly way or without proper thought. The avoidance of injury to people is the primary responsibility of everyone working in a laboratory, and this requires a clear understanding of the principles and reasons underlying all the procedures used; however, this eventually becomes almost instinctive. Some of the common types of potential hazards include toxicity, bodily injuries, smoking, fire, explosion, and implosion. All organic liquids could be expected to have the property of toxicity to some extent, but some compounds are especially harmful, for example, aniline and nitrobenzene; these are absorbed into the blood by passage through intact skin, and can cause serious illness. Toxicity may be acute or chronic. Acute toxicity, which is the more common hazard in student laboratories, develops suddenly and is illustrated in its most extreme form by the very rapid and disastrous onset of illness caused by the ingestion of cyanide. Chronic toxicity is the condition brought about gradually after prolonged exposure to the toxic agent. Apart from toxicity, another main hazard is fire. Inflammability is a function of volatility and of the ease with which oxidation can occur at high temperatures. If, in spite of all precautions, an accident should occur, the first important thing is to minimize danger or harm to people; the problem of safeguarding buildings and equipment must always take second place.