Nice video. I think safety is something that goes unmentioned in too many of the scientific youtube videos. My first line of defense is prevention through good practices and the equipment is secondary. Thanks for sharing.
Fluorine is lethal? Now I know why NurdRage is scared of HF.....I was always wondering, and I had no idea that fluorine is lethal or that it can be osmosed into your skin. Now I shall NEVER EVER EVER think about making/buying/acquiring it in any way. You may have very well saved my life ;P
@XDecagraphX Well, I think you need one more tip. Whenever you do home chemistry, check the MSDS of any chemical you use. Another point, make sure any reaction you do is safe. The Internet is a wonderful tool and is also extremely useful for all home scientists.
I had an experience where goggles saved my eyes. somebody had a beaker explode across the lab and a large piece hit me right on my goggles and left a gouge in the plastic over my eye.
Wash it off immediately with copious water and head for the emergency room. Depending on the size of the spill, it may kill you anyway. Fluoride ions from HF are readily absorbed through the skin, and are lethal.
@TheHomeScientist Thanks, ive also heard of Ca-Gluconate injection. Anyway, to be honest, i know the danger oft HF. My question in meaning "small spill" was, if it´s acutally enough to wash your hands only with water, if the spill is smaler than the size of a match -head. ;-)
Very good videos, been enjoying them, thanks. Have had a home lab since i was 9-10 years old. Great stuff. One thing. When demonstrating a procedure for rinsing, you don't need to use the actual chemical. Use a substitute, and make aware that it is a substitute. In this case, it could give the impression that HCI is not dangerous.
I was curious if you've ever heard of Dermashield. They claim it can protect your skin from acids and bases including hydrochloric and sulfuric acid. Any thoughts?
I've always found the thin latex or nitrile gloves adequate, unless I'm working with something *really* nasty. The problem with heavier gloves is that they make it much more likely you'll drop something. If something gets on the thin gloves, just rinse them off as soon as you can and you should be fine.
It's a bad idea to wear contacts in the lab. If a chemical splashes into your eyes, it can get between your contacts and the surface of your eye, making it much harder to flush out. Wearing eyeglasses with goggles is much safer, although in practice a lot of people do wear their contacts with goggles.
In a chemical sense, HCl is the strongest of the three major mineral acids, but it's also the least dangerous. I've accidentally gotten concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids on my skin, but I wouldn't do that intentionally. In particular, sulfuric acid is much more dangerous in terms of causing chemical burns.
I did want to make the point that short-term skin contact with most chemicals that are common in home labs isn't likely to cause any real damage as long as you wash them off quickly.
The pKa of HCl is about -8, which makes it a very strong acid in a chemical sense. IIRC, the pKa of sulfuric acid is about -3 and that of nitric acid about -1.4, which makes them significantly weaker acids in a chemical sense. Despite its strength, HCl is by far the safest of the three to handle.
Do you know if they make a Class ABCD extinguisher? That would cover any possible flammable metal fires the ABC extinguishers can't handle. I went to two big box stores yesterday (Hoes and HD) but could only find Class ABC.
Class D extinguishers I'm familiar with are pretty specific to the metal in question. For example, one rated for sodium or potassium fires might use simple sodium carbonate, which is pretty useless for lithium or calcium fires.
Thanks, Robert. I'll keep a tub of washing soda on hand then. So far, I've fitted my lab with sand (for fires, as well as for differential solubility lab) and baking soda. To be effective in an emergency situation, the sand would have to be kept probably right on the lab bench, close to wet area. I may just go for an ABC extinguisher anyway, to have for the general area anyway (garage).
An ABC extinguisher is rated for putting out type-A fires (wood, paper, etc.) and type-B fires (burning liquids or gases). The "C" rating means it can be used safely on electrical equipment that's energized. Type-D fires (burning metals) require special extinguishers rated for the specific type of metal. For example, some Type-D extinguishers are rated only for sodium and potassium. Using a type-D extinguisher rated for one metal on a different metal can sometimes actually make the fire worse.
This is a very good video. In my home lab, safety has a high priority as well. I have everything you have, but also a fume hood and for safe storage a flammables storage cabinet. Please take a look at my channel.
I got some nitric acid on my eyelash when I was nitrating cellulose. Only luck saved my eye (well this is what you get for being stupid and not wearing goggles).
you are an idiot not to wear them. and you were nitrating cellulose! obviously you know what that makes and then a lack of goggles is the least of your worries!
Nice video. I think safety is something that goes unmentioned in too many of the scientific youtube videos. My first line of defense is prevention through good practices and the equipment is secondary. Thanks for sharing.
metalicmario 1 month ago
Fluorine is lethal? Now I know why NurdRage is scared of HF.....I was always wondering, and I had no idea that fluorine is lethal or that it can be osmosed into your skin. Now I shall NEVER EVER EVER think about making/buying/acquiring it in any way. You may have very well saved my life ;P
XDecagraphX 4 months ago
@XDecagraphX
It wouldn't have *osmosed* through skin.
98JMA 2 months ago
@XDecagraphX Well, I think you need one more tip. Whenever you do home chemistry, check the MSDS of any chemical you use. Another point, make sure any reaction you do is safe. The Internet is a wonderful tool and is also extremely useful for all home scientists.
ScienceTry 2 months ago
I had an experience where goggles saved my eyes. somebody had a beaker explode across the lab and a large piece hit me right on my goggles and left a gouge in the plastic over my eye.
scienceman64 6 months ago
Whats the best thing to do if you get a small spill of conc. HF on your Hand?
olympicfan2 6 months ago
@olympicfan2
Wash it off immediately with copious water and head for the emergency room. Depending on the size of the spill, it may kill you anyway. Fluoride ions from HF are readily absorbed through the skin, and are lethal.
TheHomeScientist 6 months ago
@TheHomeScientist Thanks, ive also heard of Ca-Gluconate injection. Anyway, to be honest, i know the danger oft HF. My question in meaning "small spill" was, if it´s acutally enough to wash your hands only with water, if the spill is smaler than the size of a match -head. ;-)
olympicfan2 6 months ago
Very good videos, been enjoying them, thanks. Have had a home lab since i was 9-10 years old. Great stuff. One thing. When demonstrating a procedure for rinsing, you don't need to use the actual chemical. Use a substitute, and make aware that it is a substitute. In this case, it could give the impression that HCI is not dangerous.
ABOlsen69666 9 months ago
This video is several orders of magnitude better then the out dated lab safety video they show students at my university...
jonlester0414 1 year ago
I was curious if you've ever heard of Dermashield. They claim it can protect your skin from acids and bases including hydrochloric and sulfuric acid. Any thoughts?
barhamd 1 year ago
@barhamd
Well, the demo seems to work but personally I just wouldn't trust it.
98JMA 7 months ago in playlist Chemistry
great video.
olympicfan2 1 year ago
What advantages do nitrile have over latex other than skin sensitivity to latex?
mewrox99 1 year ago
@mewrox99
Although it varies from chemical to chemical, in general nitrile is more resistant than latex.
TheHomeScientist 1 year ago
will nitrile or latex gloves be enough protection from HCL or H2SO4? Don´t you need thicker ones?
carlos10047275 1 year ago
@carlos10047275
I've always found the thin latex or nitrile gloves adequate, unless I'm working with something *really* nasty. The problem with heavier gloves is that they make it much more likely you'll drop something. If something gets on the thin gloves, just rinse them off as soon as you can and you should be fine.
TheHomeScientist 1 year ago
What if you wear contacts
Aev308 1 year ago
It's a bad idea to wear contacts in the lab. If a chemical splashes into your eyes, it can get between your contacts and the surface of your eye, making it much harder to flush out. Wearing eyeglasses with goggles is much safer, although in practice a lot of people do wear their contacts with goggles.
TheHomeScientist 1 year ago
Thanks
Aev308 1 year ago
@Aev308
Wear a face shield, then.
frenchmen88 1 year ago
I got a bit worried when you poured hydrochloric acid on your hand.
Hellghast007 2 years ago
In a chemical sense, HCl is the strongest of the three major mineral acids, but it's also the least dangerous. I've accidentally gotten concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids on my skin, but I wouldn't do that intentionally. In particular, sulfuric acid is much more dangerous in terms of causing chemical burns.
I did want to make the point that short-term skin contact with most chemicals that are common in home labs isn't likely to cause any real damage as long as you wash them off quickly.
TheHomeScientist 2 years ago
I was going to say that I always thought H2SO4 was the strongest. But I believe you. It has been a long time since I did my A levels.hahaha
leeofbacup 2 years ago
The pKa of HCl is about -8, which makes it a very strong acid in a chemical sense. IIRC, the pKa of sulfuric acid is about -3 and that of nitric acid about -1.4, which makes them significantly weaker acids in a chemical sense. Despite its strength, HCl is by far the safest of the three to handle.
TheHomeScientist 2 years ago
Great video! Love how you explain everything, and go the extra mile to really make sure that the viewers gets it.
Ruben19902 2 years ago
Do you know if they make a Class ABCD extinguisher? That would cover any possible flammable metal fires the ABC extinguishers can't handle. I went to two big box stores yesterday (Hoes and HD) but could only find Class ABC.
HomeScienceNow 2 years ago
Class D extinguishers I'm familiar with are pretty specific to the metal in question. For example, one rated for sodium or potassium fires might use simple sodium carbonate, which is pretty useless for lithium or calcium fires.
TheHomeScientist 2 years ago
@TheHomeScientist
Thanks, Robert. I'll keep a tub of washing soda on hand then. So far, I've fitted my lab with sand (for fires, as well as for differential solubility lab) and baking soda. To be effective in an emergency situation, the sand would have to be kept probably right on the lab bench, close to wet area. I may just go for an ABC extinguisher anyway, to have for the general area anyway (garage).
HomeScienceNow 2 years ago
btw, can carbon dioxide fire extinguisher put out all type of fire?
yahoorif 2 years ago
An ABC extinguisher is rated for putting out type-A fires (wood, paper, etc.) and type-B fires (burning liquids or gases). The "C" rating means it can be used safely on electrical equipment that's energized. Type-D fires (burning metals) require special extinguishers rated for the specific type of metal. For example, some Type-D extinguishers are rated only for sodium and potassium. Using a type-D extinguisher rated for one metal on a different metal can sometimes actually make the fire worse.
TheHomeScientist 2 years ago
okay, thanks for the explanation! you are so calm answering people question.
yahoorif 2 years ago
your voice is great. please keep making videos, they are fantastic.
blueduderanch 2 years ago
This is a very good video. In my home lab, safety has a high priority as well. I have everything you have, but also a fume hood and for safe storage a flammables storage cabinet. Please take a look at my channel.
chemlabchemistry 2 years ago
Thanks. I've subscribed to your channel and added you as a friend.
TheHomeScientist 2 years ago
I got some nitric acid on my eyelash when I was nitrating cellulose. Only luck saved my eye (well this is what you get for being stupid and not wearing goggles).
CarbonScience 2 years ago
you are an idiot not to wear them. and you were nitrating cellulose! obviously you know what that makes and then a lack of goggles is the least of your worries!
blueduderanch 2 years ago
Safety first ALWAYS !!!!1
Gokumarathon 2 years ago