Wow! I'm surprised that no one posted anything in regard to the Pentucket Regional High School article "Science Experiment Takes an Unexpected Turn". The article stated that the sodium-water experiment is a standard part of the school's science curriculum.
Perhaps that may be true, but apparently not as the instructor and/or class performed that experiment. The reaction should be small enough so there should never be a "water vapor cloud". Although it is NOT just a water vapor cloud. That demonstration was
improperly performed and it put the instructor and class in danger. Furthermore, we have no idea of any proper PPE worn by the instructor and anyone near the reaction. I would recommend that the school not allow that demonstration until the instructor learns
how to perform it safely in a proper environment.
I have demonstrated the reactions of lithium, sodium, and potassium with water to my classes throughout my career with a proper explanation of the reaction in proper teaching context of chemical reactions and the periodic table. In my demonstrations,
I cut a small piece of the metal, about the size of a pea, from a larger piece. The larger piece is immediately placed back into a container of heavy mineral oil. I am able to show that the surface is bright silver in color. (With the advent of video projectors
in the classroom, I project that onto a large screen.) Using a small conductivity tester, I show that the cut piece of metal conducts an electric current. I then drop the metal piece into approximately 200 mL of room temperature water in a 600 mL beaker
with a fine mesh wire gauze over the top of the beaker. In the projected image, the class can observe the lithium reacting with the water. The sodium melts into a small sphere as it reacts and, sometimes sparks with the hydrogen burning with a characteristic
yellow flame. The potassium reacts instantly causing the hydrogen to burn with a violet flame. Phenolphthalein solution is always added to the resulting solutions to show that they are alkaline. This is always done in an room with good ventilation. The vapors
from these small scale reactions are essentially negligible. The solutions are always neutralized with a small amount of dilute hydrochloric acid before disposal.
Additional reactions of metals with water include calcium metal and magnesium metal ribbon. The calcium metal reacts with water to form insoluble calcium hydroxide (an insoluble "earth" - thus an alkaline earth). The clean piece of magnesium ribbon reacts
slowly with room temperature water with bubbles of hydrogen gas adhering to the metal surface as viewed on the projected image. The solution near the magnesium metal tests alkaline with phenolphthalein.
Should anyone want to demonstrate the reaction of an alkali metal with water, I would recommend no more than a maximum of 25 grams of metal be purchased. That should be sufficient for at least 25 demonstrations. Alkali metals are best stored under fresh,
dry, heavy mineral oil such as Nujol and in a proper cabinet for flammables.
I urge extra caution to anyone who works with potassium metal due to its reactivity and the possibility that the improperly stored metal can form an explosive peroxide.
David
_________________________________________________________________________
David A. Katz
Chemist, Educator, Expert Demonstrator, Science Communicator, and Consultant
Programs and workshops for teachers, schools, museums, and the public
5003 Canby Dr. * Wilmington, DE 19808-1102 * USA
voice/fax: (302) 509-3282 * email:
dakatz45**At_Symbol_Here**msn.com
Visit my web site:
http://www.chymist.com
_________________________________________________________________________
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2020 6:59 AM
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (6 articles)
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, October 23, 2020 at 6:58:41 AM
A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
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Table of Contents (6 articles)
SCIENCE EXPERIMENT TAKES AN UNEXPECTED TURN
Tags: us_ma, education, release, response, sodium
OFFICIALS: 5 HOSPITALIZED AFTER REPORT OF CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AT NEW BALANCE FACTORY IN SKOWHEGAN
Tags: us_me, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical
FAMILY OF TRUCK DRIVER KILLED IN FIERY I-10 ROLLOVER FILES WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT AGAINST COMPANY
Tags: us_tx, transportation, fire, followup, enviromental
HAZMAT TEAMS RESPOND TO CHLORINE LEAK
Tags: us_tx, public, release, response, chlorine
CANNABIS MANUFACTURING EXPLOSION INJURES TWO IN NEW MEXICO
Tags: us_nm, industrial, explosion, injuries, unknown_chemical
INVESTIGATING CHEMICAL SAFETY AWARENESS AND PRACTICES IN NIGERIAN SCHOOLS
Tags: nigeria, laboratory, discovery, environmental
---------------------------------------------
SCIENCE EXPERIMENT TAKES AN UNEXPECTED TURN
https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bostonglobe.com%2F2020%2F10%2F22%2Fmetro%2Fscience-experiment-takes-an-unexpected-turn%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C3a68b449e37d4e29d8a508d87742d2c2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637390476165652144%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=eO1BGVupFAZnPxCQeTXRWf%2F5nm%2FEF5vqlh6Y7R0d3Xo%3D&reserved=0
Tags: us_ma, education, release, response, sodium
At 8:30 a.m. Oct. 16, firefighters from West Newbury and Groveland responded to Pentucket Regional High School after a routine science experiment didn't perform exactly as expected, officials said in a statement. The two fire departments were dispatched to
the high school at 24 Main St. in West Newbury after a water vapor cloud caused by the experiment was sucked out the window of one classroom and into a nearby one. The building was evacuated and firefighters worked with a hazmat team member from the Amesbury
Fire Department and determined there was no danger because the cloud consisted only of water vapor. Fire crews cleared the area by 9:44 a.m. and Atlantic Ambulance personnel evaluated students and staff in the two classrooms as a precautionary measure. Officials
said the botched experiment involved sodium and water and is a standard part of the school's science curriculum.
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OFFICIALS: 5 HOSPITALIZED AFTER REPORT OF CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AT NEW BALANCE FACTORY IN SKOWHEGAN
https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.centralmaine.com%2F2020%2F10%2F22%2Fofficials-5-hospitalized-after-report-of-chemical-exposure-at-new-balance-factory-in-skowhegan%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C3a68b449e37d4e29d8a508d87742d2c2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637390476165652144%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=RD1%2BD4Paf%2BwjTYN0QeY58ghubK0ls3GNYnXVCKe3UR4%3D&reserved=0
Tags: us_me, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical
SKOWHEGAN Ñ At least five people were taken to the hospital Thursday after a report of a exposure to an unknown substance at the New Balance shoe-making factory prompted an evacuation and large response from hazardous-materials teams.
By 7 p.m. Thursday evening, Skowhegan Fire Chief Shawn Howard confirmed that there may have been up to six transported to the hospital for difficulty breathing and eye irritation, but all have been released.
It remained a mystery Thursday night what caused employees to experience symptoms.
"We're dealing with an industrial mill setting here. There are a lot of solvents that they use, and we went through those solvents one by one and tried to narrow down what was causing these people to become ill," Howard said. "At this point, we can't answer
that question."
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FAMILY OF TRUCK DRIVER KILLED IN FIERY I-10 ROLLOVER FILES WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT AGAINST COMPANY
https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.12newsnow.com%2Farticle%2Ftraffic%2Ffamily-of-truck-driver-killed-in-fiery-i-10-rollover-files-wrongful-death-suit-against-company%2F502-8ab6398e-2843-401d-9f85-c204cbb8d876&data=04%7C01%7C%7C3a68b449e37d4e29d8a508d87742d2c2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637390476165652144%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=0LsPfgFDQ5uWpD%2BV%2Fn3hnVOXgPU36uOs9%2B%2BLEmSnRCQ%3D&reserved=0
Tags: us_tx, transportation, fire, followup, enviromental
BEAUMONT, Texas Ñ The family of a man killed in a fiery 18-wheeler crash near downtown Beaumont earlier in October has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company he worked for, claiming the truck wasn't taken care of.
Jose Flores, 57, was driving on I-10 on October 10 when his truck reportedly overturned and caught fire.
According to the Houston law firm representing Flores' family, he was 'killed in a horrific fire that engulfed the cabin.'
The firm said the crash happened before 5 a.m. The truck was owned by Total Chemical Service, Inc.
The firm said while the investigation isn't finished, "hazardous chemicals being hauled by the 18-wheeler began leaking. The cabin then burst into flames trapping Mr. Flores in the cabin fire. Tragically, despite an off-duty Beaumont police officer's attempts
to free Mr. Flores, he was unable to be rescued from the fire and lost his life at the scene of the incident."
---------------------------------------------
HAZMAT TEAMS RESPOND TO CHLORINE LEAK
https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hccommunityjournal.com%2Farticle_ba00cb2a-1309-11eb-b41e-ef3a82ec8faa.html&data=04%7C01%7C%7C3a68b449e37d4e29d8a508d87742d2c2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637390476165652144%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=IpyUxXJNRHHPvwsTUN0ETtJJwFmejKsh0HHvitDcJnE%3D&reserved=0
Tags: us_tx, public, release, response, chlorine
A clorine leak in West Kerr County prompted officials to call in hazmat teams from San Antonio to neutralize the situation.
According to Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas, the call came in at 9:13 on Oct. 13 when a Hunt resident reported the smell of chemicals in the air.
Specialized firefighter teams from Bexar County 2 Fire Department and Bexar County ESD 10 responded to the call, Thomas said.
Members of the Hunt Volunteer Fire Department, along with Thomas, responded to the call and it was determined at an abandoned 30-year old chlorine tank cap was compromised.
It took firefighters in full hazmat gear an estimated two hours and three attempts to repair the damage and prepare the cylinder for removal from the premises.
---------------------------------------------
CANNABIS MANUFACTURING EXPLOSION INJURES TWO IN NEW MEXICO
https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhightimes.com%2Fnews%2Fcannabis-manufacturing-explosion-kills-two-new-mexico%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C3a68b449e37d4e29d8a508d87742d2c2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637390476165652144%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=JFmbJQUFYk%2BN%2FuT3SdB2Z4bs0JlcNKNRvAbxlSZsIxs%3D&reserved=0
Tags: us_nm, industrial, explosion, injuries, unknown_chemical
An explosion that took place Thursday afternoon of last week in New Mexico is making headlines, as it took place inside a cannabis manufacturing facility and injured two.
Local news sources report that two men were injured in the explosion last week, which took place at New Mexicann Natural Medicine's facility based in Santa Fe. It is also noteworthy that less than five years ago, the plant made headlines for another explosion
of a similar type.
Jimmy Vigil, New Mexico State Fire Marshal fire investigations bureau captain, reported that the incident is currently still under investigation by several different entities. Camera footage of the dispensary and extraction unit will be looked at more closely,
and samples from the unit will be examined by the Santa Fe City Fire Department, the state Department of Health and OSHA.
The Aftermath
The two injured employees involved in the explosion were airlifted to the hospital in Denver directly after the event, according to the Department of Health. Their names have not as of yet been provided to the press. Both employees were burned on their heads
and torsos, and were in serious enough condition to be airlifted to the hospital, but official details about their injuries have not been released.
---------------------------------------------
INVESTIGATING CHEMICAL SAFETY AWARENESS AND PRACTICES IN NIGERIAN SCHOOLS
https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpubs.acs.org%2Fdoi%2F10.1021%2Facs.jchemed.0c00136&data=04%7C01%7C%7C3a68b449e37d4e29d8a508d87742d2c2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637390476165652144%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=AVCf1HnIVe84aXAcJJPksaKi8AfutCbpq9T8%2By7BpP8%3D&reserved=0
Tags: nigeria, laboratory, discovery, environmental
Chemical safety, a practice of protecting humans and the environment in which they work and live from the deleterious effects of chemical substances, was investigated in this study in Nigerian secondary schools. Using a mixed-method survey, we investigated
the awareness level and implementation of the best practices of chemical safety by 1246 senior secondary school chemistry students. Students in rural schools were found to have a lower level of awareness of chemical safety compared to the students in urban
schools. Statistically significant differences were found in all except one of the awareness measuresÑwashing hands before practicals and after leaving the chemistry lab. Urban students were more in breach of chemical safety practices than students in rural
schools. Most of the observed differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Interview (qualitative) data from 20 students show four emerging themes to explain the findings, including a low level of chem!
istry laboratory resourcing, poor chemical safety training of the teachers, inadequacies in safety tools, charts, and kits, and weak enforcement of safety regulations. Based on the data from the study, recommendations were made for bolstering the awareness
level of students in chemical safety and their chemical safety practices. These include the incorporation of chemical safety in the core curriculum, requiring quality assurance entities to enforce resourcing of basic safety equipment to schools, government-directed
workshops on the need for chemical safety, and requiring teachers to provide chemical hazards information to students.
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