• Question: What are the most dangerous chemicals you have mixed?

    Asked by OLI to Martin on 10 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Martin Wieczysty

      Martin Wieczysty answered on 10 Mar 2015:

      Hi OLI.

      Nearly every day, I use very strong acids which could cause bad burns on my hands, and mix things together to make chemicals that could…maybe…explode! I prevent the boom by keeping my reaction nice and cool. Some chemicals I use can make a toxic gas, which can hurt my lungs.
      I use special equipment to keep me, and my friends safe. I use a special box, called a fume hood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fume_hood. This is where I set up my reaction and mix the chemicals. There is a big fan at the top of the fume hood that sucks away all nasty chemicals so I do not breathe them in. I wear gloves to protect my hands, glasses to protect my eyes, and a lab-coat to protect my clothes/body. Sometimes I use a blast-shield, a big plastic rectangle that sits between me and the reaction, in case it explodes, and prevents the glass from flying into my face!
      However, before I start mixing chemicals I think about the reaction and ask questions:
      – What could happen?
      – Do I need to use such dangerous chemicals?
      – What would happen if something went wrong?

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