Minimum Safety Guidelines
for Chemical Demonstrations
American Chemical Society
Division of Chemical Education
This page
contains the ACS Division of Chemical Education Guidelines for presenting
chemistry demonstrations. We expect all individuals presenting chemical
demonstrations at the 18th BCCE to follow these guidelines.
Mail or fax
this sheet to Paul Hollander, BCCE Chemical Demonstration Chair, Chemistry
Department, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011. Telefax 515/294-0105.
Chemical
Demonstrators Must:
1. Know the
properties of the chemicals and the chemical reactions involved in all
demonstrations presented.
2. Comply
with all local rules and regulations.
3. Wear
appropriate eye protection for all chemical demonstrations.
4. Warn the
members of the audience to cover their ears whenever a loud noise is
anticipated.
5. Plan the
demonstrations so that harmful quantities of noxious gases (e.g. NO2,
SO2, H2S) do not enter the local air supply.
6. Provide
safety shield protection wherever there is the slightest possibility that a
container, its fragments, or its contents could be propelled with sufficient
force to cause personal injury.
7. Arrange
to have a fire extinguisher at hand whenever the slightest possibility for fire
exists.
8. Not
taste or encourage spectators to taste any non-food substance.
9. Not
use demonstrations in which parts of the human body are placed in danger (such
as placing dry ice in the mouth or dipping hands into liquid nitrogen).
10. Not use
"open" containers of volatile, toxic substances (e.g. benzene, CCl4,
CS2, formaldehyde) without adequate ventilation as provided by fume
hoods.
11. Provide
written procedure, hazard, and disposal information for each demonstration
whenever the audience is encouraged to repeat the demonstration.
12. Arrange
for appropriate waste containers for and subsequent disposal of materials
harmful to the environment.
Revised
4/1/95. Copyright 1988, 1995, ACS Division of Chemical Education, Inc.
Permission
is hereby granted to reprint or copy these guidelines provided that they are
reproduced in their entirety with no changes.
I agree to
abide by these rules & guidelines:
___________________________________________
(print name)
___________________________________________
(signed name)
___________________________________________ (date)