One easy way to reduce the number of accidents in the lab is to go "green." Green chemistry, or sustainable chemistry, emerged about a decade ago, but the concept has been practiced for centuries by indigenous people of many continents. The basic principles of green chemistry are that you should use only what you need and recycle what you can.…

Science education is a changing landscape. Changes over the past ten years alone have been both evolutionary and revolutionary--Science Education Standards, new required assessments, science teacher certification issues, science teacher shortages and retirements, molecular approach to Biology, etc. These changes and issues range from…

Provides information on updating older fume hoods. Areas addressed include: (1) adjustment of the hood's back baffle; (2) hood air leakage; (3) light level; (4) hood location in relation to room traffic and room air; and (5) establishing and maintaining hood performance. (JN)

Describes procedures for disposing of dichromate cleaning solution, picric acid, organic azides, oxalic acid, chemical spills, and hydroperoxides in ethers and alkenes. These methods have been tested under laboratory conditions and are specific for individual chemicals rather than for groups of chemicals. (JN)

Highlights guidelines that should be implemented in administering a plan for the proper storage of chemicals. They include housing chemicals in multiple locations within a building to lessen the accident potential, not grouping them in alphabetical order, and storing them according to six major chemical classes. (JN)

This report presents the status of programs designed to manage hazardous educational waste collections in secondary schools in the state of Illinois. Laboratory wastes, expired chemicals, unstable compounds, and toxic or flammable materials are accounted for in this document. The report contains an executive summary, a review of Illinois statutes…

Discusses use of 1,1,1-trichloroethane as a substitute for carbon tetrachloride. Provides information on additives to commercially supplied sources in relation to possible reaction interferences. Warns of toxicity and possible carcinogenic action. (JM)

Results from two surveys of chemists and educators conducted at two conventions indicate weak spots in facilities, poor storage information, and failure to take precautions against reactive hazards. Includes suggestions and a checklist related to a wide range of storage problems. (SK)

Toxicology/chemical hazards, safety policy, legal responsibilities, adequacy of ventilation, chemical storage, evaluating experimental hazards, waste disposal, and laws governing chemical safety were among topics discussed in 10 papers presented at the Seventh Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (Stillwater, Oklahoma 1982). Several topics…

Discusses the generation, collection, and disposal of hazardous and other wastes in the chemistry laboratory. Offers suggestions related to these three areas to provide a safe teaching environment, including minimizing amounts of reagents used (and potentially wasted) by scaling down experiments. (JN)

A significant amount of scientific work is done in laboratories with limited ventilation capabilities. To operate at "acceptable risk", an understanding is needed of what ventilation systems can/cannot do. A simple experiment is described which assesses conditions under which specific experiments should be performed and serves to introduce…

Lists 37 chemicals classified as suspected carcinogens and suspected teratogens (chemicals capable of producing malformations in an embryo). Offers suggestions to high school chemistry teachers for conducting safe laboratory investigations by avoiding use of these potentially toxic materials. (Author/JN)

Discusses several accidents which occurred during secondary school science/chemistry laboratory experiments, offering suggestions for conducting safe experiments. Indicates that all experiments should be planned using the safest chemicals and safest reactions illustrating a concept, and that audiovisual aids should be used if no safe experiment is…

Chromatographic techniques are used in conjunction with a Parr oxygen combustion bomb to determine sulfur in fuel oils. Experimental procedures and results are discussed including an emphasis on safety considerations. (SK)

Suggests that cyclohexane be used as a solvent in experiments usually using benzene, which has been placed on the list of chemicals that are confirmed carcinogens. Reasons for selection of cyclohexane and experimental procedures using this solvent are described. (CS)