Spills acids

Fluoroboric acid and some fluoroborate solutions are shipped as corrosive material, generally in polyethylene-lined steel pads and dmms or in rigid nonretumable polyethylene containers. Acid spills should be neutralized with lime or soda ash. 

Training persoimel in the proper inetliods for clean up of an acid spill... 

Caution Specialized worker training is legally required to use absorbent materials on spills because of the chemical reactions that can occur. For example, organic materials should never be used on nitric acid spills because a fire will result ... 

An accomplished architect once recommended a certain type of rubber tile for a laboratory floor because his data indicated its superior resistance to acids. He had not bothered to find out whether or not acid spills would be a problem in this case. They would not, in fact. Solvent spills, on the other hand, were quite likely to occur, and the recommended tile had poor solvent resistance. This example illustrates two things the importance of the laboratory operator s involvement with details that are sometimes overlooked even by experts, and the need to study each laboratory s requirements individually. 

M NaOH is a strong base, and H2S04 is a strong acid. Spills should be flushed with large amount of water, then neutralized with dilute vinegar. For eye-splashes, eyes should be washed in an eyewash, using tepid water, for 15 minutes. Then consult a doctor. 

In the event of acid spilling on one s person, flush thoroughly with water immediately. Be aware that acid-water mixtures will produce heat. Removing clothing from the affected area while water flushing may be important, so as to not trap hot acid-water mixtures against the skin. Acids or acid-water mixtures can cause very serious burns if left in contact with skin, even if only for a very short period of time. 

Weak acids (such as citric acid) should be used to neutralize base spills, and weak bases (such as sodium carbonate) should be used to neutralize acid spills. Solutions of these should be readily available in the lab in case of emergency. 

Based on your hypothesis, what can you conclude about the need to use large amounts of water for rinsing when acid spills on living tissue ... 

When people see a container labeled ACID, they like to keep well away. After all, it is rather an uncomfortable thought that something that looks as innocent as water can burn its way through leather, iron, steel and other materials that normally offer us protection. Corrosive acids spilled on the roads have, been known to eat their way through car tires and the boots of rescue teams. 

Note 1 Dutton (Ref 58, pp 119—20) said that Schonbein discovered NC by accident. He wiped nitric-sulfuric acid spilled in the kitchen with his wife s cotton apron. Then he rinsed the apron with water, hung it to dry over a hot stove and then he heard a loud expln. He repeated the nitration using another apron, which he rinsed and dried more carefully than the first one. 

Preparation of Potassium Hexachloromolybdate(III). Perform the experiment in a fume cupboard ) Dissolve 50 g of molybdic anhydride in 250 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Spill the molyb-denum(Vl) oxide into the beaker in small portions as it dissolves during 6 hours. If the solution is turbid, filter it through a glass filter (prepare the solution beforehand). 

Preparation of Macrocrystalline Iron(III) Oxide. Assemble an apparatus for preparing hydrogen chloride. To dry the gas well, install a column with phosphorus(V) oxide in addition to two wash bottles with sulphuric acid. Spill amorphous iron(III) oxide into the middle part of a three-section quartz tube (Fig. 136). Put the latter into a two-zone furnace. To retain the temperature difference, wrap the unheated zone (the middle of the tube) with asbestos. 

Bottles of HC104 should not be stored on wooden shelves, because acid spilled on wood can form explosive cellulose perchlorate esters. Perchloric acid also should not be stored near organic reagents or reducing agents. A reviewer of this book once wrote, I have seen someone substitute perchloric acid for sulfuric acid in a Jones reductor experiment with spectacular results—no explosion but the tube melted ... 

As with any scientific endeavor, chance discovery played an important role in the development of polymers. In all cases, however, there was a scientist with an open and innovative mind who was ready to recognize and take advantage of a chance observation. Charles Goodyear accidentally tipped sulfur into heated natural rubber to discover vulcanized rubber. Christian Schobein inadvertently wiped up a nitric acid spill with a cotton rag to discover nitrocellulose. Jaques Brandenberger thought of cellophane as he observed the accidental stains on tablecloths. Also, as was discussed in Chapter 1, Teflon was discovered upon the unexpected disappearance of a chemical in a gas cylinder that Roy Plunkett was compelled to saw in half. 

Saddle - The rubber lining applied to the outside center area of tank cars for protection from acid spills when loading or unloading. 

Acid spills are often neutralized with sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate. For neutralization of acetic acid, the unbalanced equations are... 

Normal operation should be well within the environmental regulation limits set by the EPA. Liquid waste is virtually non-existent and can be sent to the normal sewerage drains. Any acid spills should be diluted. Tail-gas emissions are thought to be less than 1000 ppm of nitrogen oxides (about half the current EPA limit). Should tail-gas emissions exceed this figure, then a catalytic combustor would be necessary to reduce nitrogen oxide levels to below 400 ppm. 

Perchloric acid spilled on the floor or bench top represents a hazard. It should not be mopped up, nor dry combustibles used to soak up the acid. The spilled acid should first be neutralized and then soaked up with rags or paper towels. The contaminated rags and paper towels must be kept wet to prevent combustion upon drying. They should be placed in a plastic bag and sealed and then placed in a flammable waste disposal can. If the spill can be rinsed down a chemical drain, neutralization of the wetted area is recommended, followed by additional rinsing.16,30,31... 

This system is similar to that of neutralisation, however the EFS pumps only pure water to the leak area. It functions as a rinse, and due to the high volume it handles, it can dilute the acid spill to innocuous concentrations. Because the EFS can produce violent reactions during the first moments of its actuation, it should be employed only as a final measure. 

Acids such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric, phosphoric, perchloric, formic, acetic, chlorosulfonic, 50% hydrofluoric, and adipic can be treated by a mix of magnesium oxide and other chemical additives. It must be expected that when the dry chemical agent is applied to an acid spill, there will be a momentary increase in the volume of vapor coming off the spill. This puff is caused by the heat generated from the neutralization of the acid. To protect the personnel applying the dry chemical cover from this puff, suitable personnel protective equipment should be worn. 

In case of an accident such as a fire, save yourself first. Keep fire extinguishers in arms reach, and have an adequate water source within reach. For acid spills, simple baking soda can be used to neutralize it. 

Using some of his father s old books, chemistry texts from the library, and ideas he picked up in his high school classes, Linus figured out for himself how to make homemade explosives mixtures of potassium chlorate and sulfur that went off when a trolley car ran over them (the company sent a man to Linus s house to put a stop to it) and an unstable iodide of nitrogen that popped loudly when disturbed—a sort of junior-grade nitroglycerine that proved very popular at school. Acid spills ruined his pants and ate the ends off brooms. He once set fire to the wooden walls with molten phosphorus. 

A Japanese team neutralizes an acid spill from a damaged truck. 

The hazards associated with inappropriate use of microwave equipment cannot be entirely prevented by interlocking devices and other safeguards. However, the risk can be minimized if the analyst continually inspects the system to ensure that the equipment is maintained in safe working order. If any portion of the microwave unit such as door seal or vessel casing becomes damaged by a serious event such as an acid spill, prolonged wear or impact, the safety of the equipment should be re-assessed before it is returned to service. 

Think Critically In what ways might a company that uses a strong acid handle an acid spill on the factory floor ... 

Lime, Ca(OH)2, can be used to neutralize an acid spill. A 5.06-g sample of Ca(OH)2 reacts with an excess of hydrochloric acid 6.74 g of calcium chloride is collected. What is the percent yield of this experiment ... 

Salts that hydrolyze to produce basic solutions can settle upset stomachs, prevent yellowing pages, and neutralize major and minor acid spills. A knowledge of hydrolysis is very useful and has many applications. 

The same phenomenon may be discussed for sulfuric acid spills of diluted sulfuric acid on clothing produce holes because the evaporation of water causes the acid to become more concentrated which has an aggressive effect on... 

This emergency crew is neutralizing an acid spill on the highway by covering it with a basic foam. 

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