Hydrofluoric acid safety hazard

It is very important to first consider the safety aspects of electrochemical experiments with silicon. The single most dangerous compound, which cannot be avoided in the electrochemistry of silicon, is hydrofluoric acid (HF). HF in its anhydrous form and in concentrated aqueous solutions is highly corrosive towards living tissue. Inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with HF are all extremely hazardous. 

SAFETY PROFILE A poison. Moderately toxic by inhalation. A powerful irritant. Hydrolyzes instantly to form HF on contact with moisture. See dso CARBONYLS, HYDROFLUORIC ACID, and FLUORINE. Incompatible with hexafluoroisopropylideneamino-lithium. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of CO and F", See CARBON MONOXIDE for fire and explosion hazard. 

SAFETY PROFILE Moderately toxic by ingestion and rectal routes. Mutation data reported. A severe skin and eye irritant. Mixtures with nitric acid + hydrofluoric acid may react vigorously and are storage hazards. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes. 

While there are spill kits for mercury, you should seek professional assistance in cleaning up mercury spills. Unless you have been specifically trained in cleaning up hydrofluoric acid, mercury, or other reactive chemicals, you should not attempt to deal with these spills yourself. Seek professional assistance, usually the environmental, health, and safety department of your institution. These spills are especially hazardous and require more experience. 

Henkel Surface Technologies, in Calhoun, GA, makes industrial coating products for cleaning and treating metal surfaces. The facility formerly used highly concentrated (70 %) hydrofluoric acid. Henkel switched to less concentrated (less than 49%) hydrofluoric acid as a result of a company-wide safety policy. While still hazardous upon contact, less concentrated hydrofluoric acid in an aqueous solution is... 

While there are spill kits for mercury, you should seek professional assistance in cleaning up mercury spills. Unless you have been specifically trained in cleaning up hydrofluoric acid, mercury, or other reactive chemicals, you should not attempt to deal with these spills yourself. Seek additional and/or professional assistance, usually the environmental, health, and safety department of your institution or the local fire department hazmat team. These spills are especially hazardous and require more experience. Any time that you call in additional help, be prepared to tell them as much as you can about what has spilled and how much has spilled. Having an SDS handy may be helpful but most response teams will have their own resources to review (once they know what the chemical is). As the opening quote in the section reveals, a key task for a hazmat response team is to quickly identify the spill so that they know what level protection to wear and can consider the need for evacuation. 

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