Nitric acid splash

Place the container of nitric acid into the pan of ice water. Be careful to avoid splashing any water into the container of acid. 

Nitric acid is amongst the most dangerous of substances to work with. This acid blinded many alchemists, or they met a painful respiratory end from the fumes, splashes and spills. Many inadvertently created poisons or explosives. Fulminating gold and silver are highly unstable explosives, quite probably the deadly Shamir. Many military devices use fulminate of Mercury as a detonator. 

Nitric acid should be handled in the laboratory using the "basic prudent practices" described in Chapter 5.C. In particular, splash goggles and rubber gloves should be worn when handling this acid, and containers of nitric acid should be stored in a well ventilated location separated from organic substances and other combustible materials. 

University of Delaware, OfSce of Campus and Public Safety, Department of Environmental, Health, and Safety. Laboratory Incidents at the University of Delaware Researcher Splashes Nitric Acid on Face available at http //www.udel.edu/ehs/nitricacidsplash.pdf (accessed September 5, 2009). 

In a cross-sectional study of a bum registry from Sri Lanka for a period of 18 months, chemical splash injuries with acids represented 4 % of all patients and deliberate chemical assaults comprised 57 % of all chemical skin injuries. There were 14 formic acid injuries (41.3 %), 1 nitric acid injury (2.1 %), and 26 cases of unknown acid injuries (56.5 %). Prehospital water decontamination was done in 26 cases (56.5 %) and not done in 20 cases (43.5 %). Long-term sequelae were hypertrophic scars with constriction bands, ectropion, and microstomia. Scar revision surgery was required in 5 cases (10.8 %) and there were 2 fatalities [192]. 

By the addition of strong lOM sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, or sodium nitrate, adjust the solution so that a total aqueous voliune of 10 ml. will be 1 to 3N In hydrogen Ion and 2 to In nitrate Ion. For almost neutral solutions, 2 ml. of concentrated nitric acid will give the correct concentrations for a 10-ml. aqueous volume. Adjust the total volume to 10 ml. Up to 12 ml. of aqueous solution can be eheiken with 5 or 10 ml. of extractant In the apparatus without undue splashing. If the total aqueous volume Is greater than 12 ml. after adjusting the acidity and nitrate content, perform the extraction In a separatory funnel Instead of the special extraction vessel. 

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