Safely Ammonia spills

If there is a small spill of hquid bromine, pour sodium thiosulfate or hme water over it. Anhydrous ammonia vapor should be used from a safe distance to neutralize large quantities of bromine vapors. 

Spills of ammonia present two hazards. Laboratory workers may slip in the spill or be overcome by the vapors, especially if the ammonia is a concentrated solution. Thus, the worker handling the spill should wear breathing apparatus and other people should remain a safe distance away. The spill is covered with sufficient spill mix to absorb all of the liquid and maintain a dry layer of spill mix on top. The mixture is scooped into a container and transported to the fume hood. In the fume hood it is slowly added to a plastic pail of cold water. The liquid is neutralized by the addition, with stirring, of either solid sodium bisulfate or 5% aqueous hydrochloric acid. The aqueous solution is decanted into the drain and the solid, sand/bentonite, disposed as normal garbage or washed with water, dried, and reused... 

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