New Jersey Chemistry Olympics
Minimum Safety Guidelines for Chemical Demonstrations
American Chemical Society - Division of Chemical Education
Chemical demonstrators must:
- Know the properties of the chemicals and chemical reactions involved in
all demonstrations presented.
- Comply with all local rules and regulations.
- Wear appropriate eye protection for all chemical demonstrations.
- Warn the members of the audience to cover their ears whenever a loud noise
is anticipated.
- Plan the demonstration so that harmful quantities of noxious gases (ex: NO2,
SO2, H2S) do not enter the local air supply.
- Provide safety shield protection whenever there is the slightest
possibility that a container, its fragments, or its contents could be
propelled with sufficient force to cause personal injury.
- Arrange to have a fire extinguisher at hand whenever the slightest possibility
of fire exists.
- NOT taste or encourage spectators to taste any nonfood substances.
- NOT use demonstrations in which parts of the human body are placed
in danger (such as placing dry ice in the mouth or dipping hands into liquid
nitrogen).
- NOT use "open" containers of volatile, toxic substances
(ex: benzene, CCl4, formaldehyde) without adequate ventilation as
provided by fume hoods.
- Provide written procedure, hazard, and disposal information for each
demonstration whenever the audience is encouraged to repeat the
demonstration.
- Arrange for appropriate waste containers for and subsequent disposal of
materials harmful to the environment.
Copyright (C) 1988, ACS Division of Chemical Education,
Inc. Permission is herby granted to reprint or copy these guidelines
providing that no changes are made and they are reproduced in their entirety.
Last
Updated October 12, 2008