Folks,
For all of my experience as a demonstrator, I simply do not understand what
goes on with these issues.
I read this and I went on Google and read several of these incidents.
Of course they are written by non-experts who, perhaps, leave important info
out.
I have used methanol and ethanol since 4th grade in my basement.
I have never had vapors creeping so as to produce an unexpected flash-fire.
What the hell do you think these teachers are doing?
In one case, a teacher doing the "whoosh-bottle" outside (good) in a gallon
container (no problem, as long as it's not glass or polycarbonate), let a
student ignite it when she couldn't.
Of course, he stood right over it (with goggles?) and when he lit it, the
"whoosh" shot straight up and burned his face.
I always ignite these with a match taped to a long wooden lecture-pointer.
Note, in one press-release, the superintendent ordered "no more experiments
with flames."
Talk about "throwing out the baby with the bath-water!"
Save us!
W. Cary Kilner
-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Stepenuck <sstepenuck@xxxxxxxxx>
To: neact <neact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, May 13, 2018 12:11 am
Subject: [neact] Some follow-up to 17 students and teacher injured in science
demo last week
From today’s ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety list [list “owner”
Ralph B. Stuart, Keene State College]:
Excerpt from full story at
http://www.wkrn.com/top-news/chemistry-safety-experts-warn-schools-to-stop-unsafe-science-demonstrations/1172474948
