<p>Most chem labs don't require gloves. Just googles and lab coats. What kind of gloves should you get? Dishwashing gloves or latex ones? And is HF as powerful as HCL acid and does it have a delayed effect that dissolves bones?</p>
<p>and what labs do they use the most dangerous chemicals like HF and HCL? do they use those in organic chem or intro chem?</p>
<p>Both. Why do you care, your TA is there and watches you and helps if you need it. If your scared don't take it. But if you don't know how to do a lab all by yourself at the end of high school without hurting yourself you probably should be even attempting to take science in college.</p>
<p>dude name one lab where they use HF in chem lab? its probably only for industrial use.</p>
<p>Clearly you know the answer so why did you ask the question. There are labs where it is used im sure. Not in the most basic of classes but it will show up somewhere.</p>
<p>but most people only take the basic chem labs unless they're chem majors. its the reason there are so few chem majors.</p>
<p>
<p>Acid catalysis in organic chemistry. Brightening aluminum or other metals. Cleaning brick and stone. Cleaning components used in production of particle beams. Cleaning surfaces of electronic components and circuit boards (RCA process). Cleaners, low concentration in many cleaners. Cleaving synthetic peptides from resins. Digesting samples prior to metal analysis. Digesting soil and rock samples for pollen analysis. Dissolving steel samples. Excimer laser (fluoride mixes). Opening rock samples for analysis. Processing plant/animal fossils. Wire stripping (HF in methylene chloride).
<p>Is that basic organic chemistry or advanced organic chemistry? Because alot of pre-med majors would've died if they all had to touch HF everyday.</p>
<p>That's why there are safety precautions in place. If you follow the rules, then you will be fine. If you don't, you will put yourself, as well as those around you, in danger.</p>
<p>You also work with some nasty stuff in biology (microbiology more specifically)</p>
<p>But at least biology labs are safe compare to chemistry.</p>
<p>Microbiology: You can work with some deadly micro-organisms and/or viruses. In fact, I think they make you sign some sort of form stating that if you experience certain symptoms during the course, you must immediately report it and seek medical attention.</p>
<p>And not to mention that, even in biology labs, you work with some pretty insidious chemicals.</p>
<p>HF eats bones but they'll NEVER have you work with anything THAT dangerous in your chemistry lab classes. HF requires special training on proper handling methods and protective measures. If you work in a research lab then you may encounter it - to use it you have to have a lab coat, thick acid gloves over your lab coat sleeves, an apron, goggles and a face shield - and you work in the fume hood with a special HF first aid kit nearby. </p>
<p>Don't scare people by telling them about chemicals they'll never contact in thier regular lab classes. Diluted HCl is what is used in chem labs - not concentrated - far less dangerous. The labs that people do in chem lab classes are generally pretty simple and safe.</p>
<p>Right in Normal general chem you probably won't use it but I was just trying to prove a point to 1337warrior about his nonchalant view of lab safety.</p>
<p>Anyways in my accelerated lab we did use HF for the synthesis of cobalt complexes. It was in a fume hood and there was a bucket of the proper base nearby in case of mishaps. And again in the same lab and a couple of other we did use concentrated HCl. I had never in my life seen molarities as high as I had seen that day. (19 M, 12 M, 45% [HBr], 32% of another acidic halide). We almost never used diluted chemicals. Lowest I saw ever was 3 M (or maybe 1 M or .1 M if we were doing something small but usually we went pretty big).</p>
<p>So yes pearlinthemist, I did use HF (Safety precautions: goggles, latex gloves, and lab coat and we had lab lecture for training, and supposedly demos but our TA was "sick" that day and didn't show any. A little more additional background: He is fired and cannot work in any department of the university after his stunt TAing us. Shoulda happened sooner.) and I was scared as hell. Luckily, it wasn't for an extended period besides the mixing of it over the bunsen to add halide ligands to the cobalt complex (what a nightmare lab).</p>
<p>I used HF in AP Chemistry last year to etch glass. We wore goggles, but took no other precautions (aside from the fume hood, obviously).</p>
<p>IlliniJBravoEcho , are you a chemistry major? I don't think non-chemistry majors will ever use something that dangerous.</p>
<p>I heard that mercury banned from chem labs or something because of the danger? Why isnt HF banned already?</p>
<p>Because under the right circumstances HF can be used and must be used for many organic labs or stuff like that. It has a common antidote if spotted quickly. Also wearing most normal lab materials will protect you. It merely harms you with direct contact.</p>
<p>On the other hand, mercury's fumes alone are toxic. It goes inside your system. And stays there. It takes special nasty treatment to remove ingested mercury. It takes forever to get out of your system. Ever hear of a HF spill? No? Thought so. Ever hear of a mercury spill? Most likely.</p>
<p>Mercury isn't banned; it just isn't used very often. For instance, if your thermometer breaks, there will have to be a special clean-up. Almost nobody uses pure mercury anymore (note: unless handled with extreme precaution) except for major industrial areas, it is just too dangerous to be handled like any normal chemical in normal laboratory equipment. <a href="http://www.impactlab.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5049%5B/url%5D">http://www.impactlab.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5049</a></p>
<p>But arn't there thermometers that don't use mercury?</p>
<p>Yes, and many labs are transitioning to using them exclusively just because it's a pain to go through the special clean-up if something as stupid as a thermometer breaks.</p>