Safety Information

Chemical:

Possible Use:

Hazard:

picric acid (trinitrophenol)

prepare a histological  stain

unstable/shock sensitive/explosion hazard when dry(<30% water);
keep wetted with >30% water

2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP)

pH indicator,
respiratory inhibitor

unstable/shock sensitive/explosion hazard when dry; keep wetted with >30% water

hydrazine and derivatives:
(2,4, dinitrophenyl hydrazine)

chemical assay

flammable solid; may be shock sensitive; explosive; keep wet (>30% water

sodium dithionite

remove oxygen from solution

may ignite if water is added  to powder

sodium azide

metabolic inhibitor; preservative

reacts with lead, copper to form unstable compounds; do not pour solutions down the drain
http://bifrost.unl.edu/ehs/FactSheets/soazidfs.html

benzoyl peroxide

used to decolorize samples before measuring in a liquid scintillation counter

shock-sensitive solid

perchlorates (Mg, Na)

Mg perchlorate is used as a drying agent

shock-sensitive solids

peroxide forming compounds:  diethyl ether (not petroleum ether), di-isopropyl ether  tetrahydrofuran, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (methyl cellosolve), dioxane

organic solvents

peroxides formed on exposure to air; should regularly dispose of old bottles (annually or sooner).  May explode on distillation or drying or even the friction from opening the cap.
http://bifrost.unl.edu/ehs/FactSheets/peroxfs.html

http://www.cshema.labsafety.umaryland.edu/articles/peroxides.htm

perchloric acid

digest organic samples

very strong oxidizer when heated; old bottles may accumulate shock-sensitive crystals, Do not unscrew cap!

hydrofluoric acid

digest rocks

causes severe skin burns, penetrates skin and can cause death due to its interaction with calcium.  Check links below:

http://bifrost.unl.edu/ehs/FactSheets/hfacidfs.html

http://www.cshema.labsafety.umaryland.edu/articles/incident%20reports/hf%20incident.htm

aluminum chloride

reagent

forms HCl on contact with moisture; bottles may develop dangerous pressure buildup