From sci.chem Tue Nov 19 12:38:09 1996
From: <cotegl@ncaur1.ncaur.gov> (G. Cote)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: Re: Lab Accidents.......
Date: 12 Nov 1996 16:42:33 GMT
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Okay, you asked for it.  I think #1 on my list of "Stupid things I've 
done in lab and lived to tell about" is probably the time I moved into a 
recently vacated lab when I was a new post-doc.  I was cleaning out the 
various shelves and cabinets, and came upon a desiccator.  It had just a 
few chunks of white desiccant in the bottom, which I assumed it were a 
few pieces of Drierite that had stuck to the glass.  I removed the lid, 
put the vessel into the sink, and turned on the water.  The fizzing and 
sputtering caused me to step back and before I could even say "What 
the...", a lovely shower of sparks, smoke, and flame hit the ceiling, 
accompanied by a loud bang.  The people across the hall came running over 
to see if I was OK, and later we discovered what had happened.  The guy 
who had previously occupied the lab had left a few small chunks of sodium 
in the desiccator, waiting for someone to come dispose of them.  Somehow, 
the request was ignored, and the sodium eventually built up a layer of 
sodium oxide (or carbonate and hydroxide), giving it the appearance of 
drierite.  Had I not stepped back the instant I noticed the sputtering, I 
would now have some very interesting facial features.
MORAL: Never assume anything!

If you want to hear about the time I dropped the test tube full of 
sulfuric acid into my lap.....perhaps another time.