Teachers' guide 2 - National STEM Centre

306 Appendix 4
The following pages contain notes on the effects, and first aid treatment for
accidents arising from some chemical substances likely to be encountered in a
school laboratory. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list and it should
not be assumed that because a particular substance is not included it does not
represent a potential hazard. In compiling these notes most of the information
given has been obtained from the Laboratory handbook of toxic agents, edited
by Professor C. H. Gray, obtainable from the Royal Institute of Chemistry. A
copy of this book should be available in a known and easily accessible position
in every school chemistry department.
Name
acetaldehyde
acetic acid
acetyl chloride
ammonia
aluminium bromide
(anhydrous)
Effects
a Extremely irritant vapour
b Extremely irritant liquid (solid)
c Inhalation causes damage
d Ingestion causes damage; represented
as follows:
d, irritation of digestive system
and drowsiness
e Highly inflammable
a; e; c, headaches and drowsiness;
d, drowsiness, damage to digestive
system
c, choking and weeping; b, burns
skin, mouth, digestive system
as for acetic acid
c, choking and weeping; b; d, severe
internal damage
Treatment
A Remove from the immediate vicinity,
rest and'keep warm
B Wash affected eyes thoroughly
with water
C Wash affected parts thoroughly
with water
D Ingestion; wash mouth out thoroughly
with water. If additional
treatment is required it is shown
as follows: D, plenty of water to
drink, milk of magnesia
A; B; D, emetic
A; B; C, wash with soap and water;
D, plenty of water to drink, milk of
magnesia
as for acetic acid
A; B; C; D, water to dri.nk, vinegar
or 1 per cent acetic acid
c, severe irritation and burning of A; B; C; D, water to drink, milk of
respiratory system. Dust causes sev- magnesia
ere eye burns. Heat burns on contact
with moist skin
aluminium chloride as for bromide as for bromide
(anhydrous)
aniline b; d, severe internal damage; c or A; C, wash with soap and water; D,
skin absorption, headaches, drowsi- emetic
ness, cyanosis, mental confusion,
even convulsions
barium salts d, sickness and diarrhoea A; D, 2 tablespoonfuls of magnesium
sulphate, emetic
benzene DANGEROUS. c or skin absorp- A; C, wash with soap and water; D,
tion, dizziness, excitement, poison- emetic
ous. Repeated exposure may cause
leukemia