Skip to content

Chemical Cabinet Access Training

Before you use any chemical from the cabinet in B144 (Stanley Hall), you must:

  1. Read this page all the way through.
  2. Read the relevant SOPs linked below.
  3. Read the SDS for the specific chemical you plan to use.
  4. Complete and pass the cabinet access quiz.

Do not use the cabinet until you have done all of the above.

Chemicals covered by this training

This training covers routine access to:

  • ethanol
  • isopropanol
  • acetone
  • DMSO
  • glycerol
  • sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
  • hydrochloric acid (HCl)

If you are not sure whether a chemical is covered by this training, stop and ask the PI, lab manager, or designated lab safety lead.

The big picture

The chemicals in this cabinet are not all dangerous in the same way.

Some can catch fire easily. Some can burn skin or eyes. Some are dangerous because they move through skin easily. Some seem relatively benign, but still create real risks if handled carelessly.

As you read the sections below, keep asking yourself:

  • What is the main way this chemical could hurt someone?
  • What mistake is most likely to cause that problem?
  • What is the habit that prevents it?

Keep these habits in mind every time

A few habits matter across almost everything in this cabinet:

  • Wear basic PPE: lab coat, gloves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Use appropriate eye protection when handling chemicals.
  • Use the smallest amount you actually need.
  • Keep bottles closed when you are not actively dispensing from them.
  • Label working solutions and waste.
  • Know where the waste is supposed to go before you start.
  • If you do not know how to dilute, transfer, clean up, or dispose of something, stop and ask before you proceed.

The details below are what matter most for the chemicals in this cabinet.

Flammable solvents: ethanol, isopropanol, acetone

These are common lab solvents, and that familiarity can make people careless.

The main thing to remember is that these are fire hazards first.

It is easy to focus on the liquid in the bottle, but the bigger danger is often the vapor. Vapors can spread, find an ignition source, and ignite even when the bottle itself is not especially close to a flame.

Keep in mind

  • Never use these near open flames, burners, sparks, or hot surfaces.
  • Do not treat a small volume as harmless. Small amounts can still make ignitable vapor.
  • Do not leave bottles open on the bench longer than necessary.
  • Think about waste the same way you think about the fresh solvent: it is still flammable.
  • Use a fume hood when the procedure or SOP calls for it, or when vapor exposure may be significant.

Common mistakes

A common mistake is treating ethanol or isopropanol like “just cleaning alcohol.” They are still flammable solvents. Acetone is especially easy to underestimate because it evaporates quickly, but that fast evaporation also means vapor builds up easily.

Another common mistake is working casually near an ignition source because “it is only for a second.” That is exactly the kind of thinking that causes fires.

Special note on acetone and isopropanol

In this cabinet, acetone and isopropanol also need to be treated as possible peroxide-forming chemicals during storage.

That does not mean routine use is forbidden. It means you should pay attention to the condition of the container.

Do not use a bottle if you see things like:

  • crystals
  • residue around the cap
  • unusual discoloration
  • anything else that makes you think the bottle has aged badly or been stored improperly

Do not evaporate, distill, or concentrate old or unknown-history acetone or isopropanol. If a bottle seems questionable, stop and ask the PI, lab manager, or lab safety lead.

DMSO

DMSO deserves attention for a different reason.

The key fact about DMSO is that it is readily absorbed through skin. Even more important, it can help carry dissolved chemicals through skin with it.

That means DMSO is often not just a hazard by itself. It can become a delivery vehicle for whatever is mixed into it.

Keep in mind

  • Do not handle DMSO with bare hands.
  • Be especially careful if the DMSO contains anything dissolved in it.
  • A glove contaminated with DMSO is not protective forever; if you spill on your gloves, deal with it right away.
  • Keep it away from heat and ignition sources. It is combustible even if it is not handled exactly like ethanol or acetone.

Common mistakes

A common mistake is thinking: “It is not that volatile, so it is not that hazardous.” That is the wrong model. The concern with DMSO is often skin exposure, not dramatic fumes.

If DMSO is carrying another compound, skin contact may matter much more than people expect.

Glycerol

Glycerol is easy to dismiss because it does not look especially dramatic on paper.

That is exactly why it is worth saying clearly: low drama does not mean no hazard.

For routine lab use, the most immediate issue is usually that glycerol is messy and slippery. A spill can create a real slip hazard, especially if people leave it for someone else to discover.

It is also combustible if strongly heated, and under fire or high-heat conditions it can produce hazardous decomposition products.

Keep in mind

  • Clean glycerol spills promptly.
  • Do not leave sticky residue on bottles, benches, or floors.
  • Do not strongly heat glycerol unless the procedure specifically requires it and the hazards have been thought through.
  • Keep it separated from incompatible chemicals such as strong oxidizers.

Common mistakes

The usual mistake is not dramatic misuse. It is casualness: drips on the outside of the bottle, a slick patch on the bench, or treating it like it does not matter because it is familiar.

Corrosives: sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl)

These chemicals can injure you quickly.

The central hazard here is chemical burns, especially to the eyes and skin. With corrosives, a small splash can still be a serious event.

Hydrochloric acid adds another concern: it can release irritating fumes, especially during handling that increases exposure.

Keep in mind

  • Before you start, know where the eyewash and safety shower are.
  • Wear the right PPE and think about splash risk before you open the bottle.
  • Move slowly when pouring or diluting. Rushing is what causes splashes.
  • If you are making dilutions, always add acid to water, never water to acid.
  • When working with base, add base to water slowly, never water to base.
  • Use a fume hood when the SOP requires it or when fumes may be present.

Common mistakes

One common mistake is assuming the danger comes only from large volumes. That is false. Even a small amount in the eye is an emergency.

Another is getting casual about dilution. Dilution can generate heat and splashing if done incorrectly. The order matters.

What to do if something feels uncertain

A lot of lab accidents happen at the exact moment someone realizes they are not fully sure what to do and decides to continue anyway.

Do not do that.

Stop and ask for help if:

  • you are not sure how to handle a chemical safely
  • you are not sure what PPE is appropriate
  • you are not sure how to make a dilution
  • you are not sure where waste should go
  • a bottle looks old, damaged, contaminated, or otherwise questionable
  • you think a spill, splash, or exposure may have occurred

That is good lab practice.

SDS for chemicals in this cabinet

Read the SDS for the chemical you plan to use:

Make sure the SDS matches the exact chemical and bottle you are using.

Required SOPs

You must read the following SOPs as part of this training:

Quiz

Answer all questions correctly to pass. If you miss any, the quiz resets with a new randomized set.