Handling hazardous chemicals
Lab Edu3
Acid into water
Always add acid to water, never the reverse.
Step 3 / 6VOICE · ON
IN ONE LINE
Chemicals are safe when stored by compatibility, moved in carriers, and added in the right order.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Store incompatible chemicals safely apart.
Transfer and dispense chemicals without spills or exposure.
Apply the acid-to-water rule and other dilution basics.
READ THE LESSON
Storage is half the battle
Acids and bases, oxidisers and flammables, water-reactives and water — kept together they can react on their own. Group by hazard class, not alphabetically.
Move it like it could break
Carry bottles in a tray or a rubber bottle-carrier, one hand under the base. A dropped litre of acid is a spill, a splash and an evacuation.
Dilution generates heat
Adding water to concentrated acid can boil and spit the acid back at you. Add the acid slowly to the larger volume of water, stirring to spread the heat.
Mnemonic
"Do as you oughta — add acid to water." Reverse it and the reaction can erupt.
QUICK CHECK
1 / 5When diluting a concentrated acid, you should…
Select an answer to continue
CORE · 04
KEY POINTS
Segregate by hazard class in storage.
Always use a secondary carrier to transport.
Acid to water — never water to acid.
Volatile work stays in the fume hood.
REFERENCES
OSHA 1910.1450 Appendix A
NFPA 45 — Fire protection for labs
SDS Section 7 — Handling & storage
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