Info on handling dangerous elements

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on the safety concerns and handling procedures for various chemical elements, particularly sodium, lithium, magnesium, mercury, and noble gases, in an educational setting. Participants explore the hazards associated with these elements, especially regarding their storage and use during experiments.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Saaz expresses concerns about the safety of handling pure sodium, lithium, and magnesium at room temperature and the potential hazards of hydrogen gas production when sodium is used in water.
  • Mayhem questions the grouping of sodium/lithium with magnesium and suggests that alkali metals can be stored in mineral oil for extended periods.
  • Saaz clarifies the intent to demonstrate elements from groups I and II, specifically mentioning magnesium.
  • Mayhem states that magnesium can be stored under ambient conditions but notes its flammability at high temperatures.
  • Participants discuss the definition of "safe" in the context of handling subgram amounts of sodium and the potential for minor injuries.
  • Saaz considers dividing a stock of sodium into smaller containers for safer handling and questions the safety of cutting sodium under room conditions.
  • A later reply indicates that cutting sodium under room conditions is reasonably safe based on personal experience.
  • Another participant advises the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling alkali metals and mentions that the amount of hydrogen produced from 0.02g of sodium is negligible.
  • Concerns are raised about the safety of using Tesla coils, with a note that they can be safe if used correctly, but caution is advised regarding potential defects in the equipment.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the overall safety of handling these elements, as opinions vary on the risks associated with sodium, mercury, and Tesla coils. Multiple competing views remain regarding the handling procedures and safety measures.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include varying interpretations of safety, dependence on specific handling protocols, and the need for personal protective equipment. The discussion does not resolve the complexities of chemical hazards or regulatory compliance.

Saaz
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TL;DR
Risk assessment on handling Sodium, Lithium, Magnesium, Mercury and noble gases, to assets physical and chemical properties under a conventional hood.
Hello,

I want to do an activity with my students where we study some basic properties of some elements of different groups. I'm concerned about some hazards with some of these elements. I work under a simple fume hood.

My concerns are:
- Pure Sodium/lithium/magnesium: Is it safe to handle at room temperature and standard humidity conditions? Once in stored in mineral oil, how safe is it to keep it in chemical storage? Given that all the groups together might use 0.2 g of Na, would the H2 produced be an hazard?
- Mercury: is it safe to put a couple of drops of mercury in the watch glass at room temperature? I'm mostly concerned about the fumes and the inhalation hazards.
- Noble gases: I saw some small Tesla coil to excite the noble gases (eg powered by a 9V battery); how safe are these tesla coils? Are there some hazards?

I would appreciate any information that you have about it!

Best,
Saaz
 
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Grouping sodium/lithium with magnesium makes little sense. Do you mean potassium? Alkalis can be stored in mineral oil for a fairly long time.

Don't use mercury in class. Even though elemental mercury isn't as dangerous as many think, kids are incredibly stupid.

Tesla coils, no idea.
 
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Thanks for the reply Mayhem! I meant magnesium since I want to show an element from groups I and II (so sodium/lithium and magnesium).
 
Saaz said:
Thanks for the reply Mayhem! I meant magnesium since I want to show an element from groups I and II (so sodium/lithium and magnesium).
Ok.

Magnesium can be stored in ambient conditions. It burns brightly at very high temperatures, but nothing you would be likely to encounter by accident.
 
Saaz said:
Is it safe to handle

Depends on the definition of "safe". If we are talking about subgram amounts it is difficult to harm yourself permanently, but you can definitely burn fingers or something like that.

A lot depends on legaleze and regulations you need to adhere to (and chances you will be chased by parents).
 
I'm definitely talking about subgram amounts. For Na I was thinking of trying something like 0.025 g in water. However, the stock would be 1 g of Na. Maybe I can divide the sample stock into 5 containers under oil and work with one of them each time.

Is it safe to cut Na under room conditions without having it to react with the humidity of the air?
 
Saaz said:
Is it safe to cut Na under room conditions without having it to react with the humidity of the air?

Reasonably safe. I did it several times in eighties and I am apparently still alive.
 
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Your set up looks reasonably safe, but normal PPE should be used to prevent skin contact with the alkali metals. For 0.02g of Na, the amount of H2 produced will be negligible, so no real hazard there. Tesla coils use high frequency rf transformers to generate high voltages and are reasonably safe if working correctly (rf travels on the surface of any conductor) - the risk is more in the inner, low voltage/high current coils should there be any defects.
 
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