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Cyrus
Hazard to Others
Posts: 397
Registered: 24-4-2004
Location: Ancient Persia
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Tragic Glassware
I just dropped a glass Erlenmeyer flask
onto my concrete floor.  Now I only have five left...
To make matters worse, it was filled with HCl, Cl2, and HOCl. 
And I was very very tired, and the last thing I wanted to do was sweep up broken glass shards.
This prompted me to ask you all to tell the tale of your most aggrevating (or spectacular) labware failure.
Also, if there are any of you who have never EVER broken any labware at all  ,
please brag about your superior skills...
(or lack of labware )
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Saerynide
National Hazard
Posts: 954
Registered: 17-11-2003
Location: The Void
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Mood: Ionic
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yes... I lack pyrex...
My cookie jar broke when I was distilling acetone using the "little beaker in the big beaker" method. I picked up the cookier jar by the
rim and raised it to eye level to see how the product was coming along. The bottom of the cookie jar fell off (mustve been a hairline crack in a ring
around the bottom), everything fell with it, everything hit the counter, and all the liquids splashed back at me in face. Nothing got in my eye thank
god - acetone in your eye would not be fun 
And I had alot of cleaning to do.
Edit: 400 posts
[Edited on 26-5-2004 by Saerynide]
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The_Davster
A pnictogen
Posts: 2861
Registered: 18-11-2003
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Mood: .
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I was sublimating some impure iodine crystalls in a Bomex(low grade Pyrex rip off(in my opinion)) 125mL erlenmeyer flask. There was a test tube duct taped to the mouth of the flask to act as a coldfinger. Anyway, a drop of the
water/ammonium nitrate cooling solution fell onto my workbench. Unfortunatly I did not notice. When the iodine had all sublimed and collected on the
test tube I took the flask and accidently set it down in the drop of water. The flask spiderwebbed from the point of contact with the water and the
bottom fell off. Iodine fumes went everywhere and forced me to temporarily evacuate the lab while I went to get my gas mask. Iodine vapour is
painfull.
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madscientist
National Hazard
Posts: 962
Registered: 19-5-2002
Location: American Midwest
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Mood: pyrophoric
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I can't even mention my most aggravating lab accident (don't even ask... I have good reasons ). My second worst, however, was the time I was so tired (hadn't slept in a day or two, and was averaging around
2-3 hours per night of sleep before then) that I apparently couldn't think straight and decided to make a go at producing
Pb(N<sub>3</sub> <sub>2</sub>. I proceeded to add a solution
of Pb(NO<sub>3</sub><sub>2</sub> (that had been prepared
from Pb metal and HNO<sub>3</sub>, forgetting the obvious fact that there was going to be plenty of HNO<sub>3</sub> left over
in solution) to a solution containing my entire supply of NaN<sub>3</sub>.
...I let the area air out for 12 hours after sprinting from the resulting volcano.
The biggest nuisance was probably the time I added a couple nickels (as in, the American currency) to a solution of
H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> and 27.5% H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. When I returned the next day, I
found dots of blue solution splattered *everywhere* - ceiling, walls, bench, floor... the cleanup took forever (nickel salts are extremely toxic, so I
had to be very careful).
Broken glass and chemical burn/irritation events were nearly as regular as my state of delirium was.
[Edited on 26-5-2004 by madscientist]
I weep at the sight of flaming acetic anhydride.
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vulture
Forum Gatekeeper
Posts: 3330
Registered: 25-5-2002
Location: France
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My most frustrating accident was when I dropped the measuring cylinder containing 10ml of precious destillate which required 6 hours of meticulous
fractional distilling.
Needless to say, I became a Tourette syndrome patient for a few minutes...
One shouldn't accept or resort to the mutilation of science to appease the mentally impaired.
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hodges
National Hazard
Posts: 525
Registered: 17-12-2003
Location: Midwest
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I had a rather annoying one once, although it didn't really hurt much.
I found a test tube that appeared to be glass but had a label on it that said "Do not heat". I assumed that if I tried to heat it in a
flame it would break. It was the largest test tube I had, so I decided to use it to nitrate a small amount of tissue paper with some newly acquired
nitric acid. I had a cup of cold water that I was going to put the test tube into to keep things cool. Anyway, I added the acids and tissue paper,
and immersed the tube in the cup of water. As I was stirring the tube in the cup, I noticed that the tube appeared to have more acid in it than I had
remembered using. Curious, I lifted the tube, and the acid gushed out a hole in the bottom of the tube! There was no broken glass - the acid had
actually eaten through whatever the test tube was made out of.
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Theoretic
National Hazard
Posts: 776
Registered: 17-6-2003
Location: London, the Land of Sun, Summer and Snow
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Mood: eating the souls of dust mites
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Tourete syndrome? What's that? The Chemical Rage syndrome?
The test tube eaten through by sulfuric/nitric acids probably had a high sodium silicate content.
P.S.: as you may have noticed, I'm in a flood mode right now... sorry about that 
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Haggis
Hazard to Others
Posts: 238
Registered: 1-12-2002
Location: Mid-America.
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Mood: Lacrymating
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My most interesting glassware mishap involves a compound also...imagine this, if you will.
I sit there in the lab with half of a broken beaker in my right hand, a razor blade in my left, and a lap full of potassium cyanide and glass shards.
It was a very odd situation at best. I just prepared some KCN, and then heated off the remaining water, leaving the KCN caked on the bottom of the
beaker. Here I go with my razor blade, scraping off the stuff on the bottom, which was cooked on pretty well. Suddenly, there was a little
'tink' and the bottom half of the beaker just falls off onto my lap. I luckily had a friend in the next room, whom helped me clean off
before I could accidentally shove a shard in my thigh.
My best explanation is that the Bomex was weakened by the heating contrasted with the cold water. Then, the scraping of the razor blade matched the
natural frequency of the glass, similar to wine glasses shattering due to high pitched noises.
No matter what, it was a quite surreal experience.
Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds.
<b> <a href=\"http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xEE41A2B1\">PGP Key</a> </b> 0C0A 7486 B97F
92EE AE50 A98C A4F3 087E 8CE9 A782 |
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Cyrus
Hazard to Others
Posts: 397
Registered: 24-4-2004
Location: Ancient Persia
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Mood: No Mood
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Now THAT sounds a little dangerous, and is a good reason not to buy bomex.
I have bomex beakers too.
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BromicAcid
International Hazard
Posts: 3245
Registered: 13-7-2003
Location: Wisconsin
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Mood: Rock n' Roll
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Maybe one of the reasons I actually don't have some terrible tragic story about using glassware is because I don't use bomex
The absolute worst things that have happened to me involving glassware failing are:
Added Na to H2O, Na did not ignite the H2 gas formed like it normally does until an explosive concentration was present, at which time it
detonated and shot glass everywhere, mind you this was no fault of the glassware, that specific beaker was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A few days ago I was heating NaNO3 with Fe2O3 in a flint glass test tube when I heard the sound of glass getting ready to break. Heating with
the propane torch was discontined and I inspected the test tube visually and noted a hair line crack developing so I stopped heating it. Later though
I was heating the same mix in an iron crucible and when I went to dump it onto a sheet of steel the little grabby arm thing fell off so I grabbed it
with my gloves and turned it over, molten NaNO3 got on my glove and promptly set it on fire in that place so a test tube of it suddenly having the
bottom giving out would have been a bad thing.
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The_Davster
A pnictogen
Posts: 2861
Registered: 18-11-2003
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Mood: .
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The only reason I used Bomex was because a local science store sells it no questions asked and I do not have to put together an order for the usuall
suppliers and wait for it to arrive.
It is now clear what must be done..... Boycot Bomex
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Mumbles
Hazard to Others
Posts: 436
Registered: 12-3-2003
Location: US
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Mood: Procrastinating
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As I look back, I was really stupid for this. Side comment, but the only reason I use bomex is for the cheapness. I have no reason, the local chem
shop caries pyrex, but I'm not very deep pocketed. I have pyrex test tubes at least.
I was distilling some nitric acid. I use a deep-fryer with sand as my heating bath. It couldn't for the life of me figure out how to keep it
upright. Then I had the stroke of genius to put rubber bands over the 3 way adapter and hooked on the handles of the fryer.
I let it distill and check this board for a bit, the flask filles up with NOx like always(still need a vacuum pump to this day). I go and check on it
about a half hour later, and it's tipped over, one of the rubber bands broke. Being the competent smart person that I am put more rubber bands
on to replace the one that broke. I return to the house and let it go some more.
I hear this snapping sound through the window and see that it has tipped again. I go to set it back up, but notice the strong smell of NO2. I see
that the male end to my condenser is not attached to the rest. This begins one loud "fuck" that would take up a good 17 lines if I typed it
out. After the anger relieving yell, I begin to clean it up. By the end I used a box and a half of baking soda to neutralise the patio, my hands
looked like a leopard with yellow spots, and my clothes looked like swiss cheese.
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Magpie
lab constructor
Posts: 5939
Registered: 1-11-2003
Location: USA
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Mood: Chemistry: the subtle science.
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glassware quality
Dear Colleagues:
I am in an expedited glassware buying mode due to some paranoia. When Fisher Scientific refused to sell me, as an individual, some glass beakers I
began imagining a worst case scenario: "Al Quida launches second major attack on US, this time using homemade chemicals. John Ashcroft
promptly issues emergency order banning the purchase of all glassware in the US."
So I have been researching the secondary suppliers and ebay. Like Hermes says I believe in purchasing good tools. I feel comfortable with Corning
products (Pyrex) and Kimble-Kontes products (Kimax). But I'm also seeing a lot of United Glass Technology (LabGlass), Bomex, and some Simax.
These last three I am unfamiliar with. But from what I have read on this forum I will not buy Bomex. Forum reports on LabGlass have been good.
Simax (Czech?) I have not heard anything about on this forum but internet searches indicate that it is of high quality.
I would like to get other opinions, warnings, experiences, recommendations. Thanks.
Magpie
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S.C. Wack
bibliomaster
Posts: 2419
Registered: 7-5-2004
Location: Cornworld, Central USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Enhanced
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I have a large glass collection. They get some use. About 40% Pyrex, 40% Kimax, and some Bomex(non-distillation) and Ace(equalized addition funnels)
products. The Ace products look to be very well made. The Pyrex and Kimax pieces have survived much abuse, with two exceptions.
The Bomex vac flask is used a lot. It is very sturdy and I recommend it. I use their fbf's for storage, but on occasion, they have come in handy
for boiling down solutions, placed on an old skillet right on the gas flame. No problem. Just wanted to say that they can be used some. They are
thicker and heavier than the usual brands.
Only broken two pieces. A Kimax addition funnel was in use as a sep funnel, sitting in a glass, when the glass was knocked over. Not its fault. It had
top and bottom 24/40 joints, and broke off at the skinny part below the valve. So its just a sep funnel now!
The Pyrex incident was something. It was ovenware, however. A casserole dish at 200C was taken out and placed on top of the sink. This was a
convenient place, as it fit perfectly across the top. Then a single drop of water leaked out of the faucet. Broke into about a hundred pieces. So
another cautionary tale of thermal shock for ya'll. I make very sure not to spill any drops of anything anywhere when hot glass is around now.
I've passed on United Glass pieces for some reason. I see "Borosil" on ebay and am leery of this as well. But best of all on eBay:
Pryrex. This was a deliberate attempt to mislead people into buying homemade retorts. Log in, search for Pryrex, checking the "completed
items" option and you will see. You will see that no one fell for it, either. Not that there is anything wrong with homemade retorts, just not
from this guy.
Off topic but funny- did a member here just buy that 19/22 setup+, for a huge price? Hope he emailed the seller to make sure of a certain
thing. A Hive member for sure.
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Cyrus
Hazard to Others
Posts: 397
Registered: 24-4-2004
Location: Ancient Persia
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Bomex isn't that bad for the price.
I figure use pyrex for things that you heat and cool, and bomex should work for everything else. Does everyone else have a problem with random
spontaneous shattering of test tubes? Mine love to shatter for no good reason!
I have had some interesting glassware "saves" - I dropped a dropping pipet onto the concrete floor, but it landed on the rubber end, and
then bounced back up onto a shelf!
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tom haggen
Hazard to Others
Posts: 488
Registered: 29-11-2003
Location: PNW
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Mood: a better mood
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The saddest failure of equipment I have had, was with my 1000ml beautiful beaker that I stole from my little sisters french press. I was purifying
KNO3 and some of it spilled on the side of it, and crusted in between the hot plate and the beaker. When I started cooling down my beaker The KNO3 in
between the beaker and the hot plate cracked my beaker. I almost shed a tear. The dumbest accident I've had is when I was filtering hot KNO3 and
the mason jar collecting the filtrate cracked on the bottom. When I picked the mason jar up the bottom stuck to my counter top, and presto I had a hot
KNO3 solution all over my shoes, my counter, my floor, my pants.... 20mins later my whole kitchen was one big damm crystal. I was extremely pissed.
[Edited on 30-5-2004 by tom haggen]
[Edited on 30-5-2004 by tom haggen]
N/A
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unionised
International Hazard
Posts: 5126
Registered: 1-11-2003
Location: UK
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A coleague of mine made an error with a hand-made, 5 litre, jacketed, pyrex, multi ported chamber. His error was to assume it wouldn't roll off
the bench. It did. Pyrex doesn't bounce adequately well.
I'm glad it wasn't me. (I have made plenty of mistakes but that one was more interesting)
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Mumbles
Hazard to Others
Posts: 436
Registered: 12-3-2003
Location: US
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Mood: Procrastinating
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I've found standard glass food containers hold up better to impact than pyrex. I knocked off a container from an edge. It bounced a good 6
inches before hitting again and being smashed violently.
Recenly I knocked a 100mL graduated cylinder off too. It landed in the 1 spot the plastic stoppers couldn't save it, the lip. I now have a 30mL
graduated cylinder and a stabbing tool all in one.
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Saerynide
National Hazard
Posts: 954
Registered: 17-11-2003
Location: The Void
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Mood: Ionic
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If theres ever a bar/lab fight, you'll be prepared
I once accidently dropped my glass dish from about chest-height. It hit the floor, and bounced back up to about waist-height and I caught it. It
didnt even chip
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fvcked
Harmless
Posts: 45
Registered: 11-4-2004
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Mood: Groggy
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I didnt know they had chem labs in the psych ward *padded rooms*
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Saerynide
National Hazard
Posts: 954
Registered: 17-11-2003
Location: The Void
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Mood: Ionic
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Are you talking about me??
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satisfy any applicable law, regulation or legal process"
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MadHatter
International Hazard
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Maine
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Mood: Enjoying retirement
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Glass
I had a hairline crack develop in an 800 ml Bomex beaker while crystallizing
some potassium perchlorate. From now on, I'll use pyrex or kimax for anything
that requires heating. Magpie, simax glass is considered to be better than
kimax or pyrex.
From opening of NCIS New Orleans - It goes a BOOM ! BOOM ! BOOM ! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !
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Organikum
resurrected
Posts: 2337
Registered: 12-10-2002
Location: Europe
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Mood: frustrated
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Yes, SIMAX is czech and its quite good quality. Best IMHO is Schott-DURAN german), but it is terrible expensive.
Most glassware I lost to the cooling down with different expansion effect, like with making benzene where the NaOH/carbonate cake solidifies and bakes
to the glass. On cooling down this breaks at least Erlenmeyers and flat-bottom-flasks, thick walled RBFs may do it, I will NOT try it.
I came to the belief that glassware is not perfect for many reactions and I am going to get me copper and ironvessel which are often superior. Found
out that it is astonishing hard to find them though.
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neutrino
International Hazard
Posts: 1583
Registered: 20-8-2004
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Here is some info on simax and pyrex.
Before I had some decent beakers, I tried heating a solution in a glass jar on a gas stove. It proceeded to break in several seconds, spilling all of
the precious solution!
I have been using borosil recently and the quality seems good (although I don't really have a benchmark). I can fill my 600mL beaker with water,
put it on my gas stove at a setting where the diameter of the circle of flame is equal to that of the beaker (a pretty high setting), and leave it
until it starts boiling without worrying. Btw, Borosil is Indian glass.
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vulture
Forum Gatekeeper
Posts: 3330
Registered: 25-5-2002
Location: France
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| Quote: |
Best IMHO is Schott-DURAN german), but it is terrible expensive.
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What qualifies as terribly expensive for you? It's more expensive for sure, but replacing a burst piece of glassware with something you just made
is always going to be more expensive in the long run. Not to mention physical injury because of glass flying around.
One shouldn't accept or resort to the mutilation of science to appease the mentally impaired.
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