RISK ASSESSMENT Monash College

Esterification: Aspirin Synthesis

Written by: Indramohan Singh Commenced on: 1 Jul 2021 Expires: 1 Oct 2022

Classes for which experiment is required

Teacher: Indramohan Singh Year Group: Diplomas
Items to be prepared by laboratory technician
4 groups - Unsure of how many students will turn up.

Procedure or reference, including variations

MCD4400 Laboratory Manual 2021 pages 8 to 12

Equipment to be used
electronic balance
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Can be knocked off bench, with potential injury to feet. Keep clean and tidy; remove spilled chemicals
Keep back from edge of bench. Danger of electrocution immediately. Check wiring for damage each time before
in wet areas or if wiring is defective. use. Test and tag at regular intervals.

glass beaker, 200 mL or less

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Breakage of beaker. Cuts from chipped rims. Inspect and discard any chipped or cracked beakers, no
matter how small the damage. Sweep up broken glass
with brush and dustpan; do not use fingers.

boss head (clamp holder)

retort clamp
Potential hazards
Cork lining of clamp may burn and emit toxic fumes if
heated, e.g. with Bunsen burner.

electric water bath

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Unless certified to be intrinsically safe, the electric Do not use water bath with flammable liquids unless
components of a water bath are a possible ignition certified to be intrisically safe. Check for electrical safety
source. each time before use. Test and tag at regular intervals.

filter flask, 100 mL to 500 mL (Buchner flask, 100 mL to 500 mL)

Potential hazards
Flat bottom of flask, especially of large flasks, is prone to
crack or break if dropped; chips around the rim may
cause cuts. Do not heat a filter flask, since the thick
(mechanically strong) glass may crack due to thermal
stress from differential heating inside and out.
Standard handling procedures
Never heat a filter flask on a tripod and gauze with a
Bunsen burner. Inspect and discard any chipped or
cracked flasks, no matter how small the damage. Sweep
up broken glass with brush and dustpan; do not use
fingers.

Hirsch funnel
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Funnel may break; broken glass or ceramic may cause Inspect and discard any chipped or cracked funnels, no
cuts. matter how small the damage. Sweep up broken glass or
ceramic with brush and dustpan; do not use fingers.

vacuum hose
Potential hazards
Liquid may suck back along a vacuum hose, filling the
hose and other equipment with liquid, possibly causing
damage or unintended mixing of chemicals, resulting in
injury.
Standard handling procedures
Vacuum hose used with an oil vacuum pump may
become contaminated by splashes of toxic pump oil near
the vacuum pump. Replace hose whenever the first sign
of cracking appears.

ultraviolet lamp (UV lamp, black light)

Potential hazards
Consider carefully the wavelengths emitted and the
intensity. UV light damages the eye, causes sunburn and
increases the probability of skin cancers. Eye damage is
the greatest risk for short-term exposure. May increase
the risk of a cold sore episode. Do not look directly at a
UV source. Do not point lamp at people. Lamp may
break, imploding and releasing glass fragments which
may cause cuts.
Standard handling procedures
Take precautions and handle appropriately for the
wavelength distribution and intensity of the source.
Check for electrical safety and test and tag at regular
intervals. Sweep up broken glass with brush and dustpan;
do not use fingers.

melting point apparatus

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Surfaces of the apparatus may be hot and cause burns if Check for electrical safety each time before use; test and
touched. tag at regular intervals.

dropping pipette (dropping pipet)

Potential hazards
Broken glass dropping pipette can cause cuts. Can be
used to stab another student. Plastic dropping pipettes
should not be used with organic solvents.
Standard handling procedures
Inspect and discard any chipped or cracked glass
dropping pipettes, no matter how small the damage.
Sweep up broken glass with brush and dustpan; do not
use fingers.

retort stand
Potential hazards
Centre of mass of supported object is often high and the
stand may topple over.

glass specimen tube (vial)

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
May break; broken glass may cause cuts. May contain Inspect and discard any chipped or cracked containers.
live animals, e.g. insects, that bite or sting. May contain Sweep up broken glass with brush and dustpan; do not
preservative liquid. use fingers.

medium borosilicate glass test tube, ~150 mm x 15 mm (Pyrex test tube, ~150 mm x 15 mm)
Potential hazards
Breakage of test tubes. Cuts from chipped test-tube
rims. Small test tubes more likely to eject material
during exothermic reactions.
Standard handling procedures
Inspect and discard any damaged test tubes. Sweep up
broken glass with brush and dustpan; do not use fingers.
Do not insert finger in test tube, since it may become
stuck and swell. Borosilicate test tubes are generally
recommended if the contents are to be heated. Rimless
borosilicate test tubes are known as "ignition tubes", but
offer no advantage over tubes with rims for heating
solids over a Bunsen flame.

watch glass
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Breakage of watch glass. Cuts from chipped edges. Inspect and discard any damaged watch glasses. Sweep
up broken glass with brush and dustpan; do not use
fingers.

weighing boat

cotton wool
Potential hazards
Microbes may grow on cotton wool, if left damp for a
long time.

filter paper
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Flammable. Used filter paper may contain harmful After use, dispose of residue and filter paper
residues. appropriately.

Chemicals to be used
acetic anhydride (ethanoic anhydride) (CH3CO)2O
UN: 1715 CAS: 108-24-7
Class: 8/3 PG: II Users: Tch Training: 1,2,5

GHS data:

Flammable liquid and vapour

Harmful if inhaled
DANGER
Harmful if swallowed
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures

CORROSIVE TO SKIN AND EYES. Highly irritant to lungs. Handle in fume cupboard or in well-ventilated area. Avoid
The reaction with alcohols may be very vigorous in the splashes to skin or eyes. Dispose of acetic anhydride by
presence of acid catalysts. The reaction with water can slowly adding to large volume of water with stirring,
be hazardous, since heat builds up at the interface resulting in rapid hydrolysis to acetic acid. Use small
between the two liquids, and the reaction is catalysed by quantities, <10 mL.
the acetic acid formed. Explosive reaction may occur
with boric acid, chromium(VI) oxide, permanganate salts,
nitric acid and metal peroxides. Do not mix with strong
oxidising agents.

ethanol, pure liquid, absolute (ethyl alcohol) CH3CH2OH

UN: 1170 CAS: 64-17-5
Class: 3 PG: II Users: 7-12 Training: 1-5

GHS data:
Highly flammable liquid and vapour
DANGER
Causes serious eye irritation

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures

HIGHLY FLAMMABLE; DO NOT USE NEAR IGNITION
SOURCES. Liquid irritates eyes. Prolonged contact with
skin causes irritation. Low toxicity, if pure. May be highly
toxic if prepared by azeotropic distillation with benzene,
due to residual benzene. Forms violently explosive
mixtures with nitric acid and other oxidising agents.
Reaction of ethanol with acidified dichromate solution is
highly exothermic. Potassium reacts violently with
ethanol. Ethanol becomes less flammable as it is diluted
with water; 50% ethanol is barely flammable at room
temperature and <24% ethanol is not classified as a
dangerous good.
Store and use away from ignition sources. Do not heat
ethanol in a container over an open flame; use a water
bath that is sparkproof. Any experiments involving the
combustion of ethanol are potentially hazardous.
ETHANOL BURNS WITH A NEARLY COLOURLESS FLAME
THAT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE IN STRONG LIGHT. Many
serious injuries have resulted from "topping up"
containers of burning ethanol used for heating purposes
when it was thought that the flame was extinguished. If
a fuel is required, consider using metaldehyde or
hexamine tablets. Ethanol is a controlled substance, not
usually available in schools. Methylated spirits is the
usual form in which ethanol is obtained in schools; it
contains methanol (5%), water (5%) and small amounts
of pyridine and other coal-tar products to make the liquid
unpalatable. Methylated spirits is adequate for most
experiments carried out in schools.

ethyl acetate (ethyl ethanoate) CH3COOCH2CH3

UN: 1173 CAS: 141-78-6
Class: 3 PG: II Users: 7-12 Training: 1-5

GHS data:
Highly flammable liquid and vapour
DANGER Causes serious eye irritation
May cause drowsiness or dizziness

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures

HIGHLY FLAMMABLE. Prolonged contact with skin causes Ethyl acetate is a less flammable alternative to acetone
 irritation. Liquid is highly irritant to eyes. in many situations.

phosphoric acid, ~15 M (~85% wt/wt), concentrated H3PO4

UN: 1805 CAS: 7664-38-2
Class: 8 PG: III Users: Tch Training: 1,2,5

GHS data:

DANGER Causes severe skin burns and eye damage

Potential hazards
HIGHLY CORROSIVE TO SKIN, EYES AND GUT. Heat is
evolved when the concentrated acid is diluted with water.

salicylic acid, solid (2-hydroxybenzoic acid) HOC6H4COOH

CAS: 69-72-7
Class: nc PG: none Users: 7-12 Training: 1-5

GHS data:
Harmful if swallowed
DANGER
Causes serious eye irritation

Potential hazards
Slightly toxic. Fine particles irritate eyes.

Others
Thin Layer Chromatography (silica) slides.
TLC spotters
Distilled water
Measuring cylinder to measure 0.75 mL

Knowledge
I have read and understood the potential hazards and standard handling procedures of all the equipment, chemicals and
biological items, including living organisms.
I have read and understood the Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous chemicals used in the experiment.
I have copies of the Safety Data Sheets of all the hazardous chemicals available in or near the laboratory.

Risk assessment
I have considered the risks of:
fire or explosion
chemicals in eyes
inhalation of gas/dust
chemicals on skin
ingestion of chemicals
runaway reaction
heat or cold
breakage of equipment
injuries from equipment
rotating equipment
electrical shock
vibration or noise
sharp objects
falling or flying objects
exposure to pathogens waste disposal
injuries from animals improper labelling/storage
intense light/lasers inappropriate behaviour
UV, IR, nuclear radiation communication issues
pressure inside equipment allergies
heavy lifting special needs
slipping, tripping, falling other risks

Certification by Teacher
I have assessed the risks associated with performing this experiment in the classroom on the basis of likelihood and
consequences using the School's risk matrix , according to International Organization for Standardization Standard ISO
31000:2018.

I consider the inherent level of risk (risk level without control measures) to be:
Low risk Medium risk High risk Extreme risk

Control measures:
Additional measures: safety glasses, gloves, lab coat, fume cupboard

With the specified control measures in place, I have found that all the risks are "low risk". Risks will therefore be managed
by routine procedures in the classroom, in combination with the specified control measures.
Electronic Signature: Indramohan Singh Date: 1 Jul 2021

You have provided an electronic signature which is the equivalent of signing your name with a pen and as such will
constitute a legally binding agreement between the relevant parties. We can give no warranty in respect to fraud or
security breach resulting from the use of an electronic signature.

Certification by Laboratory Technician

I have assessed the risks associated with preparing the equipment, chemicals and and biological items, including living
organisms, for this experiment and subsequently cleaning up after the experiment and disposing of wastes, on the basis
of likelihood and consequences using the School's risk matrix , according to International Organization for Standardization
Standard ISO 31000:2018.

I consider the inherent level of risk (risk level without control measures) to be:
Low risk Medium risk High risk Extreme risk

Control measures:
Additional measures: safety glasses, gloves, lab coat, fume cupboard

With the specified control measures in place, I have found that all the risks are "low risk". Risks will therefore be managed
by routine procedures in the laboratory, in combination with the specified control measures.
Name: Signature: Date:

Monitoring and review

This risk assessment will be monitored using comments below and will be reviewed within 15 months from the date of
certification.

Attach further pages as required