SSERC Risk Assessment (revised version March 2018)

(based on HSE’s INDG 163 ‘Risk assessment - A brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace’)

2 Pitreavie Court, South Pitreavie Business Park, Dunfermline KY11 8UU

tel : 01383 626070 e-mail : enquiries@sserc.org.uk web : www.sserc.org.uk

Activity assessed Aluminium iodine reaction

Date of assessment 24th March 2014
Date of review (Step 5)
School
Department

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

List Significant hazards
here:
Iodine is harmful in contact
with the skin.
Who might be harmed and What are you already doing? Actions
how? What further action is needed? by whom? Due date Done
Demonstrator / technician Wear eye protection and gloves.
while weighing and
grinding the iodine.

Iodine vapour is harmful by
inhalation.
Hydrogen iodide fumes
(produced in the reaction)
are corrosive.
Demonstrator / audience Carry out the procedure in a fume cupboard or use a microscale
by inhalation of fumes version in a flask.
from the reaction
Demonstrator / audience Carry out the procedure in a fume cupboard or use a microscale
by inhalation of or eye version in a flask.
contact with fumes from
the reaction.

Aluminium iodide (produced Demonstrator / technician Carry out initial rinsing in a fume cupboard. Do not remove from the
in the reaction) reacts while clearing up after the fume cupboard until the residue has been hydrolysed.
vigorously with water to reaction.
release fumes of hydrogen
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 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
List Significant hazards Who might be harmed and What are you already doing? Actions
here:
iodide how? What further action is needed?

Description of activity:
Solid iodine is finely ground and mixed with finely powdered aluminium. The mixture is placed on a metal tray in a fume cupboard and the reaction is
initiated with a few drops of hot water.

Clouds of purple iodine vapour are released, along with some hydrogen iodide, in a highly exothermic reaction.

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 Additional comments:
There can be quite an incubation period for this reaction. Do not remove it from the fume cupboard.

Disposal

Add the aluminium iodide a bit at a time to 1M sodium carbonate solution, allowing time for the reaction to subside each time before adding more. The resulting
mixture can be washed to waste with large quantities if water.

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