RISK ASSESSMENT ACG Strathallan

Metals and Water

Written by: CLK Commenced on: 27 Feb 2024 Expires: 27 May 2025

Classes for which experiment is required

Teacher: LOW (training code 2) Year Group: 8 Room Period Date
G15 P2 Fri 15/3/24
Items to be prepared by science technician (training code 2)
8 groups of:
9 Groups
samples of:
copper
iron filings + nails
zinc
magnesium
aluminium
calcium
Sodium for Teacher demo

Procedure or reference, including variations

Students add the following metals to water.

Teacher to demo Na + water

Equipment to be used
Bunsen burner
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Roaring flame is very hot and can cause severe burns. NEVER USE A BUNSEN BURNER TO HEAT A FLAMMABLE
Rapid passage of hand through fully luminous flame LIQUID. NEVER BOIL METHYLATED SPIRITS USING A
usually does not result in a burn. A BUNSEN 'ON SAFETY' BUNSEN BURNER. Inspect and clean the jet and base of
(LUMINOUS FLAME) IS STILL AN IGNITION SOURCE. Roaring Bunsen burners regularly. Inspect and replace tube
Bunsen burner may "burn back" at low gas flow, with whenever any sign of wear or damage is noticed. Use
flame emerging from air holes in base; this makes the only hoses of the correct size to ensure a comfortable fit
base of the burner hot to touch and liable to cause on both Bunsen burner and gas tap.
burns. Gas from gas tap or from end of rubber tube
burns with large luminous flame, likely to cause burns.
Rubber hose is easily melted by flame from burner, e.g.
if burner knocked over, resulting in fire from burn hole in
tube. Ensure hair is tied back, so does not catch alight.

test tube holder (test tube tongs)

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Wooden test tube holder is flammable and may catch fire Discard burnt wooden test tube holder. Keep away from
near Bunsen flame. Metal test tube holder retains heat naked flames.
and may cause burns.

Chemicals to be used
aluminium, foil Al
UN: 3077 CAS: 7429-90-5
Class: 9 PG: III Users: K-12 Training: 1-6

GHS data: Not classified as a hazardous chemical.

Potential hazards Disposal
Not toxic. May be placed in the garbage.

calcium, granules Ca
UN: 1401 CAS: 7440-70-2
Class: 4.3 PG: II Users: 7-12 Training: 1,2,5

GHS data:

DANGER In contact with water releases flammable gases

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures

Evolves flammable hydrogen gas on contact with water;
hydrogen and air will explode if ignited; surface layer of
calcium hydroxide is corrosive to skin and eyes. Do not
mix calcium with sulfur or phosphorus, since the reaction
is dangerously exothermic.
Handle calcium in well-ventilated area to avoid formation
of explosive air/hydrogen mixtures. Keep calcium in
tightly sealed plastic containers under hydrocarbon oil,
since metal reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air.
Do not store in glass containers, which might explode if
pressure accumulates from hydrogen formation. Provide
students with a few small grains of calcium. Use small
test tubes for reaction with water to minimise
air/hydrogen volume.

Disposal
Retain for collection by a waste service. Do not place in
the garbage. Destroy small quantities of cuttings or
pieces by dropping into a beaker 2/3 filled with ethanol or
methylated spirits; the etanolic solution should be poured
into 20 times the volume of water, then poured down the
drain.

copper, sheet Cu
CAS: 7440-50-8
Class: nc PG: none Users: K-12 Training: 1-6

GHS data: Not classified as a hazardous chemical.

Potential hazards Disposal
Not toxic. <1 kg/day may be placed in the garbage. Larger
quantities should be retained for collection by a waste
service or metal recycler.

iron, nails Fe
CAS: 7439-89-6
Class: nc PG: none Users: K-12 Training: 1-6

GHS data: Not classified as a hazardous chemical.

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Not toxic. Usually mild steel. Sharp edges and points Store in a dry location to prevent rusting of iron
may cause injury. surfaces.

Disposal
May be placed in the garbage.

iron, filings Fe
CAS: 7439-89-6
Class: nc PG: none Users: K-12 Training: 1-6

GHS data: Not classified as a hazardous chemical.

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Sharp edges and points may cause injury. Consider Store in a dry location to prevent rusting of iron
impurities if dissolving steel in acid. surfaces.

Disposal
May be placed in the garbage.

magnesium, ribbon Mg
UN: 1869 CAS: 7439-95-4
Class: 4.1 PG: III Users: 7-12 Training: 1-5

GHS data:

DANGER In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures

Burns with white-hot flame; UV radiation emitted from
flame may cause eye damage; do not allow students to
view flame from close distance. Reaction with ethanol
may be violent after a long induction period. Reactions
of magnesium with dichromate salts, nitrate salts, sulfur,
phosphorus or halogenated solvents can be dangerously
violent. Reaction of magnesium with silica (sand) to form
Keep containers tightly sealed to prevent corrosion.
Disposal
Retain for collection by a waste service or <100 g/day
may be dissolved in dilute hydrochloric acid and poured
down the drain. Do not place in the garbage, due to the
possibility of ignition.
silicon may be dangerously exothermic if the silica is not
completely dry. Do not use magnesium as an alternative
to aluminium in the thermite reaction; the reaction is
dangerously explosive. Magnesium ribbon can, however,
be used as a fuse for the thermite reaction.

sodium Na
UN: 1428 CAS: 7440-23-5
Class: 4.3 PG: I Users: Tch Training: 1,2,5

GHS data:
In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously
DANGER
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures

EXTREMELY CORROSIVE TO SKIN AND EYES. Reacts
violently with water to form hydrogen gas which, on
mixing with air, may explode. Reacts with water to form
sodium hydroxide, which is highly corrosive to the skin
and eyes. May splatter droplets of burning molten
sodium which can ignite combustible materials or cause
burns to spectators. Reacts explosively with acids,
polyhalogenated hydrocarbons (e.g. chloroform),
bromine, iodine and sulfur. Combustion reactions with
oxygen and chlorine gases are violent and should be
attempted only with minute (50 mg) quantities of sodium.
Reaction of sodium with water should be carried out by
adding a small (1 g maximum; size of small pea) lump of
sodium to a beaker filled to the top with water to
minimise space where hydrogen/air mixture can
accumulate. Perform all reactions involving sodium in a
fume cupboard. Do not try to hold sodium in place on the
surface of the water in order to collect the hydrogen; the
gas is likely to ignite or explode. Placing sodium metal on
wet filter paper usually results in ignition of the hydrogen
gas. For the sodium fusion test, use only a small amount
of sodium (0.2 g) and unknown sample (0.1 g); carry out
the reaction in a fume cupboard behind a blast shield.

Disposal
Retain for collection by a waste service. Do not place in
the garbage. Residues should be placed in a dedicated
waste container, in which pieces are stored under dry
hydrocarbon oil. Sodium can be destroyed safely by
adding small pieces to ethanol or methylated spirits.

zinc, pieces Zn
CAS: 7440-66-6
Class: nc PG: none Users: K-12 Training: 1-6

GHS data:

WARNING Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Potential hazards Disposal

Not toxic to humans. May be placed in the garbage.

Chemicals to be produced
aluminium oxide (alumina) Al2O3
CAS: 1344-28-1
Class: nc PG: none Users: 7-12 Training: 1-5

GHS data: Not classified as a hazardous chemical.

Potential hazards Disposal
Fine particles irritate lungs if inhaled. May be placed in the garbage.

copper(II) oxide CuO

UN: 3077 CAS: 1317-38-0
Class: 9 PG: III Users: 7-12 Training: 1-5

GHS data:
Very toxic to aquatic life
WARNING
Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures

 Low toxicity. Do not attempt reduction to copper metal in the
"thermite" reaction with aluminium metal, since the
process is extremely violent. Great care must be taken if
reducing copper oxide with magnesium or hydrogen. Can
be safely reduced with carbon or zinc.

Disposal
Retain for collection by a waste service or <1 g/day may
be placed in the garbage.

iron(II) oxide (ferrous oxide) FeO

UN: 3178 CAS: 1345-25-1
Class: 4.1 PG: II Users: 11-12 Training: 1,2,5

GHS data:

WARNING Flammable solid

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures

FLAMMABLE. Do not inhale fine particles. Oxidises readily Store in sealed container to prevent atmospheric
to iron(III) in air. oxidation.

Disposal
Allow to stand in air for several days in a fume cupboard
until oxidation is complete, then place in the garbage

magnesium oxide MgO

CAS: 1309-48-4
Class: nc PG: none Users: K-12 Training: 1-6

GHS data: Not classified as a hazardous chemical.

Potential hazards Disposal
Low toxicity. Fine particles may irritate lungs. May be placed in the garbage.

sodium hydroxide 0.12-0.51 M (0.5-2% wt/wt) NaOH(aq)

CAS: 1310-73-2
Class: nc PG: none Users: 7-12 Training: 1-6

GHS data:
Causes skin irritation
WARNING
Causes serious eye irritation

Potential hazards Disposal

Strongly irritates eyes and skin. May be poured down the drain.

zinc oxide ZnO

UN: 3077 CAS: 1314-13-2
Class: 9 PG: III Users: K-12 Training: 1-6

GHS data:

WARNING Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Potential hazards Disposal

Low human toxicity. Mixture with ammonium nitrate and May be placed in the garbage.
a small quantity of water may explode.

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
contamination of area
exposure to pathogens
biohazards waste disposal
injuries from animals improper labelling/storage
environmental impact inappropriate behaviour
intense light/lasers communication issues
UV, IR, nuclear radiation allergies
pressure inside equipment special needs
heavy lifting ethical issues
slipping, tripping, falling other risks

For outdoor activities , consider wind, temperature, rain/hail/snow, UV, air quality, fire danger, pollen, bites/stings etc

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:
Students only use a small granule of calcium
Sodium is to be a teacher demo only - safety screen to be used.
Additional measures: safety glasses, gloves, lab coat, demonstration

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.
Name: Signature: Date:

Certification by Science 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

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 electronic review notes or hand-written notes on a printout. It will be
reviewed within 15 months as part of the regular review process.