JB50 posted:

It was like a mini 9/11 reenactment.

Say Nothing posted:

Edit: Where can I get a big chunk of caesium?

Fasdar posted:

On that note: Does anyone know of a good site or guide regarding chemistry glassware - namely, why everything always looks so fragile and dangerous and yet somehow obviously purpose built?

buttcoinbrony posted:

That design above just looks destined to fail though. Drop it onto the tip and the narrowest/smallest part of the glass has to take the load. I trust you that they're sturdier than they look, because they don't look very sturdy at all.

Nth Doctor posted:

Don't drop it.

Sagebrush posted:

It probably wasn't as bad as it appears. Lithium in water doesn't really "explode", it just burns quickly and brightly. The glass probably shattered from the heat, not from a detonation.

I'm guessing some lacerations from the glass and second-degree burns on his hands but no missing fingats. Maybe minor chemical burns too if he didn't deal properly with the lithium hydroxide he was producing.

SynthOrange posted:

And we're back on track.

Three-Phase posted:

How do you make sure you don't get chunks of broken glass in whatever you're chemistry-ing?

quote:

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Glass ampoules have been widely used in packaging injection drugs. Glass has important characteristics that allow it to be widely used in fabrication of recipients for drugs and other sterile substances. However, contamination of solutions with glass microparticles on breaking open glass ampoules, the presence of metals, percutaneous injury, and biological contamination justify the need of educational materials to orient the manipulation of ampoules.

CONTENTS: Glass microparticles generated in the snap-opening of ampoules, as well as metals that contaminate their contents can be aspirated and injected through several routes. Exogenous contaminations by glass and metals can reach several sites in the organism. They trigger organic reactions that may give rise to injuries. Opening ampoules can expose professionals to the risk of percutaneous injuries. These lesions increase the biological risk as they are the gateway for viruses and bacteria. Ampoules opening systems (VIBRAC and OPC) have been developed to reduce the incidence of such accidents. Alternative materials to glass may represent an interesting strategy to increase safety. The use of prefilled syringes may represent an evolution regarding safety.

CONCLUSIONS: Team training and information provided by the pharmaceutical industry on the use of ampoules are fundamental in the prophylaxis of accidents and contaminations. The search for safer materials to replace glass is also important.

...

Contamination of ampoule contents with glass particles is common upon the opening of some types of ampoules. This has been observed and reported for a long time by the scientific community2. The small glass fragments may be injected through several administration routes. Anesthesiologists may administer these particles both intravascular and in the epidural and subarachnoid spaces. Glass particles may also carry some metals used in their manufacture1,3. Contamination by these tiny particles requires a long time for the development of injuries. Through animal studies, it was possible to demonstrate that infusion of glass microparticles resulted in pulmonary silicosis and nodular fibrosis of the liver, spleen, and the small bowel. These lesions resulted from mechanisms of foreign body reactions and embolisms4. It has been demonstrated that the main source of drug contamination by metals are their own packages. This is due to the migration of metal used in fabrication of ampoules into the recipient. Once exogenous contamination by metals (barium, aluminum, and others) occurs, they reach several sites in the organism5. Cellular defense mechanisms react to this aggression and as a consequence several toxic effects may be seen. The quality and intensity of the clinical manifestations are directly proportional to the toxic load and contamination time.

The number of glass microparticles that contaminate the solution in ampoules, upon opening, varies in proportion to the size of the ampoule and the opening orifice2. Strategies have been created in an attempt to avoid the administration of microparticles to patients. Some authors have investigated the use of filters in needles, as well as the use of smaller caliber needles. These studies did not demonstrate any evidence of protection. Nonetheless, it was possible to demonstrate that the use of filter syringe increased costs significantly, besides retaining some drugs, such as insulin and vincristine sulphate2,6,7. Some benefits on aspirating substances to be injected in the subarachnoid space have been demonstrated.

...

Approximately 6% of anesthesiologists had hand injuries from opening glass ampoules. Twenty-six per cent of these professionals had scars on their hands due to the same cause. With loss of continuity provoked by these injuries, skin contamination with blood and secretions allow a proper environment for the development of several infections13.

Nth Doctor posted:

Don't drop it.

http://www.atitesting.com/ati_next_gen/skillsmodules/content/medication-administration-3/equipment/ampules.html posted:

buttcoinbrony posted:

Seems like you're inevitably going to mess this up at some point; getting the tip in without touching the sides is easy enough, but then you have to keep the needle perfectly still while you're pulling back on the plunger. Is this easier than I'm making it out to be, or is there a trick I'm not thinking of?

buttcoinbrony posted:

Seems like you're inevitably going to mess this up at some point; getting the tip in without touching the sides is easy enough, but then you have to keep the needle perfectly still while you're pulling back on the plunger. Is this easier than I'm making it out to be, or is there a trick I'm not thinking of?

Zeno-25 posted:

At first, I thought that was some kind of wacky radioactive quack medical device from the early 20th century because it looks like a buttplug.

Say Nothing posted:

A little research into alkali metals first might have helped.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uixxJtJPVXk

Edit: Where can I get a big chunk of caesium?

DONT CARE BUTTON posted:

So just out of curiosity I figured that amount of cesium is worth about $41000 dollars. Also, what the gently caress happened to the price of this stuff in 1992?
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/historical-statistics/ds140-cesiu.pdf

quote:

From 1959–91, unit value data were estimated to represent the average price of various imported cesium materials of a weight magnitude of at least 1 pound. From 1992 to the most recent year, unit value data were estimated to represent the price of a 1-gram ampoule of 99.98-percent-pure cesium metal. Because of its high purity, 99.98-percent-pure cesium metal has a considerably higher unit value in comparison to the unit value of various cesium materials, such as cesium chloride and other miscellaneous cesium-containing materials.

DONT CARE BUTTON posted:

So just out of curiosity I figured that amount of cesium is worth about $41000 dollars. Also, what the gently caress happened to the price of this stuff in 1992?
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/historical-statistics/ds140-cesiu.pdf

Three-Phase posted:

I remember hearing that some chemotherapy drugs (drugs that go into your bloodstream) need to be stored in glass because they will eat through a plastic container.

Raskolnikov38 posted:

so will acetone but you can still stick your hand in it just fine (dont do this if you have an open wound it hurts like hell)

Nth Doctor posted:

Don't drop it.

Fasdar posted:

On that note: Does anyone know of a good site or guide regarding chemistry glassware - namely, why everything always looks so fragile and dangerous and yet somehow obviously purpose built?

Raskolnikov38 posted:

so will acetone but you can still stick your hand in it just fine (dont do this if you have an open wound it hurts like hell)

goodness posted:

American Scientific Glassblowers Society. They have some beautifully precise pictures of scientific glass on their Facebook.

buttcoinbrony posted:

Seems like you're inevitably going to mess this up at some point; getting the tip in without touching the sides is easy enough, but then you have to keep the needle perfectly still while you're pulling back on the plunger. Is this easier than I'm making it out to be, or is there a trick I'm not thinking of?

JB50 posted:

Scientist man explains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rl2NI5MKRw

Make sure you wear

1.Safety goglies
2. Rubbly gloves

Angela Christine posted:

When I was a kid I once spilled acetone nail polish remover on my lap. Didn't hurt, but it eat a hole in my rayon underwear. That was pretty weird. Looking back, I can't help but wonder if letting little kids play with nail polish and nail polish remover wasn't a bad idea.

buttcoinbrony posted:

Seems like you're inevitably going to mess this up at some point; getting the tip in without touching the sides is easy enough, but then you have to keep the needle perfectly still while you're pulling back on the plunger. Is this easier than I'm making it out to be, or is there a trick I'm not thinking of?

Carbon dioxide posted:

Acetone dissolves contact lenses. If you don't wear eye protection and get acetone into your eyes while wearing contacts, the contacts will partially dissolve and fuse to your cornea. You'll then need to have them surgically removed.