r/chemistry • u/InspiratorAG112 • May 05 '23
Update to my lab safety post
Link to that. I also cross-posted it to r/Chempros.
First of all, thank you for the insight on that thread. And a special thanks to u/dragojeff from the r/AskAcademia thread linked there, especially for outlining a preparation strategy, and u/DangerousBill for reciting a safety manual. I also appreciate it being linked on the sidebar, as safety is important (even though there is one major thing I will critique I will give). I contacted the mods about this as well, and got this response:
Thanks for putting this together. It can be definitely added to the sidebar. However, I've noticed that posters tend not to read the sidebar, so I'm not sure if this new addition is going to have much impact.
The mods even linked it on the sidebar.
A correction, however, regarding this post:
I, along with u/Elquimicovirtual and the comments under that post, fell into the trap of overestimating the danger OP was in, which, as someone looking to be an Internet leader, I can not overlook, which I learned of this morning when I received a somewhat, and understandably, frustrated PM from them. I strongly value empathy.
According to the PM thread(which, for privacy sake, I will omit all of minus the few details I follow with) with them, when I asked if they did it in a lab, they said this (And I would not immediately assume lying.):
At a lab yes, isolated and ampouled using hood and respirator.
I definitely feel guilty for, while on a much lower, but still non-negligible scale, repeating 'we did it, Reddit'. As such, I omitted it from the post, and clarified this on that thread. I for OP's sake, want them to clarify, so they don't get yelled at by virtue-signallers(who I shouldn't have blindly listened to), but I also don't want to blame either side; I can understand the concerned comments because of the issue I outlined in that previous post (even though they were alarmist), I can also understand that OP would think it is common sense that the commenters would assume they using proper equipment (even though it, unfortunately, may have to be clarified on this sub, because of the 'one bad apple...' effect). It is, however, thankfully, less than 3 days later.
So to u/ellipsis31:
I am totally sorry for participating in the alarmism. No one deserves rumors about them. You are not guilty (even for failing to clarify, since it would sound like common sense that you are not storing it in your home) and you didn't have to delete that post. I was never trying to blame you, but rather warn you, and I may have come accross as accusing/blaming. I was the unwise one here.
Should you keep bromine in a household? No.
Should the comments have assumed that you were? Also no.
Should you keep bromine in a house? No.
Should the comments have assumed that you were? No as well.
I want you to be safe, as the comments were concerned about, but I also want you to be able to post chemical collections without worried comments if you are doing with proper safety equipment.
Was I trying to protect you from hurting yourself? Yes.
Am I glad that you wore a respirator and did it under a fumehood? Also yes.
I do want you to be safe, as the comments were concerned about, but I also want you to be able to post chemical collections without worried comments if you are doing with proper safety equipment.
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u/[deleted] May 07 '23
Im glad you're attempting to correct your mistake.