Handling Chemicals-2

Every chemical in your Real Science Labs kit has a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) label and includes a hazardous materials rating for health (how harmful it is to be exposed to the chemical), flammability (how easily the chemical will catch fire), and reactivity (how easily the chemical reacts or explodes at room temperature). The SDS rating for each area ranges from 0 to 4, with 4 being highly reactive, flammable, and dangerous to health, and 0 being not reactive at all, not flammable, and not hazardous to health. The chemicals included in your kit are rated at 1 or below and can be poured down a drain for disposal, but you should still wear personal protective equipment at all times when performing experiments.

The figure shown above is the SDS hazardous materials rating for acetic acid, as seen on the chemical bottles included in your kit. On the right is the SDS hazardous materials diamond for acetic acid, seen in traditional laboratories and other industries that store and use chemicals. The blue diamond is the health rating, the red diamond is the flammability rating, and the yellow diamond is the reactivity rating. The white diamond is used to note special hazards, such as radiation.